Roundabout who was in the wrong?

[UsernameA1B2]

I am new to driving but still think I was not in the wrong. If I am can someone explain why thanks. I have attached a diagram to explain. I am the blue car and the blue line shows the path I am taking. I was using my indicators. The orange car is the other car in questions and the orange line is the path they deciced to take. They did not indicate and I did not know they wanted to change lane on roundabout until I got on. When I got onto roundabout (the outer lane) the car decided to change to my lane (see the orange line going from inner lane to outer lane) then pip their horn and then speed past me after both exiting roundabout and give me the middle finger. I am wrong to have got into the lane indicated in diagram (the outer lane) on roundabout when that lane was clear and only the inner lane had a car in it. Thanks sorry if not clear.

Excellent diagram though.

On big roundabouts with multiple exit lanes there are often traffic lights which takes this issue away somewhat. I agree in theory you should be able to stick to lanes but you can't control other people and that's the issue here!

Could you maybe do your pass plus? Or some refresher lessons? Just to get a bit more confidence?

They should have indicated when they decided to change lanes so they were wrong not to do that. But knowing that half the country can’t be bothered to use their indicators on roundabouts you probably should have given room for them to do this.

What area did this happen in? 🤔

@picklemewalnuts in many cases, road markings are woeful having worn off over time. Fine if it's got road signs and fresh enough roadpaint, but this isnt always the case.

I found this very helpful

I learned to drive a very long time ago and was not taught much about roundabouts

You don't need to drive defensively to not pull out in front of someone on a roundabout....it's literally the rule!

You give way to traffic on your right, whether it's on the roundabout, pulling into the roundabout or about to pull onto the roundabout. It doesn't matter, you must give way.

OP is in the wrong because she shouldn't have been there. OP has said there was another car on the inner lane of the roundabout - perhaps they were going for that right-hand exit lane?

If you mean directional arrows, there are none on OP’s diagram

No....you don't indicate lane changes on roundabouts because that makes drivers think you're leaving at the next exit when you may not be. You indicate before reaching the exit.

I knew this would be about a left turn on a roundabout as I clicked!

You're certainly not the first and won't be the last OP. I’ve nearly been taken out a few times by cars pulling out as I’ve been indicating and manoeuvring around the roundabout

personally I think the lack of cars on the roads during lockdowns has made people to forget about giving way

I would say, roundabouts are an art, not a science.

Expect other people to do just about anything and you won't go far wrong.

Doing a big roundabout with my mum (driving 60 years), me (35 years) and my son (6 years) is fun. Taught three different ways of doing it, and all convinced ours is best.

It's a great explanation of why you drive defensively!

Agree with this. I actually failed my test the first time 20-odd years ago, for doing what the other car did. I was told either change lanes before if I want to exit in left lane or change lanes after I’ve safely left the roundabout.
so they were in the wrong.

but, joining a roundabout, I wouldn’t have done what you did because I would anticipate that they may well change lanes as they did.

@SushiGo and @picklemewalnuts: completely agree.

Indicators are a distraction & should be used to indicate where the other driver is thinking of going. It is no guarantee.

Are the exits dual carriageway? The orange car could (should) have used the outside lane without causing a collision. The problem is you cannot expect people to do that - when it comes to lane changes some people are just free spirits.

They sound like a dickhead, nobody needs to behave like that. However they perhaps thought you’d cut them up. Better, as others have said, to wait for traffic to clear on the right before entering the rbt. Great diagram.

It only makes people think you’re coming off if you leave the indicator on. If you just quickly pop it on and off while you change lanes it’s obvious what you’re doing. Where I live there are 4 lane roundabouts and you absolutely do need to indicate if you’re crossing lanes because otherwise someone will crash into you! And it sounds like they didn’t indicate at all, anyway.

There's a roundabout I use often where there are two lanes to exit but I have to turn left almost immediately after exiting so have to be in the left lane before I exit otherwise I'd miss my turn. Hope that makes sense. It's a traffic light controlled roundabout so this issue doesn't arise, it's safe and straightforward to change lanes on the roundabout because the oncoming traffic is held at a red light. But in this scenario, OP, the other driver might have needed to be in the left lane on the exit road and that's why they needed to move over. You never know. I hated roundabouts while learning so we spent entire lessons on them to build my confidence - I was certainly taught you don't enter the roundabout unless there is a clear gap in both lanes to the right, whichever lane you're entering.

Agree with this. Nice diagram though 👌

they Were in the wrong lane for heading straight ahead and given they were already on the roundabout they had right of way. Sorry op. They were in the right. You shouldn’t have pulled out. No excuse for their behaviour though

Are the exits dual carriageway? Yeah all entrances and exits onto this roundabout are dual carriageways

Are there markings to indicate that they are 2 labe exits? Not that it matters of course - give way to the right always

*. 2 lane

You were in the wrong. You should have been aware of the car on the right. They look to have been doing a right turn so we're correct to move from the middle lane to the outer lane to take the exit. You just didn't look. A roundabout isn't a blind bend.

You’re miles in the wrong and could have easily caused an accident

When did you pass your test??