Which lane at round about

[TheChuckling]

Hi all, me and DP have gone away and that meant a long drive. Queue lots of arguing and bickering along the way about lane changes and directions lol.

Anyway we are currently arguing about which lane we would use if we were going third exit at a round about but third exit happened to be 12 o’clock.

I have tried to attach a pic of what I mean. Would you use inside or outside lane? We saw people using both lanes for this so didn’t help either of us prove our argument.

Roundabouts with that many exits usually have a sign saying which lane you need. Or it's written on the ground.

I've not come across a junction like that without decent lane marking and couldn't judge without knowing how major the actual roads were for example if it was a 2 lane dual carriageway going straight across then either would be correct. One roundabout I know with that set up then you'd be in the left lane, another you are in the right.

Unless marked otherwise I would go in the right hand lane. Left hand lane is for the first two exits. Right for the rest.

Usually a roundabout like that would have road markings to follow but if it didn't I always thought it was left hand lane if going straight on and right if going towards the right?

I would presume left for first two exits, right for second two.

But it depends on markings, whether the exits are major or minor, number of lanes...

Unless markings state differently, it should be left for straight over and left turns and right for right. It doesn't make a difference that there is more than one left turning.

Look at the Google Street View of the roundabout to check the signs and lane markings on the approach. Don't tell partner about it if you're wrong. 🤣

I thought it was left for 12 o'clock or before, and right for after 12. So in the absence of road markings I'd use the left lane here to go straight on.

I was taught either lane for straight on. If it’s slightly to the right I’d go right lane.

I've just recently passed my test and my instructor said right is anything after 12 o'clock so I'd go left in this case

I was taught right hand lane for going right unless road markings state otherwise so I'd go in the left. My other half was taught anything before 12 left lane and anything after in the right. This is why so many people get roundabouts wrong!
In fact I have a roundabout with pretty similar exits to this on my way to my OHs house & I always use the left, but people do use the right. Not much help really!

Assuming a two lane road either side of the roundabout, either lane would be fine, but I would only be in the right lane if I intended to be in the fast lane coming off the roundabout.

I've just had a look at the Highway Code, which is wonderfully vague. It says take the left lane for the first left, the right lane for any exits to the right, and for any intermediate exits "select the appropriate lane". For straight across it depends on the road markings and how many lanes on and off it there are.

I was taught that if 12 o'clock or before then it's the left hand lane (but also told that a lot of people use right hand lane so always expect both). The exception being if there is markings/signs to say otherwise.
My Partner does it the same way.

Assuming there are no road markings.

Approach the roundabout in the right hand lane, signalling right.

Just after the junction before the one you want, signal left and move into the left hand lane, remembering to check you mirrors.

If in doubt, the right hand lane. If it turns out to not be the correct lane, then go right round the roundabout and correct your approach on your second lap.

This is me when I drive!!!

Sometimes it's fairly obvious you are going past straight over and if not I'd rather go round and find the right Lane (if roads aren't already marked)

You should be in the left hand lane for anything up to and including straight on unless road marking say otherwise.

RAC

Continuing straight ahead
Often, you, just want to travel straight on through the roundabout, sometimes people will say: 'head straight over the roundabout'.
Depending on the size of the roundabout, you’ll often be able to use the left-hand lane for this, but in some cases the left-hand lane will be for left turns only (signs will guide you on this).
There are also instances where larger roundabouts, have a designated lane for driving straight over. Check the road markings on approach.

I was on a similar roundabout today and it completely threw me and I ended up coming off at the 4th exit. Siri said 3rd exit so I went to the inside lane, but most drivers who knew the road stayed in the left lane. Either way you would need to be very alert to moving over or having other people moving across your path to exit. Luckily my one was very quiet.

Anything after 12 you go in the right hand lane, unless marked otherwise - anything 12 or before you go in the left (again, unless marked otherwise)

Same, always told right lane is for after 12 o clock

I’m another one who was told 12 and before left hand lane, anything after 12, right hand lane unless road signs state otherwise. So I’m the absence or f road guidance I’d do left lane but expect people to the right of me coming off too, especially if a dual carriageway.

At a roundabout with 5 exits I would expect 1) to see signs telling me which lane to use, 2) to have dual lane exits to help you exit safely and easily and 3) possible a couple of traffic lights to ease the flow of traffic and make it easier for everyone to get where they need to go.

You can use either unless there are specific markings

Thanks all. Forgot to add there were no road markings at all. We are staying out in the sticks (I’m really surprised the wifi was strong enough to post this) and the road markings and signs out here are next to none, meaning we got lost multiple times.

We came across a lot of these round abouts. Medium size, leading to a roads both single and dual carriageway.

I was driving. Satnav said third exit but the markings looked straight on so I stayed in left lane as I too have been taught the 12 o’clock rule. DP screaming I was going to kill us both and to get in right lane. Must have gone across about 5 round abouts like this and saw people using both right and left lane and it completely threw me off.