Roundabout discipline

[mattie]

I have had a couple of near misses on the same roundabout in the last few days.

The situation is this, I approach the roundabout at the six 0'clock position in the right hand lane, intending to take the exit at the one O'clock position, there are also exits at the seven, nine, eleven and two O'clock positions.

In the first situation, a car entered the roundabout at the same time as me in the left hand lane and took the same exit, resulting in us exiting together side by side, the driver didn't bother looking until we both had left the roundabout.

In the second situation, I was already on the roundabout, when three cars entered the roundabout from the nine 0'clock position, and all took the same exit as me.

I was using indicators where appropriate, there are no lane markings on the roundabout.

In my view, the first driver should have entered the roundabout on the same side as me.

The second situation, the cars that entered from my left should have waited to see which exit I was intending to take before committing themselves.

Comments please.

[Panic Button]

Sounds like a very unusual layout of roundabout, so it is hard to say exactly what you should do. Perhaps you are sticking too close to the roundabout until too late, giving others the chance to block you.

Try moving left a bit earlier, even if you effectively take both lanes. Stake your claim to the bit of road you need and don't be too timid.

[almcd007]

I would say you are in the correct lane for going where you want to. Just have a look and see if there are any arrows.

The first example is maybe a little give and take as people often think they can go round a roundabout in the outside lane without indicating and expect you to know where they are going !!
The problem is you have to be a mind reader and exeptionally astute.

The second situation is that even though they came onto the roundabout and didn't give way to you properly, you are still in a position to see them and although not your fault entirely, have to assume everyone is a sodding idiot and blind as a bat. Its roundabout roulette !

Roundabouts when used (and people indicate) properly are great - it just takes one twonk not to and it all goes to pot.

[Panic Button]

It's debatable if the car on your left in your first example was in the wrong lane.

Is One o clock right or straight on, considering there is also an exit at two o clock?

The highway code says right lane for last exit, appropriate lane for intermediate exits.

[mattie]

The One O'clock (my intended exit) is to the right.
Once on the roundabout, there are no lane markings.

[woodchopper]

You were in the correct lane for your exit, the other driver basically tried to overtake you on the left which ain't allowed.

[burnhal]

I failed my first driving test many years ago by approaching a roundabout in the left hand lane to take the exit at one o'clock. Basically I was informed the rule is left hand lane for up to 11 o'clock, either for twelve o'clock and right hand lane therefater

[Panic Button]

I may have given the impression I thought you were in the wrong lane. I don't, and I would have chosen the right lane aswell.

My concern is that if there had been an accident he might have been able to claim he was legitimately using the left lane. His case would be helped if the road number for the road you joined and left the roundabout on was the same. He could then claim he was going straight on.

I am also a little surprised that you say there was a near miss, but you left the roundabout along side him. You would have been unable to see if he was indicating left so having already gone past three exits how did you know he wasn't going past the fourth?

Perhaps you should have eased off and gone behind him

[mattie]

Panic Button - I could see that he was going to take the same exit as me, it is also wide enough to accomodate two cars (to begin with), also he was alerted to my presence by the driver of the vehicle behind me who leaned on his horn.

I did end up behind him.

[chevrolet1.8]

i always thought that if you were intending to exit a roundabout more that half way round you take the right hand lane, any exit before half way you take the left lane.

[Panic Button]

Definitelely sounds like he was in the wrong

[pagey]

I don't think its a matter of whether it is further around than 12 o'clock as to whether you choose the left or right lane. If you had an exit at 1 o'clock and 3 o'clock, you entering at 6, you wouldn't use the right for 1 o'clock lane as the left lane would never be used.

It is also important to consider the primary route through the roundabout (usually denoted by a thicker black line on the sign). An example near where I live is a roundabout with exits at 6, 7, 9, 2 and 4 o'clock. from 6 you should go to 2 in the left lane as it is the primary exit for your entry in this case.

[ianess]

In my neck of the woods there are several roundabouts as confusing as the one you describe. The Highway Code gives reasonable enough advice for normal situations then goes on to tell you to take heed of the road markings if different! My local authority hasn't heard of the Highway Code.
Basically I agree with others in that as you were exiting after the 12 o'clock position you were in the correct lane, and the other driver had no right to overtake you on the inside.
Best advice ever given is to expect the unexpected.