Just seen a similar thread on Pistonheads and it reminded me to ask something on here. Thought I'd ask you lot so's I get a level headed opinion. I have thought about asking my insurance company which option they would like me to take as ultimately it'll be them that decide whether or not to pay when I crash (wrongly in my opinion, there should be a proper hearing)
I often use this roundabout to get to my parents house coming from my own. After I leave the M61 I can't directly enter the A666 because of cross hatching and so I have to use the roundabout in the picture. I come up the slip road marked 1 (bottom left) and go over and exit at the area marked 2. Now, here's my question. Which lane would you take on your approach onto the roundabout? I've filled in the white lines where Google have drawn over them and there are no lane marking arrows. You have to stop before entering the roundabout 99% of the time due to traffic.
My own opinion is that I approach in the left lane as per the highway code, left lane for left and onwards, right lane for rights turns unless otherwise indicated. but this here roundabout is a nigh on death trap. People continually come up the right lane, stop alongside me, who's stopped in the the left lane and then when we set off they try to cut across me to turn left, causing all sorts of problems.
What lane would you use?

[img][/img]

Doesnt matter which lane you are in if going stright over. Infact I was told during my driving lessons if going stright over ona roundabout where there are 2 lanes on the approach and no signs to say different that you should use both lanes. More often that not I will use the right hand lane as its invariably empty. People in the left hand lane should also give way to traffic merging from the right hand lane too.

This is certainly the case on that roundabout too (assuming no signs say different) as there are 2 lanes on entry and exit for straightover.

As for turning left, its pretty clear that you should be in the left hand lane....

i would use left lane. but as there is two lanes on the exit i suppose either really.

is there any lane markings on the island?

the problem you are probably having is people joining in the outside, and then trying to leave on the inside lane.

I'd use the left.

BMW and Audi drivers would use the right

i would us ethe left hand lane as well.

i suppose you could use the right but make sure you enter on the right and exit in the right hand lane and not cut anybody up.

stuart

Two lane in and two lanes out means you can use either.

What you really mean to ask though is surely 'which lane would you use to turn left?' as it's the people who turn left from the right lane who cause the problem. In which case the answer is that they should be in the left lane unless there are signs or markings to indicate otherwise.

I suspect the reason people do it is that very few people go straight on from that entrance to the roundabout and so using the right lane to jump the queue for turning left is a good shortcut!

[Edited on 25/6/09 by matt_claydon]

That island in the middle is lower than the roadways. It's subways and such for the rubbish people to sit in and do their drugs.
I don't mind people coming up the right lane and driving over and then leaving on the right lane so much (though it does annoy me when they're speeding idiots who just won't wait and come flying up on you) because as said there are two lanes on the exit. Fine.
It's the people who approach in the right and try to turn left. This happens around 1 in every 3 times that I use it.
I think that their thinking is that I shouldn't be using the roundabout to go straight over but like I say when I come off the M61, I am on the same road surface as the A666 but cannot move over onto it because of cross hatchings on the road placed there because of speed and traffic loading very likely.
I wonder what the insurance opinion would be. I don't have much faith in them not to put it down to "caused by both parties".
Edited to add Balidey, thems the very people I mean that come shooting up on the right and flying into the roundabout that I don't like.

[Edited on 25/6/09 by mistergrumpy]

quote:

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Originally posted by balidey
I'd use the left.

BMW and Audi drivers would use the right

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quote:

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Originally posted by eddbaz

quote:

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Originally posted by balidey
I'd use the left.

BMW and Audi drivers would use the right

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I'd also add volvo drivers to that list

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I'd say anyone using the right hand lane at (1) and turning left across them should be held liable for crashing into anyone going straight over to (2) from the left lane.

Sounds like its just a desperate attempt to avoid the turn left queue to me by going up the outside.

If going straight on and you know people do turn left across you, then why not just use the outside lane all the time and peel of into the outer lane at (2)?? Right or wrong - got to look out for yourself and advanced driving courses generally teach defensive techniques. Not putting yourself into a position where you can be cut up is just that.

from the pictures it looks as though the left lane would direct you to turn left, i.e. the markings run into the point which divides the left exit from the continuing roundabout, so for straight on I'd go with the right lane.

Just my opinion, and no I dont have a BMW Audi, or Volvo.

Id say use the left lane but i was also told that you can use either to go straight ahead.

To me, the road between 1 & 2 seems to have a lane to go left into exit 2.

I would tend to go to the outside lane on road 1, then into the outside lane on exit 2 - but that's from looking at the map, and I may have a different opinion if driving on the roundabout in real life!

