A traffic one (with diagram!)

[Ozgirl75]

So, I’ve been driving for years and have recently moved to this area and I have to do this junction quite often and I can’t for the life of me figure out which is the safe way to do it, as someone has nearly hit me when I’ve tried both ways!

Im heading north along Onslow towards the roundabout, and my eventual destination is on Woodbridge road. I have to go right around the roundabout and then be in the left lane to go left. Onslow road is split into three lanes (straight ahead, right/straight ahead and right only). In the past I’ve stayed on the right, gone round the roundabout but then I exit the roundabout in the right hand lane, so I have to quickly pull into the left to take Woodbridge road, cutting in front of people who have gone straight over.
I have also then taken the middle lane, indicating right, gone round the outside of the roundabout (so I’m in the left lane) and pulled in. Today I did that and someone on the inside lane pulled across to go down A246, nearly going into the side of me - also beeped me as if I was in the wrong lane? I felt I wasn’t, but maybe I was.
Tell me, if you were doing this, which lane is the right one to take? It’s a busy junction so there’s no waiting for a free spot.

The turning to Woodbridge road is right as you leave the roundabout, probably 10 metres in front, so very little time to move over.

RH lane signalling right until you pass the exit for the A264. Then indicate left and move across to the outside lane for your exit unless road markings indicate otherwise.

So that sounds really sensible - and what I have done before, but there is always a stream of cars in the left hand lane, so I basically have to stop in the right hand lane and hope that someone lets me in - it feels awkward and clunky whereas I always feel like roundabouts are designed to flow the traffic more.

There shouldn't be anyone in the LH lane immediately after the exit. Pull over before people on the A264 enter the roundabout.

I think what throws people is that there is no guaranteed always easy position- you have to merge and negotiate.

That was always the case, but recent more structured road markings and teaching have left people thinking that as long as they are in the right place they won't need to negotiate.

In fact, you always need to negotiate. People will always be in the wrong place or confused or doing something less usual.

Also, the way you were taught to drive changes leaving everyone convinced other people are doing it wrong!

@Seeline the people in the left hand lane are the ones turning left from the A264 - they start moving as those of us turning right are entering the roundabout (it’s quite big).

Onslow road heading south is also two lanes so if you’re in the right hand lane going around the roundabout, people in the left hand lane think you’re heading to the right hand lane (which most of them are).

But you should have moved left before they enter the roundabout.
You shift as soon as those turning into the A264 leave.

I see what you mean - but either way I have to stop and wait for someone to let me into the left lane as it’s non stop cars (basically) in the left lane as you also have those cars coming from straight on going over the roundabout (heading south) also in the left lane (and right).
Basically it’s heading into a one way system and lots of people know which lane they will need heading south as the road then splits three ways in about 10 metres.
This is actually really useful as it seems that there isn’t a “correct” way for me to do it, it’s just a case of watch what other people are doing and have to either stop and hope someone lets me in (which they do eventually) or make sure that no one is on my inside lane if I’m taking the left hand lane.

"This is actually really useful as it seems that there isn’t a “correct” way for me to do it, it’s just a case of watch what other people are doing and have to either stop and hope someone lets me in (which they do eventually) or make sure that no one is on my inside lane if I’m taking the left hand lane."

Yes.

This is how it works- but people have been trained into thinking it can be easy 🤣

I know this exact junction well, and I have also been cut across on it before. The problem as you’ve said, is that it’s a large roundabout and cars are constantly joining from the A246 into the lane you want for the town centre, so there are hardly ever any gaps to move across.

I would approach the roundabout in the right hand lane, indicating right, as cars always merge onto the A246 from the middle and right lanes (as per the road markings on the approach) and you don’t want to be cut up by that. As soon as the cars then leave for the A246, I would indicate left and try and move over if there is a gap. If there isn’t, I would carry on round to the middle lane and then try and move across once I’m off the roundabout - it’ll hold others up but it is hard to avoid this. As others have said, it’s a bit of give and take, especially with this roundabout! Just watch out for the cars joining the roundabout going southbound on Woodbridge in their middle lane - they will be aiming for either the middle one, or the one you want so could cut in as well. Good luck!

Thank you! Yes I think that’s what I’ll do from now on - it’s a really tricky junction but I often park in the car park up there as it’s the only one I know of with electric car chargers!

This.