To think that people don’t use this mini roundabout correctly? (Diagram and picture)

[AndiOliversGlasses]

This is on a regular route I drive and I am always approaching it from the angle seen in the photo, to turn right. My approach road is short so no time to build up any speed. As you can see, it is really a T junction of a smaller road in to a bigger one, but it has been configured with a mini roundabout.

Nine times out of 10 traffic coming from the right or the left doesn’t slow down, so even if a car coming from my right is not on the roundabout yet it will beep at me if I pull out and cause it to slow down. I know that the rule is give way to traffic coming from the right, but doesn’t that only apply to traffic already on the roundabout?

I can see that the problem with a mini one is that there is much less time that the car is actually “on” it, but surely everyone should be slowing down as they approach a roundabout?

At this one, usually the only way to get out is by waiting for a pedestrian to cross at the zebra and stop the traffic from the right that way.

AIBU to think that a mini roundabout is still a roundabout and the normal rules should apply? Or am I misunderstanding the rules?

I’m already stopped.

sometimes mini roundabouts just don’t work. In your example in order to turn right you need a break in traffic from the right or for somebody approaching from the left to turn right.
if traffic is constant from your right you just have to wait.
however if no traffic from your right you should be able to enter the roundabout carefully and force the traffic to your left to give way to you. They might not like it but they have to.

But have seen a few in the rear view mirror

You are about 50 posts too late with that joke. Someone already made it.

Your horn isn't to alert somebody to get out of your way.

This is real life, not The Wind in the Willows.

What’s it for then? It’s certainly not for telling someone you are angry with them after the danger has already passed.

They don't because you can't go due to cars on the right!

There are many threads on whether you give way to cars on the roundabout or approaching and it's common sense that the millisecond between approaching and being on, is not long enough for anyone to stop. This is why there are so many crashes - because people are plain fucking stupid.

If you can't clear the roundabout by the time the car on the right reaches it, don't pull out.

I get that sometimes you misjudge how big a gap you need to pull out but surely you learn from your mistakes. If people keep beeping at you for the same thing it doesn't sound like you're learning from it.

But I can see them approaching from more than a millisecond away.

I have looked back at how I phrased the OP. I said
Nine times out of 10 traffic coming from the right or the left doesn’t slow down, so even if a car coming from my right is not on the roundabout yet it will beep at me if I pull out and cause it to slow down.

Perhaps I phrased that badly. I meant that nine out of ten cars do not slow down on approach. I did not mean that I get beeped at 9 times out of every ten that I use the roundabout. I mostly wait patiently for a gap.

On occasion I have pulled out and been beeped at. Perhaps once every couple of months, with 2 journeys every week day.

*I was taught to slow down on approach to a mini roundabout.

Continuing at the same speed as you approach was incorrect.*

@KeirSpoutsTwaddle slow down to what tho? It's a 30 and you slow to 20, the car in OPs situation still isn't going anywhere if there's a constant stream of 20mph cars.

@AndiOliversGlasses but not enough milliseconds for them to be clearly put out by your pulling out because you haven't judged their speed or approach correctly? If you can see them longer, you shouldn't be pulling out. The fact that you've commented that shows either a misunderstanding of the Highway Code which we've clarified you had and bit having the ability to judge speed and distance, not qualities a driver should be missing. And you're obtuse.

OP I think it's great that you've asked the question if you're not sure, and hopefully you've got some answers on why you need to be giving way to the cars approaching on the right and why the cars on the left aren't giving way. If not, or you still don't understand why you're not doing it right, then maybe you could book a refresher driving course and ask the driving instructor to specifically cover this roundabout?

”if you can see them longer you shouldn’t be pulling out”

How so? If I am at a T junction and I see a car coming I can still pull out if I judge I have a safe gap to pull out into before the car meets me. Why is the rule different for pulling on to a roundabout?

Ah yes, sorry, let me clarify. Seeing them for longer (having more time to make the decision) but still not having the space / time to pull out is bad. Seeing them for longer and having the time and space to pull out is good.

It's for exactly what you've quoted. To let somebody know you're there when they haven't seen you. Like when you're approaching a humped bridge and need to take it in the middle of the road or when something reverses and hasn't spotted you in their blind spot and so on.

It's not to tell people to get out of your way!

So my point is that I can see them coming. They are driving at 20mph (that is the limit). I am waiting to pull on to the roundabout. They can see me. They can also see the zebra crossing. When I see them there would still be time for them to slow to 10 on approach to the roundabout, which would mean that I had a big enough gap to pull out into and would also give them a much safer stopping distance should a pedestrian appear out of nowhere. They would not have to stop to give way to me. But they don’t slow down, they act as if the roundabout is just a straight road (bear in mind they do not even need to steer around the button because it is so small).

Yes if there's nothing coming from your right, if there is then you can't go so they don't have to give way to you

it’s not me that’s beeping! And you agree that to use it to castigate someone is a misuse?

If they did that, they'd be giving way to you. Which they don't need to do. They have priority.

Wow, some harsh comments here.

Our local double mini roundabout sounds similar - drivers on the 'main' road treat it like a straight road. Considerate driving seems to be a thing of the past and often I see drivers actively speed up on their approach - "my right of way!" seems to trump any sort of considerate driving.

They often block the roundabout itself due to position of pedestrian crossings. Again, "my right of way" obviously gives them the right, but why not be more considerate and let traffic flow?

I have not rtft but have read your posts @AndiOliversGlasses . From my experience, people seem to resent slowing down or stopping or giving way entirely these days and take it as a sign of weakness/personal affront!

I have a mini roundabout like this but with a straight on exit too which is the one I take. The road going left/right is a main road and busier. Most of the time I'm stopped at the roundabout looking to my right and people who are miles away are speeding so I don't have time to get across. I have to give way even though I'm there first and ready to go and they're not close physically. The speed is the issue.

Then I do get a gap and the traffic from my left never wants to stop. I'd say 9 out of 10 then pull over the line.... Either speeding downhill towards the junction and assume I'm going right and they have time , or just don't look or slam brakes on at the last second and overshoot the line.

My horn gets a lot of use 🙈

People are just aggressive and awful drivers and there's too much traffic I'd say. Do what you have to do to be safe but I think most people have to be fairly assertive at junctions or else you'd be there all blinking day!

No, they would be slowing down to a safe speed to approach the roundabout and a collateral benefit of that would be that there was a safe gap for me to pull out. Not the Same as giving way at all. Because they should slow down to that speed even there is nobody waiting where I am!

Thank you @SodOffbacktoaibu and@Glassstillhalffull

"How so? If I am at a T junction and I see a car coming I can still pull out if I judge I have a safe gap to pull out into before the car meets me. Why is the rule different for pulling on to a roundabout?"

Whether at a T-junction or a roundabout, if you pulling out causes traffic from your right to slow down, you've done it wrong. If people are beeping you, you've clearly slowed them down.

That’s obvious. However I said “a safe gap”.

The statement above was not in relation to the times I have been beeped at. It was in response to a pp who said that if I could ever see a car coming I should not pull out in front of them. She has since clarified that her post was worded ambiguously.