Another (mini)rounadabout question

[Solocle]

Exactly what it says on the tin. A question of how to approach this mini roundabout. In this case, you want to take the right turn lane to the left. Typical unmarked entry lanes.

Ignore the turning directly opposite, to all intents and purposes, it doesn't exist. Some genius seems to have decided to build a housing estate (I day housing estate, more a shared driveway) directly onto a roundabout. Watch it, but it virtually never is an exit/entrance.

Edited by Solocle on Friday 1st September 02:05

[Pica-Pica]

So opposite DOES exist, but is 'low uptake'.
At first glance it looks like a cocked up road layout overall. So all-round observation is essential. Assuming traffic coming from all direction, I would indicate left, but ensure I was aware whether traffic from road to right was following, and whether traffic behind and also behind but to my right was likely to come round onto the same road. As I left the mini-roundabout, I would cancel immediately, and I would not get into left lane but straddle both, and then as rear of car leaves roundabout indicate right and fully take up right hand lane (on this first left road). Of course, you need to be aware of two-wheelers or buses (who may short-cut the centre of the mini-roundabout). Without driving on it, that would be my take.

Of course the entry and exit to the church is an added issue (as is the parked/waiting car)

Edited by Pica-Pica on Friday 1st September 22:33

[Chester draws]

I would say, left lane on approach, but positioned to the right of this lane, wheels on the line maybe. No indication at this point.

This should prevent anyone taking the right lane in order to get to the right turn lane you are aiming for. You do now need to watch the NS mirror for bikes.

When you are clear to enter roundabout, another quick check of each mirror, move off, give a couple of flashes of left indicator as your nose reaches the painted circle and move clearly towards the right turn lane you want to take.

Biggest danger I see is someone taking right lane and cutting across you to reach the right turning lane. So if another car is beside you when you want to go, be 100% sure before committing that they are going right.

[Solocle]

Chester draws said:

I would say, left lane on approach, but positioned to the right of this lane, wheels on the line maybe. No indication at this point.

This should prevent anyone taking the right lane in order to get to the right turn lane you are aiming for. You do now need to watch the NS mirror for bikes.

When you are clear to enter roundabout, another quick check of each mirror, move off, give a couple of flashes of left indicator as your nose reaches the painted circle and move clearly towards the right turn lane you want to take.

Biggest danger I see is someone taking right lane and cutting across you to reach the right turning lane. So if another car is beside you when you want to go, be 100% sure before committing that they are going right.

Personally I took the right hand lane with a left signal, which I felt was pretty unambiguous. I was then watching for those to the left who wanted to pull across.

[Pica-Pica]

Solocle said:

Chester draws said:

I would say, left lane on approach, but positioned to the right of this lane, wheels on the line maybe. No indication at this point.

This should prevent anyone taking the right lane in order to get to the right turn lane you are aiming for. You do now need to watch the NS mirror for bikes.

When you are clear to enter roundabout, another quick check of each mirror, move off, give a couple of flashes of left indicator as your nose reaches the painted circle and move clearly towards the right turn lane you want to take.

Biggest danger I see is someone taking right lane and cutting across you to reach the right turning lane. So if another car is beside you when you want to go, be 100% sure before committing that they are going right.

Personally I took the right hand lane with a left signal, which I felt was pretty unambiguous. I was then watching for those to the left who wanted to pull across.

I would prefer left hand lane, but I understand the point made about 'blocking' right hand entry lane, which kind of echoes my point about straddling both of the exit lanes as you indicate and move to the RH lane of the outgoing road. The main issue is observation and expecting others, who may not know the area, to be a bit confused by the layout and your path and make allowances. You may expect, but ignore, being beeped as well.

[huytonman]

Solocle said:

Personally I took the right hand lane with a left signal, which I felt was pretty unambiguous. I was then watching for those to the left who wanted to pull across.

Exactly what I would do, unless its very busy and you could find yourself being sideswiped by somebody on the left in which case I would tend to stay in the left lane and then once on the roundabout indicate right and if clear move over to the right. Bit of a dogs dinner of a junction though!

[Zetec-S]

Solocle said:

Exactly what it says on the tin. A question of how to approach this mini roundabout. In this case, you want to take the right turn lane to the left. Typical unmarked entry lanes.

Ignore the turning directly opposite, to all intents and purposes, it doesn't exist. Some genius seems to have decided to build a housing estate (I day housing estate, more a shared driveway) directly onto a roundabout. Watch it, but it virtually never is an exit/entrance.

Edited by Solocle on Friday 1st September 02:05

I know this roundabout reasonably well, but always need to exit on to the left hand lane so have never had to think about your approach before.

Funnily enough the exit on the right of your picture is also 2 lanes, but for some reason there's no ambiguity as to which lane to take as everyone tends to take the logical lane (ie. left lane for turning left or left lane on exit 'straight' ahead, right lane for right lane 'straight' ahead or the rarely used right).

Going back to your exit, I think a lot of people who use the left lane initially exit on to the left, then indicate to move across. I think what you do is fine, but it's one of those situations where you have to be fully aware of what other people are doing and adjust accordingly. So if Bert and Doris pull up on your left, you can probably put your foot down and comfortably clear the roundabout, whereas if it's someone revving the tits off a knackered Mk4 Golf you're best off hanging back a bit until you know what they intend to do