Simple 4 road island with 2 lanes round the island, 2 lanes on your entry slip road and 2 lanes on your exit.

Under normal circumstances, the left hand lane is for turning left or going straight on IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. The right hand lane is for going straight IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE or for exits to the right of straight on. Local deviations may apply.

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Originally posted by smart51

Under normal circumstances, the left hand lane is for turning left or going straight on IN THE LEFT HAND LANE. The right hand lane is for going straight IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE or for exits to the right of straight on. Local deviations may apply.

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quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey
People in the left hand lane should also give way to traffic merging from the right hand lane too.

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Look at his page...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338

Quote...

Signals and position.

When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
* keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
* keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
* signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* select 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

Can't you ask the traffic guys at work or don't you talk to them?

Personally I'd say either but stick to that lane, ie. right lane in, right lane out. Unless it's quiet then left in, right on roundabout, left out

adrian

Oi, Balidey I drive a Vauxhall
Anyhow to add, if it all adds to the conversation. The left turn also has two lanes so the left approach on the slip road doesn't exactly just flow left.
I could just use the right lane all the time you're right but there is the fact that if you were unaccustomed to this roundabout, you cannot see the other slip road from the slip road 1 and not knowing if it has two lanes on it or not you would take the left lane to be on the safe side and from my experience exit 2 is quite tight, has a turn, it's short and has a blind abrupt entry onto the A666 which has quite fast moving 2 lane traffic with lots of big wagons and so you're better off in the left lane to try and gain as much time as you can to look what's coming and that's what all the vehicles do anyway. Also like it or not, rightly or wrongly I was taught left for left and ahead and right for right turns and so in my eyes I am travelling rightly and curteously.

Having just been looking at the Highway Code. The only possible reason to use the right lane to turn left is to overtake slower traffic on the left. As such the rules of overtaking apply...

137
On a two-lane dual carriageway you should stay in the left-hand lane. Use the right-hand lane for overtaking or turning right. After overtaking, move back to the left-hand lane when it is safe to do so.

The last bit is the key, move back when it is safe to do so i.e. if there is a car there it isn't safe so don't move!

I'd stick with the left lane and if someone hits you it's on them.

quote:

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Originally posted by andyharding

quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey
People in the left hand lane should also give way to traffic merging from the right hand lane too.

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Not according to my understanding of the highway code, please quote a source for this. I believe anyone wanting to move from the right lane left has to yield to traffic already in the left lane. I certainly do not give way to someone who has invariably tried to queue jump and then barge back in front of me.

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quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey

quote:

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Originally posted by andyharding

quote:

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Originally posted by flak monkey
People in the left hand lane should also give way to traffic merging from the right hand lane too.

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Not according to my understanding of the highway code, please quote a source for this. I believe anyone wanting to move from the right lane left has to yield to traffic already in the left lane. I certainly do not give way to someone who has invariably tried to queue jump and then barge back in front of me.

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Source - I was told it by my instructor on my advanced driving course. Not sure its written in the highway code. If you can find anything to contradict it then please do so.

I didnt suggest that it was a valid excuse for cutting people up either.

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to mr grumpy though, its quite a simple one as far as i can see! People turning left from the right lane are obviously wrong unless there is signage to indicate they are allowed. People probably do it because they think it bizarre that someone would go straight on from the left lane when there is a shorter queue in the right lane that goes the same place!

I'd go in the right lane as it appears the "left" lane directs you pretty sharply left. I suppose it also depends on where the majority of the traffic is heading. Very few people in the left lane will be carrying on straight over the roundabout like you so most people in the left lane will be going left. So you could go in the right and move left (which will then be empty what with everyone going left).

Points taken. Like I say there's no signage at all.
Adi I don't generally speak to the traffic at work as they're not at my station so I only see them in passing.

quote:

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Originally posted by andyharding
Look at his page...
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338

Quote...

Signals and position.

When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
* keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
* keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
* signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

* select 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

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If people were using their indicators on roundabouts nowadays none of it would happen, it's a pet hate of mine. If you were sat at the junction with your right indicator on they would probably not expect you to be going left.

As for " People in the left hand lane should also give way to traffic merging from the right hand lane too" if you are in the correct lane and indicating your intention it's up to them to "merge" not up to you to give way.

I agree that you are correct to go straight on from the left lane (or the right for that matter), but if you are having repeated problems, I'd be tempted to go straight on from the right lane and if it looks like there is going to be any problem with someone trying to undertake you and cut you up from the left, just go right round the roundabout and try again.