Numpties in the morning

[Deleted member 55947]

Every Monday it's the same, two lane traffic approaching a roundabout left lane for straight on (main road) or left turn and right lane for right turn only. There's always a bit of a queue in the left hand lane but some half wits decide to use that lane and cut people up on the roundabout to go straight on, nearly always an Audi or BMW driver. Seriously thinking of using one of the old vans and taking them out.

Monday morning rant over

 

[Borys]

I have it all the time on one roundabout I'm going through to work.
And guess what on next traffic lights we get there at the same time, some drivers need to relax big time.
So so annoying!!!
Shame I sold my Wrangler :-(

 

[Mr. B]

Some people would use the right lane to go all the way around the r/bout to avoid the queue and then exit as per normal as if in left lane.

 

[Markjames]

There is a roundabout in ashford that always backs up on the right hand lane to turn right. The number of people that go down the left hand lane and try and turn right is huge. Biggest issue is fact that you can't always see them until they are beside you as you are trying to come off of the roundabout.

 

[scottydee]

I must admit that a time or two I've been in the same senario, and I've gone down the right lane, but instead of cutting people up, I've simply gone all the way around the roundabout then turned left (or straight on) from there! Perfectly legal, and easy!

 

[Borys]

AK40 mounted instead of a star,issue sorted legall too??

Rule is simple,left to go left or straight not to go all around the roundabout,driving license banned.In most Europe countries it is a fine plus points,belive in UK too

 

[h17n dj]

a '13' reg Viano cut me right up this morning! luckily i was going slow as this roundabout has traffic light otherwise there would have been collision! I was driving the Audi, so not the audi driver this time!

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Ah, lane discipline on roundabouts. I love this one because sooooo many people presume that they're right and get upset when someone doesn't follow THEIR rule.

There is no "correct" lane for going straight ahead at a roundabout. HC rule 186 says:

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

•select the appropriate (my bold) 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

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.

Nowhere does it say "The appropriate lane when leaving the roundabout at an exit before / after 12 o'clock is the left / right lane". You are meant to exercise your own judgement. The "safer" choice is the left hand lane, but there is no "right" or "wrong". Any such "rules of thumb" are just that, local custom, rules of thumb, folklore, call them what you will.

The drivers who chose to use the right hand lane when going straight on when the left hand lane is busy are actually helping to keep traffic flowing by not adding to the queue in the left lane. The correct procedure at the straight on exit to the roundabout, assuming it's only one lane at the exit, would be to filter in in turn. But what often happens is irate but misinformed drivers who have taken the left lane refuse to let anyone in front of them because it may add a second or two to their journey time!

 

[Deleted member 55947]

In my case the lanes were clearly marked

 

[EddieH]

I find the most annoying and dangerous are drivers who don't stick to their chosen lane on the rounabout itself. They seem to take the most direct route. I'm sure it would help if the lanes were marked but, as we all know, this is often not the case. Unfortunately it seems (to me) more often than not to be elderly gentlemen who most are at fault. I put this down to age related 'awareness'. My dad was a prime example of this and refused to give up his driving until after having a couple of knocks trying to park in a HUGE supermarket - and only then 'cos mum point blank refused to get in the car any more!

 

[Deleted member 65149]

In my case the lanes were clearly marked

You didn't mention that before did you? But are they clearly marked?

If there are just arrows in the road, then they are merely to indicate advisory directions, not mandatory. Their presence would only come into play in the event of a collision when they may be used by one party to provide evidence of their safer movement.

If the arrows in the road are accompanied by destination names (eg CITY, A3, YORK ST) then these are to show the appropriate route to take. But again aren't mandatory. You don't have to go to the city for instance!

It's only if the arrows in the road are accompanied by instructions (such as TURN LEFT, AHEAD ONLY, TURN RIGHT) that it's compulsory to follow those directions when in the lanes to which they apply.

But of course there are often instances where road markings are covered by preceding vehicles so those not familiar with the area may find themselves in an inappropriate lane. Where this happens the driver should attempt to get into the correct lane for the route they intend to take. But this can become difficult when those who think they know the rules do their best to take on the role of policeman and enforce those "rules".

 

[Deleted member 65149]

I find the most annoying and dangerous are drivers who don't stick to their chosen lane on the rounabout itself. They seem to take the most direct route. /QUOTE]
In my experience it's the slower drivers who do this, particularly when the road is busy. (I have no problem with people "straightlining" roundabouts as long as they're not getting in my way by doing so.) Generally those slower drivers are also the ones who exit a roundabout onto a two-lane road straight into the outside lane, then stay in that lane for the next few hundred yards.

 

[blacklight124]

Its actually an advanced driving technique to straight line a roundabout, though thats if its not busy & could be dangerous for other drivers. Again as Knighterrant says, use your own judgement.

Im the worlds worst for standing up to people who zip down empty lanes and cut in or break traffic flow to get a few seconds ahead. It was ok years ago when I had my SEAT Cordoba and would just muscle past their Audi/Land rover etc. Im not sure Ill be so confident with the shiny new Merc though! haha

 

[Nasco12]

Its actually an advanced driving technique to straight line a roundabout...

Er, what does that mean?

 

[danieljames]

One thing I never understand (on a slightly different subject) is when on a dual carriageway if one lane is closed for some reason the British all queue in the left lane leaving the right lane empty all the way up to the obstacle or closure, then get upset when someone drives all the way down and filters in. What’s the point in having a queue twice as long as it needs to be, this can cause other issues back up the road, if everyone just used both lanes a filtered in one at a time there would be no issue and no reason for people to get upset. The same could apply to many roundabouts.

 

[kth286]

Assuming there are two lanes approaching a roundabout, and same two lanes
leaving the roundabout, how would anyone be cutting someone up if they
were to continue over the roundabout on the outer lane ?

 

[Satch]

There is a mega roundabout near me that has four lanes to play with, which then gets split in two by cross hatchings followed by a wedge shaped kerbing divider.

Every so often some impatient **** who is not local ends up straddling the kerbing divider at speed with deeply satisfying results.

 

[Alf Isty]

One thing I never understand (on a slightly different subject) is when on a dual carriageway if one lane is closed for some reason the British all queue in the left lane leaving the right lane empty all the way up to the obstacle or closure, then get upset when someone drives all the way down and filters in. What’s the point in having a queue twice as long as it needs to be, this can cause other issues back up the road, if everyone just used both lanes a filtered in one at a time there would be no issue and no reason for people to get upset. The same could apply to many roundabouts.

Exactly! See here (I got a lot of abuse) :

Self-Appointed Traffic Cops - Alfa Romeo Forum

 

[developer]

Bavarian Muppet Wagon - I like it .

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Exactly! See here (I got a lot of abuse) :

Self-Appointed Traffic Cops - Alfa Romeo Forum

A surprising amount of common sense from Alfa drivers!

Something to add to the discussion about whether to get on the end of a long queue leading to lane reductions, or stay in the outer lane until near the front then merging in turn: if the former was the "right thing to do" then why do we have multi-lane roads anywhere? We'd save a fortune on road building if we just had single lanes everywhere! The extra lanes are there to be used, and traffic flows far better when they are used - properly.

Far more annoying in my opinion are those who exit a roundabout onto a two-lane road and drift straight out to the outer lane, even when the left lane is free. Then they try to improve their consumption figures by applying the least amount of pressure with their right foot, thereby taking the next five minutes to approach (but not reach) the speed limit.