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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)

233 replies

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 16:46

This is on a regular route I drive and I am always approaching it from the angle seen in the photo, to turn right. My approach road is short so no time to build up any speed. As you can see, it is really a T junction of a smaller road in to a bigger one, but it has been configured with a mini roundabout.

Nine times out of 10 traffic coming from the right or the left doesn’t slow down, so even if a car coming from my right is not on the roundabout yet it will beep at me if I pull out and cause it to slow down. I know that the rule is give way to traffic coming from the right, but doesn’t that only apply to traffic already on the roundabout?

I can see that the problem with a mini one is that there is much less time that the car is actually “on” it, but surely everyone should be slowing down as they approach a roundabout?

At this one, usually the only way to get out is by waiting for a pedestrian to cross at the zebra and stop the traffic from the right that way.

AIBU to think that a mini roundabout is still a roundabout and the normal rules should apply? Or am I misunderstanding the rules?

To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)
To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)
OP posts:
Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:03

sunsetsandboardwalks · 15/08/2024 18:02

If the bad driver on the left chooses to pull out and causes an accident, that's their fault. Not the fault of the driver who has priority!

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Yeah but the accident still happened didn’t it?

OP posts:
sunsetsandboardwalks · 15/08/2024 18:02

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:01

But can you ever truly see that a roundabout like this is completely clear? Don’t you have to take care in case the car you can see on your left waiting to join the roundabout is a bad driver like me who decides to pull out? That’s after you’ve slowed for the crossing of course.

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If the bad driver on the left chooses to pull out and causes an accident, that's their fault. Not the fault of the driver who has priority!

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:02

Mountainclimber50 · 15/08/2024 18:00

Rules do not supersede good judgment and assessment.

Cuts both ways though.

OP posts:
Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:01

kittybiscuits · 15/08/2024 18:00

It sounds like you've decided to experiment with even worse driving now OP. It's not them, it's you!

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That’s literally what I have been told by multiple posters it is my right to do. Why is it now suddenly bad driving?

OP posts:
Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 18:01

Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:57

But if they can see it’s clear they don’t have to slow down.

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But can you ever truly see that a roundabout like this is completely clear? Don’t you have to take care in case the car you can see on your left waiting to join the roundabout is a bad driver like me who decides to pull out? That’s after you’ve slowed for the crossing of course.

OP posts:
kittybiscuits · 15/08/2024 18:00

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:57

Anyway there is another similar T junction roundabout on my route where I am the one approaching from the larger road on the right. I’m going to stop slowing down on approach as an experiment and see what happens.

It sounds like you've decided to experiment with even worse driving now OP. It's not them, it's you!

Mountainclimber50 · 15/08/2024 18:00

Rules do not supersede good judgment and assessment.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:58

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 17:56

Yes, but the zebra crossings are important here, and I’m my mind badly positions. There does not seem to be space between the crossing and the roundabout so drivers need to stop before the zebra crossing - you must not block a pedestrian crossing. Drivers from the right must also be alert to pedestrians approaching that zebra crossing and slow down in order to stop if they step onto the crossing.

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Yep, you’d think, right?

OP posts:
Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:57

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:55

I was responding to the PP who said they would force their way out in front of the traffic approaching from the left.

And they are speeding through if they do not slow down at all on approach to the roundabout.

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But if they can see it’s clear they don’t have to slow down.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:57

Anyway there is another similar T junction roundabout on my route where I am the one approaching from the larger road on the right. I’m going to stop slowing down on approach as an experiment and see what happens.

OP posts:
Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:56

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:51

This is my point. People are supposed to slow down. My question was whether those speeding straight through were using the roundabout correctly.

I’m not causing cars to screech to a halt. I don’t pull out when it’s completely unsafe. The beepers are just pissed off they had to slow down, even though they were meant to do that anyway.

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If they can see the road ahead is clear and there is no vehicle that they have to give way to, then they are perfectly entitled to speed straight through. You have to give way to them because they’re coming from your right.

Of course they are pissed off that you cut them up and made them to have to slow down! You aren’t supposed to cause any other road user to change speed or direction.

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 17:56

IMustDoMoreExercise · 15/08/2024 17:46

Yes, I forgot about the crossing, I was thinking about the mini roundabout that I approach in the same direction as the OP and I have to wait for a clear gap to my right before I enter the roundabout.

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Yes, but the zebra crossings are important here, and I’m my mind badly positions. There does not seem to be space between the crossing and the roundabout so drivers need to stop before the zebra crossing - you must not block a pedestrian crossing. Drivers from the right must also be alert to pedestrians approaching that zebra crossing and slow down in order to stop if they step onto the crossing.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:55

Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:52

The drivers on your right never have to give way to you. They aren’t “speeding through”. They have right of way!

You should never force anyone to give way. You wait till the road is clear and you actually have right of way.

Honestly it just sounds like you don’t want to wait till the road to your right is clear, so you cut people up and get beeped at.

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I was responding to the PP who said they would force their way out in front of the traffic approaching from the left.

And they are speeding through if they do not slow down at all on approach to the roundabout.

OP posts:
KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:54

Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:52

The drivers on your right never have to give way to you. They aren’t “speeding through”. They have right of way!

