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Original poster

Roundabout question!

94 replies

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 00:58

Because it's caused a lot of bickering and i drive over it twice a day and regularly have near misses. And it makes a change from parking

You're approaching this roundabout. There are 4 exits, and you're taking exit 2 which is at 11 on a clock (I marked the exit with a red arrow)
Which lane would you use?

There is a sign for the roundabout as you approach which just shows the exits and doesn't state left turn only or anything vaguely relating to exits

OP posts:

Yamaya · 02/10/2021 01:01

The right lane. It says it on the road?

Seeingadistance · 02/10/2021 01:01

I would use the lane on the right, as the lane on the left has an arrow indicating it is to be used for traffic leaving roundabout by the first exit.

stoneysongs · 02/10/2021 01:02

The right lane, because the left lane is only for those leaving the roundabout at the first exit.

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Driving & parking

ViperAtTheGatesOfDawn · 02/10/2021 01:05

Also would use the right lane.

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 01:08

Should add it quite often queues so you can't always see the road markings and they're the only markings that give you a clue (the sign as you approach doesn't)
I do have a reason for asking and I promise I'm not a shit driver!

OP posts:

SevenOldLadies · 02/10/2021 01:20

That looks very similar to one near me so I’d automatically take the right hand lane even if the road wasn’t marked that way.

If it is like the one near me, whichever lane you take there’s probably a driver in the other one trying to get past you!

Chloemol · 02/10/2021 01:28

Right Lane, the sign on the road in the left Lane is left into the first turn not the one with the arrow

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 01:33

I'm amazed everyone has said right lane so far
You often can't see the road markings. I did mention it to the council. Their bright idea was to offer to put a straight on arrow. In both lanes
Because that wouldn't go wrong

OP posts:

DynastyBarry · 02/10/2021 01:39

If I knew the roundabout and the road markings , the right lane. If I was a visitor to the area and traffic was obscuring the road markings, I'd choose left.

There's one like it here where visitors don't realise until nearly on the roundabout. At rush hour they have to turn left as the traffic doesn't allow movement across lanes.

Seeingadistance · 02/10/2021 01:42

@NotMyCat

I'm amazed everyone has said right lane so far You often can't see the road markings. I did mention it to the council. Their bright idea was to offer to put a straight on arrow. In both lanes Because that wouldn't go wrong

Our replies are based on the fact that we can see the arrows though.

If there were no arrows, then I'd use the left hand lane for a 2nd exit at 11 o'clock.

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 01:45

My conversation with the council went

Oh yes, I can see the roundabout sign on google maps
Ok. So could it have left turn only somewhere except on the road markings
No. Because it's not left turn only in the left lane
Me but but the road markings?
Council - but we could put straight on arrows in both lanes?
Me - noooooooo please don't do that

OP posts:

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 01:49

The reason I ask is basically because I have a near miss practically every day
I refuse to use the "wrong" lane on the grounds that if I do end up in a crash, my insurance will probably be happier if I'm in the correct lane and it won't be my fault
I do use the right hand lane, and there is ALWAYS someone on my left and you end up with nowhere to go. Local people also use the left lane so it's not just visitors my neighbours

My dad had a near miss and got shouted at, he told her to go back and look at the arrows. I've been called a cunt/stupid bitch/tailgated/horn leaned on/abusive gestures, the lot and I'm well WTF am I meant to do?! I'm in the correct lane 😭😭😭😭 and I can't avoid this junction
Mostly it's people gesturing and winding down their window to shout wrong lane at me

OP posts:

Floralnomad · 02/10/2021 01:52

I doubt the arrows matter , very few people appear to know how to negotiate roundabouts nowadays , it’s a constant source of entertainment when I’m driving .

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 01:54

@Floralnomad

I doubt the arrows matter , very few people appear to know how to negotiate roundabouts nowadays , it’s a constant source of entertainment when I’m driving .

Me, daily, on this roundabout

Oh FFS, AGAIN?!

I either go back round, but you can't always do that depending how much you've been pushed off the road/positioning or take exit 3 which is a long long detour

OP posts:

TheChippendenSpook · 02/10/2021 10:48

If the council have said that you can go straight on in the left lane and the arrow is wrong, then surely they need to have two lanes ahead (one can be a feeder lane) so everyone can exit the roundabout safely.

It sounds like the person who you spoke to is wrong and the arrow is right.

SoupDragon · 02/10/2021 10:55

Our replies are based on the fact that we can see the arrows though.

If there were no arrows, then I'd use the left hand lane for a 2nd exit at 11 o'clock.

This.

I think the council are right in that there should be a straight on arrow in the left hand lane anyway. In the absence of arrows, that's how a roundabout works. I'd be expecting people to be going "straight on" from that lane. Queues will only be worse if you restrict 3 exits to using only the right hand lane.

sashagabadon · 02/10/2021 10:57

I’d use left as it’s the correct one to use and the arrows are wrong. 3rd or 4th exit I’d use right.

Tumbleweed101 · 02/10/2021 10:58

I hate vague or large roundabouts where you start off in the correct lane but then they don't guide you properly so you end up in a lane for the wrong exit. Motorway ones, for example. Not keen on multilane unfamiliar roundabouts lol.

Gizlotsmum · 02/10/2021 11:01

Without the arrows I would be in the left hand lane, with arrows visible I would follow them

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 11:32

@SoupDragon

Our replies are based on the fact that we can see the arrows though.

If there were no arrows, then I'd use the left hand lane for a 2nd exit at 11 o'clock.

This.

The thing is then people will use both lanes for exit 2 and 3 (I know 3 isn't straight on.. but.. people)

OP posts:

Cominghome1230 · 02/10/2021 12:08

If I couldn't see the arrows then I would use the left lane.
If I could then I would use the right.

They need better signage, that's not painted on the road. We have a roundabout like this and it's also an absolute nightmare

Original poster

NotMyCat · 02/10/2021 12:13

@Cominghome1230

If I couldn't see the arrows then I would use the left lane. If I could then I would use the right.

They need better signage, that's not painted on the road. We have a roundabout like this and it's also an absolute nightmare

Yeah that's pretty much what I said, and I gave up after trying to explain the left lane was left turn only and they said it wasn't

They offered to put a straight on arrow in the left lane so no additional signage and 2 straight on arrows leading to one exit

OP posts:

AlwaysLatte · 02/10/2021 12:15

Right - the left one is left turn only. There's one like this near me and the amount of times I've almost had someone go into me!

AlwaysLatte · 02/10/2021 12:18

Also I think there should be signs up above showing this as in queues the arrows aren't visible until you're in the lane.

Ifailed · 02/10/2021 12:22

What does the road sign preceding the roundabout show?

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