Traffic lights on roundabouts - question

[rthytrfghtr]

Near me there is a roundabout with traffic lights on. My question is when the traffic light is green, but the next traffic light is red there will be a queue of cars on the roundabout. Today I was approaching the green light and there was room for me to go past the traffic light line and join the queue of traffic, but then I would be blocking the roundabout (which is already being blocked by the red light at the next segment of the roundabout) so the next car coming from the right would do the same anyway

Should I:

• Wait behind the line and just wait for the traffic lights to cycle through back to green, when I can then pull out and not block the roundabout
• Just join the traffic queue ahead, knowing that the red light we're all stuck behind will go green soon?

I've had a look on the Highway Code but couldn't find the answer but probably wasn't looking in the right place.

I'm not sure I am visualising this right.

If you have a green light but traffic ahead is stationary, and there's no box junction or other indication you can't move forward, I think you're fine to move on green, even if the traffic isn't moving.

OTOH if there's road markings to indicate you must not block the area directly in front of you even if the light is green, then no, you can't move forward.

You shouldn't go forward if you're going to block traffic that will eventually come from the right. Hold fire until there's room to go forward and not block traffic

What people should do and what people do are two different things though

If there is not a clear space you do not go.

If you are going to block an exit then you shouldn’t go

Sorry I did a bad job at explaining, I tried to find an image on Google that's similar to show what I mean.

So I'm in a queue to join a traffic light roundabout. The traffic lights go green and the 4 cars ahead of me join the roundabout, only the next traffic light on the roundabout is currently red so they all queue up behind the red traffic light. I'm now about the join the roundabout, my traffic light is still green but there is around one car length of space available, my dilemma is do I join the roundabout and block it or wait behind behind my currently green traffic light knowing it will soon go red and will potentially hold up those behind me for longer.

I've also had the situation where I've gone to join the queue and then someone has changed lane into my lane at the last minute and there's no space left, so I'm oddly straddled over the traffic light line hoping that the light doesn't go red.

@rthytrfghtr

Sorry I did a bad job at explaining, I tried to find an image on Google that's similar to show what I mean.

So I'm in a queue to join a traffic light roundabout. The traffic lights go green and the 4 cars ahead of me join the roundabout, only the next traffic light on the roundabout is currently red so they all queue up behind the red traffic light. I'm now about the join the roundabout, my traffic light is still green but there is around one car length of space available, my dilemma is do I join the roundabout and block it or wait behind behind my currently green traffic light knowing it will soon go red and will potentially hold up those behind me for longer.

I've also had the situation where I've gone to join the queue and then someone has changed lane into my lane at the last minute and there's no space left, so I'm oddly straddled over the traffic light line hoping that the light doesn't go red.

First scenario - yes, if there's car length of space to fit into, surely, you take that space? Why wouldn't you?

Second scenario - huh? I can't visualise how that would happen?

Are you talking about an actual space, or about you pulling up towards a space sideways, so your car blocks two lanes? That's the only way I can see how you'd be worried about the first scenario, or how anyone would manage the second.

Ignore the fact it's a roundabout. If you have no clear space to move to you do not cross the junction - any junction.

Wait at the green light until there's space for you to go forward without blocking traffic

Yes I would move into the space. The likelihood is that the red light will change to green so the cars will move one leaving room for the next lot to move round. Well that should happen in theory but obviously at peak times there's bound to be some congestion

I know exactly the type of roundabout you mean and the lights are synchronised so it creates like a rolling roadblock effect around the roundabout. traffic in one section is always 'let go' by a green light before the next lane or section is released onto the roundabout/ into the next section.

So yes if its green go.

if the light is green and there is no yellow box or KEEP CLEAR written on the road, then go forward. the lights are timed so that you will move on when the next cars need the space.