Who's being U here? Driving question.

[WelshMoth]

Everyday I navigate a small roundabout to get onto DC's school road. It has 4 roads running onto it and is just big enough to be a 2 lane roundabout.

For the 3rd time since school restarted just last week, I've had a fist shaken at me (hairy arsed lorry driver), head shaken and shouting at me (hairy arsed van driver) and today a middle finger accompanied by yelling (stroppy blonde woman in shiny car). Sorry for the labels - helps me remember.

Anyhow, I always use the left lane to go straight on, aka the 2nd exit off the roundabout. Those going to the right, or doubling back onto the road they came from, take the right lane.

I'm assuming these 'pissed off drivers' think I'm turning left into the road they are waiting to pull out of, so make to pull out and then have to jam on as I'm actually going straight on.

Am I following the Highway code here? As far as I'm concerned, I think I am. I'm getting cheesed off for getting yelled at. I can hardly indicate to go straight on can I, so why the grief?

I await the MN jury.

I don't think yabu, if you were going left you would indicate left so I would assume your going straight on

YANBU.....I'd do exactly the same as you.

I agree with shut up. I think indicating at roundabouts should be law. In this instance no indicating = straight on.
I have this same problem regularly as I drive a lot for work!
Gets me annoyed too!

Yanbu, they should be paying attention to your indicators I vaguely remember being told by my driving instructor that either lane is acceptable for going straight on unless there are arrows on the road indicating otherwise.

Stay in the left lane but indicate right? Just so they know you aren't taking the first turn?

I have NO idea what the rules are about that, tbh. But it might give them a clue.

I always indicate right until I pass the exit before the one I am taking, then I indicate left.

as long as you are using your indicators properly then yanbu.

is the 2nd exit at 12o'clock from the road you come from?

I've just started driving and do what you do, in fact that's the way my instructor taught me.
No indicator=straight on, but indicate before you turn off.

I would (and do) do the same as you, but DH, who drives more often, at busier times of day, reckons it's safer to go straight on from the r/h lane on a 2 lane roundabout.

I was taught many, many years ago that the left hand lane was for turning left in.

So I use the right hand lane, but use my indicators properly.

YANBU but maybe stay left but indicate right to show that you are carrying on?

If you are on the roundabout, you have right of way. So shake those fists right back at them!

I've just re-read your op. If it has four lanes leading onto it then it is probably the left lane to go left, the middle two to go straight on, and the right lane to go right. Though I still don't think your wrong in going straight on in left lane, but most people (particularly those that use it every day) see it as I've written above

Thanks everyone. Was starting to doubt myself after earlier's unhappy little outburst.

Hecate, I've actually indicated right a few times, only to be blared at by car driving in the inside lane and thinking I was trying to squash in (narrow 2 laner). Bloody can't win!

The straight on exit is a little less than 12 o clock, more of a half-eleven IYKWIM and there are no markings to indicate lane rules, so I assumed that regular highway code rules apply here. I pride myself on being a safe-ish driver. I always indicate appropriately.

Am on guard each time now and would love a simple gesture to say "shaddap you're sooooooo wrong" but that moment passes as I inwardly seethe and drive on.

Morons.

"Stay in the left lane but indicate right? Just so they know you aren't taking the first turn?"

No, I'm pretty sure you shouldn't indicate right to go straight on. The highway code, if I remember, is left hand lane + indicate for turning left, left hand + indicate just before exit for straight on, right hand lane + indicate right for any turn to the right of straight on.

Indicating right just confuses the issue if you're not turning right.

She shouldn't indicate right as she is not turning right - that is not the correct thing to do (assuming her exit is straight over and not miles round to the right) and will prevent people from her exit knowing they can pull onto the roundabout as they will think she is turning right.

OP are there definitely no road markings to say left lane is first exit only? That's the only reason I can think for these people getting the hump as clearly YANBU as you are following the highway code.

What about arrows on road on approach to roundabout. It depends on the roundabout tbh

Shutupanddrive, sorry - should explain clearly. The roundabout is a 2 laner. 1 inner, 1 outer. It has 4 roads leading on and off it - 1 at 9 o clock, 1 at 12ish o clock, 1 at 3 o clock and 1 at 6 o clock.

"either lane is acceptable for going straight on unless there are arrows on the road indicating otherwise"

I'm sure that's not right! Unless you're on a dual carriageway, or if there are road markings to the contrary, the right hand lane is always for turning right.

Make a little sign to put in your window to say 'I am going straight on fuckwits ' ?

And definitely no road markings.

earlyrise, liking it. Liking it a LOT

Off to get giant felt pen!

There are often local "conventions" that the outsider doesn't know. But its irrelevant as you have right of way anyway.

Ah then ignore my last post and definately not BU!

YANBU.

We have a series of roundabouts like the one you describe; everyone uses the left lane for left and straight ahead, and the right lane for turning right. No-one ever tries to pull out of the straight ahead non-indicating people.

The only fuckwits we have are those who try to use the right hand lane to overtake in, which as the exit is single lane is quite dangerous. Only use the right hand lane to go straight ahead if there are two exit lanes. (I don't know what the highway code says, this is commonsense)

Wonders whether 'Fuckwit Driver Read the Highway Code' is too strong a signage....

When I was taught to drive I was told always use the left hand lane if going left or straight on unless told otherwise