Which lane should you be in? Diagram!

[CactusUmbrella]

If you were driving from where the red arrow is towards the roundabout, and going straight ahead to where the green arrow is, which lane should you be in?

Context is that I had a collision on this roundabout over 2 years ago, still hasn't been resolved and is now likely to go to court! Other driver claiming they were in correct lane, I believe I was...

The amount of posters stating “100% left lane” without a second thought is shocking.

First of all this is a really poorly designed roundabout. The fact that there are no lanes inside the roundabout or on any of the exits (no merge in turn arrows either) renders those two “lanes” useless and meaningless. My guess is that whoever designed this monstrosity thought that splitting the approach into these pathetically short lanes would help with potential traffic build-up (possibly this is where most traffic comes from?).

Using common sense, the only thing that seems certain is that one should NOT use the right lane to take the first exit. Anything else is fair game. In theory one could even use the left lane to take the third exit or even go all the way round.

In the unfortunate event of a collision, I think split responsibility is a given. The percentage, as stated by previous posters, would be determined based on position of the vehicles, indication etc.

General rule: never assume, always anticipate, always check your mirrors AND have a look over your shoulder.

"General rule: never assume, always anticipate, always check your mirrors AND have a look over your shoulder"

Great idea. Do away with convention, rules of the road and totally rely on everyone being fully observant, alert with high level driving skills so you can adapt to other drivers' unpredictable decisions. What could possible go wrong 😕

That’s the opposite of what they posted

@WhitewashedTombs highlighted the number of posts saying “left lane only” for straight ahead, whereas the actual rule of the road in the Highway Code for straight ahead is whichever lane is appropriate. (Rule 186)

• When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwiseselect 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.

The summing up to pay attention is also as per the Highway Code (rule 148)

Driving requires focus and attention at all times.

Nearside lane (left) is straight on and outside lane (right) is when your going round the roundabout .

Nearside lane straight on (left)and outside lane (right) to go round roundabout to exit onto other rds.

This is similar to what I think. It looks like the exit where the green arrow is, is wider and then becomes narrower. It looks as though the left lane merges into the right lane.

I think you can use either lane to go from red arrow to green arrow.

I think newer drivers or new drivers to the area might use the left lane and that local drivers might have a tendency to use the right lane.

I can’t believe the insurance companies haven’t sorted this out between them.

You were in the correct lane. He was not. But that doesn’t even matter!

Your car was occupying that space. He drove into your car. Even if you were in the wrong lane, it doesn’t matter. You were ahead of him, he could see you, he drove up alongside/slightly behind and then just drove into you. It doesn’t matter if you were in the right or wrong lane; he cannot just drive his car into another car. He’d be at fault anyway.

If’s ridiculous that they have sorted this and it’s going to a hearing. And he tried to drive off without giving his details? Wow.

"Driving requires focus and attention at all times."

Maybe so but real life experience suggests this does not always happen. In this case, for example a professional driver failed to indicate correctly.

He is not alone.

Either lane. I have learned to be cautious if I've been in the left hand lane approaching exits like that in case someone on my right is also aiming to exit.

@TheDefiant I am a local - locals use the left lane. Other locals have replied to this thread to confirm.

There are no merge arrows on exit so no, the left does not merge into the right.

I've already stated this upthread but the exit is NOT wide enough for two cars. There is no merging or two lanes on the exit.

@CactusUmbrella then you even have local knowledge and habit on your side!

I can see there's no space for 2 cars at the exit, it really does look wider and then narrower from the picture though. Enough to make me think a driver in a rush might chance it.

That was a small scenario I could imagine happening to you.

Local to me we have a right turn at lights everyone turning right moves into the right lane SO much earlier than normal (there's 2 right turns before the one at the lights and normally you'd only move in after those) so it catches not local drivers out.

I hate it. Occasionally I try and drive to that turn as per the rules - you end up pissing off all the early laners and all the people in the left lane too!

Good luck with your case.

Definitely left lane, taxi in the wrong. Taxi saw your car and drove over anyway even though exit not big enough. They probably don't care as it's not their own car. They are stalling hoping you will give up. Keep going, you should win.

This is from the Highway Code, it clearly shows using the left-hand line for going straight on. I would’ve made the same assumption as you. As there were no markings on the road to say otherwise I would assume left-hand lane for turning left or going straight on, right hand lane for turning right.

I think either lane is a valid choice, but, it is the responsibility of the person in the right hand lane to not drive into a person on their inside when exiting/changing lanes on a roundabout.

Sorry but if you have to ask that question you should be retaking your test! Left hand lane to go left or straight on right hand side to go right.....doesn't look to be any ambiguity/grey areas on that roundabout you have shown.

Left hand lane.

The ONLY reason it would EVER go 50/50 is if it can be argued that you could have anticipated what the taxi driver was doing, and avoided the accident.

The argument would be that there is no such thing as priority and we have to be aware of people potentially being in the wrong lane, and we have a duty to avoid an accident.

However, i don't think that's likely from the information you've given. it should be settled in your favour.

Is this both insurance companies who are dealing with the accident?
I’ve previously worked in insurance and very surprised that the taxis insurers would be arguing that it wasn’t their fault without any evidence.. I’d ask your insurers what the taxis argument and evidence is.. hopefully it will get settled soon without court.

Left lane, right lan is for exit 3

Sounds dumb for his insurers to dispute it if he drove into your car and you exited first. I would also have gone in the left lane and if I had been in the right hand one, I’d have looked carefully over my shoulder before exiting. They should just admit liability.

Left lane

Am also a local and I always use LH lane on this roundabout. Cannot understand why anyone would suggest anything else given the lane width and the signage upon approach. The taxi driver was at fault. I suspect he’s appealing because losing means not only a pay out for his car and yours, but a loss of livelihood. He’s in denial - and obviously tried lying through his teeth to his insurers.

Left lane. I think you are right. Hopefully it goes in your favour.

If I had happened to be incorrectly in the right lane I would have waited until my left was clear, to turn or more likely just gone around the roundabout again.

The strange thing about this roundabout seems to me to be the two lane approach from your direction but only one lane approaches / exits for all other. It’s like someone has done half a job and the point of the two lanes is to help traffic flow but the arrows have been forgotten.

Either lane, but if you’re on the right, it’s even more important to indicate and merge safely into the left lane before leaving the roundabout. If you’re in the left lane, you are certainly in the clear.

Can't see any pictures but Highway Code says to stay in left lane going straight across unless signage says otherwise. You were correct in the signalling. It does say to be aware of traffic on the roundabout signalling left to come off but it sounds like he was behind if he scraped all down your side? Did he signal? I personally don't think you were to blame but could be 50/50.