You should never force anyone to give way. You wait till the road is clear and you actually have right of way.

Honestly it just sounds like you don’t want to wait till the road to your right is clear, so you cut people up and get beeped at.

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I was taught to slow down on approach to a mini roundabout.

Continuing at the same speed as you approach was incorrect.

Obviously it’s not good for any of us to I’ll out in front of someone, but they are supposed to slow- which is obviously no longer taught.

I now behave according to what people do, rather than what I was taught they would do!

Bellamari · 15/08/2024 17:52

AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:40

The problem is that to get to the place where you can force drivers on the left to give way you have to be on the roundabout, but you can’t get in to it because of all the drivers speeding through from the right!

Edited
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The drivers on your right never have to give way to you. They aren’t “speeding through”. They have right of way!

You should never force anyone to give way. You wait till the road is clear and you actually have right of way.

Honestly it just sounds like you don’t want to wait till the road to your right is clear, so you cut people up and get beeped at.

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:51

Interestingly this as well-

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

  • select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
  • you should not normally need to signal on approach
  • stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
  • signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

I’ve see it argued on here that you must use the left lane to go straight on (and I think that’s what’s currently taught), but that is not what the Highway Code says- it’s says appropriate lane.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:51

Fudgetheparrot · 15/08/2024 17:46

I learnt a few years ago and was taught to slow to have time to look but not to pause if you can see it’s clear

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This is my point. People are supposed to slow down. My question was whether those speeding straight through were using the roundabout correctly.

I’m not causing cars to screech to a halt. I don’t pull out when it’s completely unsafe. The beepers are just pissed off they had to slow down, even though they were meant to do that anyway.

OP posts:
KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:48

This is online as well-

  • “Other vehicles: Be aware of other vehicles and give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Already on the roundabout.
Fudgetheparrot · 15/08/2024 17:46

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:43

I wonder whether this is another of the things that’s being taught differently, now.

I also remember that people are supposed to slow and pause as they approach the roundabout- there’s double white dotted lines after all.

It’s the same at all road junctions- double white dotted lines. I was taught to slow on approach and pause before pulling out, even if there’s plenty of room. DS was taught to approach at a steady pace and drive straight through. Gives me the heeby jeebies.

I learnt a few years ago and was taught to slow to have time to look but not to pause if you can see it’s clear

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:46

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:43

I wonder whether this is another of the things that’s being taught differently, now.

I also remember that people are supposed to slow and pause as they approach the roundabout- there’s double white dotted lines after all.

It’s the same at all road junctions- double white dotted lines. I was taught to slow on approach and pause before pulling out, even if there’s plenty of room. DS was taught to approach at a steady pace and drive straight through. Gives me the heeby jeebies.

Thank you!

OP posts:
IMustDoMoreExercise · 15/08/2024 17:46

KielderWater · 15/08/2024 17:33

Unless a pedestrian steps onto the zebra crossing…

Edited
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Yes, I forgot about the crossing, I was thinking about the mini roundabout that I approach in the same direction as the OP and I have to wait for a clear gap to my right before I enter the roundabout.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:45

Kaaraa · 15/08/2024 17:32

so even if a car coming from my right is not on the roundabout yet it will beep at me if I pull out and cause it to slow down

This part.

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That was a completely separate post.

OP posts:
Another2Cats · 15/08/2024 17:44

HunterHearstHelmsley · 15/08/2024 17:30

There's two mini roundabouts by me. For one of them, the people on the main road seem to think they have priority over those coming out of the side road, not giving way to the right as they should. For the second one, the same drivers follow the rules. It's baffling! I'd understand if it was different drivers but it's the same people!

I also know someone who thinks people on the main road have priority as above. She won't listen to reason, that there would be no point in there even being a roundabout if that were the case. How she hasn't had multiple accidents I'll never know.

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"For one of them, the people on the main road seem to think they have priority over those coming out of the side road"

We have one just like that as well. When moving onto the mini roundabout from the side road I always keep a close watch on what people on my left are doing.

KeirSpoutsTwaddle · 15/08/2024 17:43

I wonder whether this is another of the things that’s being taught differently, now.

I also remember that people are supposed to slow and pause as they approach the roundabout- there’s double white dotted lines after all.

It’s the same at all road junctions- double white dotted lines. I was taught to slow on approach and pause before pulling out, even if there’s plenty of room. DS was taught to approach at a steady pace and drive straight through. Gives me the heeby jeebies.

Original poster
AndiOliversGlasses · 15/08/2024 17:40

GlasgowGal82 · 15/08/2024 17:24

Everyone should approach a roundabout with caution but someone approaching from your right only needs to give way to a car coming from your left who is turning onto your approach road. If you are going out in front of them so they need to slow down then you are in the wrong. The cars approaching from your left should give way to you, but I use a roundabout like this and have found that if I hesitate cars coming from the left will take advantage and just go anyway. It's not a great road design because cars coming from your direction are disadvantaged by the road layout. If I was you I'd be forcing my way out in front of cars coming from the left rather than the right, because that's who you have right of way over.

The problem is that to get to the place where you can force drivers on the left to give way you have to be on the roundabout, but you can’t get in to it because of all the drivers speeding through from the right!

OP posts: