RB's give way to the right. Your understanding?
Discussion
I know this will likely generate many sarcastic responses, but just wondering how others understand the highway code's give way to the right at roundabouts rule.
Highway code says something along the lines of
'Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right, unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights'
I've been driving for 20+ years and always considered that to be absolutely anything approaching from the right, no matter where they are.
The only reason I even ask this question is because there is a mini roundabout near my house that has the very poor visibility to the right approaching it from one particular direction. So bad, that you really have to take something of a leap of faith at times as you cannot know that you won't impede progress of someone approaching from the right. And those approaching from your right have good line of sight to their own right so often do not slow down at all when approaching the roundabout. Consequently, there are regular bumps, near misses and angry exchanges.
I've read quite a few people argue that you're really only giving way to the right to traffic already on the roundabout which does make some practical sense but I've never seen that confirmed in any 'official' capacity. And of course the other aspect is that if 99% of road users don't think like that, you'll still get t-boned and an insurance claim!
Highway code says something along the lines of
'Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right, unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights'
I've been driving for 20+ years and always considered that to be absolutely anything approaching from the right, no matter where they are.
The only reason I even ask this question is because there is a mini roundabout near my house that has the very poor visibility to the right approaching it from one particular direction. So bad, that you really have to take something of a leap of faith at times as you cannot know that you won't impede progress of someone approaching from the right. And those approaching from your right have good line of sight to their own right so often do not slow down at all when approaching the roundabout. Consequently, there are regular bumps, near misses and angry exchanges.
I've read quite a few people argue that you're really only giving way to the right to traffic already on the roundabout which does make some practical sense but I've never seen that confirmed in any 'official' capacity. And of course the other aspect is that if 99% of road users don't think like that, you'll still get t-boned and an insurance claim!
Gad-Westy said:
I know this will likely generate many sarcastic responses, but just wondering how others understand the highway code's give way to the right at roundabouts rule.
Highway code says something along the lines of
'Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right, unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights'
I've been driving for 20+ years and always considered that to be absolutely anything approaching from the right, no matter where they are.
The only reason I even ask this question is because there is a mini roundabout near my house that has the very poor visibility to the right approaching it from one particular direction. So bad, that you really have to take something of a leap of faith at times as you cannot know that you won't impede progress of someone approaching from the right. And those approaching from your right have good line of sight to their own right so often do not slow down at all when approaching the roundabout. Consequently, there are regular bumps, near misses and angry exchanges.
I've read quite a few people argue that you're really only giving way to the right to traffic already on the roundabout which does make some practical sense but I've never seen that confirmed in any 'official' capacity. And of course the other aspect is that if 99% of road users don't think like that, you'll still get t-boned and an insurance claim!
The Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016.Highway code says something along the lines of
'Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right, unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights'
I've been driving for 20+ years and always considered that to be absolutely anything approaching from the right, no matter where they are.
The only reason I even ask this question is because there is a mini roundabout near my house that has the very poor visibility to the right approaching it from one particular direction. So bad, that you really have to take something of a leap of faith at times as you cannot know that you won't impede progress of someone approaching from the right. And those approaching from your right have good line of sight to their own right so often do not slow down at all when approaching the roundabout. Consequently, there are regular bumps, near misses and angry exchanges.
I've read quite a few people argue that you're really only giving way to the right to traffic already on the roundabout which does make some practical sense but I've never seen that confirmed in any 'official' capacity. And of course the other aspect is that if 99% of road users don't think like that, you'll still get t-boned and an insurance claim!
Schedule 9 Part 6 Item 6 said:
Diagram 1003.3
Vehicular traffic approaching a roundabout with a small central island or approaching a junction indicated by the marking shown in item 5 of this sign table should give way at, or immediately beyond, the line to traffic circulating on the carriageway of the roundabout.
Everybody should approach any potential conflict area with caution. More so with any type of roundabout as they are notorious for it (including people approaching with a clear view to the right but more obscured view left).Vehicular traffic approaching a roundabout with a small central island or approaching a junction indicated by the marking shown in item 5 of this sign table should give way at, or immediately beyond, the line to traffic circulating on the carriageway of the roundabout.
Edited by vonhosen on Tuesday 29th October 09:23
If you think about it logically, if a car approaching fast from the right isn't on the roundabout yet, but you will be impeding him by entering, then he will be on the roundabout with you at some stage. In that scenario with you both on the roundabout, he's to your right so you need to give way to him; so to answer your question, I think to the future.
With anything like this though, I expect other drivers to act with good manners, common sense and courtesy. Driver's who refuse to let traffic flow smoothly because it's "their right of way" are contemptable idiots in my opinion.
With anything like this though, I expect other drivers to act with good manners, common sense and courtesy. Driver's who refuse to let traffic flow smoothly because it's "their right of way" are contemptable idiots in my opinion.
RobM77 said:
If you think about it logically, if a car approaching fast from the right isn't on the roundabout yet, but you will be impeding him by entering, then he will be on the roundabout with you at some stage. In that scenario with you both on the roundabout, he's to your right so you need to give way to him; so to answer your question, I think to the future.
With anything like this though, I expect other drivers to act with good manners, common sense and courtesy. Driver's who refuse to let traffic flow smoothly because it's "their right of way" are contemptable idiots in my opinion.
I think this is it really. With anything like this though, I expect other drivers to act with good manners, common sense and courtesy. Driver's who refuse to let traffic flow smoothly because it's "their right of way" are contemptable idiots in my opinion.
Technically you need to give way to someone already established on the roundabout, who is approaching you from the right. You don’t need to give way to someone who is doing Mach 2 approaching the roundabout, but not on it. If you choose to exert your right of way, then you’re pulling out in front of a fast moving car that may or may not be able to stop. 99 times out of 100 you’ll get away with it.
About 20 years ago, I was the guy doing Mach 2. Pissing with rain, I was approaching a roundabout at about 50, it looked clear, no need to slow down. I was tired and making poor decisions with hindsight. The roundabout had poor visibility to the right and was an overgrown mini roundabout. Suddenly a car appeared, got on the roundabout, and I was in the s
t. I remember locking up (pre-abs) and sailing in a straight line past his bonnet at considerable speed. If he’d chosen to “exert his right of way”, we’d both have been stuffed, and his passenger would have been the most stuffed. Here's an example from Chesterfield.
If you're entering the mini-roundabout from the B6057 at the bottom it's impossible to see far along the B6051 to the right, not more than two or three cars' length, because of a high wall where the house with the red tiled roof is. Approach from that direction and you have a clear view of traffic approaching from the B6453 dead ahead and if it's clear as they approach, many drivers floor it.
The 'Give Way' line on the B6057 could easily be moved forward several feet to improve visibility and reduce the daily near misses.
If you're entering the mini-roundabout from the B6057 at the bottom it's impossible to see far along the B6051 to the right, not more than two or three cars' length, because of a high wall where the house with the red tiled roof is. Approach from that direction and you have a clear view of traffic approaching from the B6453 dead ahead and if it's clear as they approach, many drivers floor it.
The 'Give Way' line on the B6057 could easily be moved forward several feet to improve visibility and reduce the daily near misses.
vonhosen said:
Everybody should approach any potential conflict area with caution. More so with any type of roundabout as they are notorious for it (including people approaching with a clear view to the right but more obscured view left).
Cheers. Had not seen that wording before. As you say, still caution required.Edited by vonhosen on Tuesday 29th October 09:23
swisstoni said:
If you cannot see what might be coming from the right you should slow/stop and check.
Not go on to the roundabout and hope there’s nothing coming.
Yes but that's really why I was careful to describe the specific roundabout that prompted the question. A bit like the example from the other posted above, in my case the view to the right is badly obscured by a high stone wall. If you stop at the give way line in a car with an average length bonnet, you have approximately 20m of visibility to the road approaching from the right. Cars approaching from that direction at 30mph will cover that distance in just over a second. Combined with a steep upward incline, that is simply not enough visibility to know that you will not impede someone. You will not move from stand still and clear the roundabout in anything like that time. So if you want to turn right, it's tough luck, you have to take a risk. Not go on to the roundabout and hope there’s nothing coming.
What maybe makes it slightly worse is that actually, although it's a 30 limit, many drivers will be approaching the roundabout at a higher speed than that and unfortunately, there are a few accidents. I'm still very much of the mindset to simply give way to anything approaching or on the roundabout from the right because there is little point being correct on a technicality but it is still a matter of curiosity for me.
In this particular case, it's just a pretty badly thought out junction but there is nothing unusual there!
I think another way of viewing it is to remember that roundabouts are not box junctions. Vehicles might well be stopped on the roundabout due to traffic flow and even the most committed misguided priority warrior would probably recognise that lack of traffic to their right did not give them any superiority over the traffic already there.
Foss62 said:
I think another way of viewing it is to remember that roundabouts are not box junctions. Vehicles might well be stopped on the roundabout due to traffic flow and even the most committed misguided priority warrior would probably recognise that lack of traffic to their right did not give them any superiority over the traffic already there.
You’d think! This mini one is very awkward. If you’re approaching from the stem of the tee, Traffic coming from the left can obviously see cars approaching from the opposite direction which you’d need to give way to. But you can’t see them! So you go and they go and there’s often a 2 or 3 car stand off. The automotive equivalent of doing the old left-right dance to pass someone in a corridor. Most of the time, all friendly but there’s always one! swisstoni said:
If you cannot see what might be coming from the right you should slow/stop and check.
Similar to the OP there is a poorly sighted mini roundabout not too far from me. It used to be a T junction but was converted some years ago.When approaching from the east of the "main" road you are completely unsighted to the joining road coming from the right.
If you are travelling south, down the road that joins, you have great visibility to the right, but bugger all on the left. Because drivers have good sight to their right, they often don't stop and roll through a right turn on the roundabout. The problem with this is that if you're approaching from the aforementioned eastern direction and have stopped to check, you've now got to pull away, fi that co-incides with someone sweeping through from the joining road you're either going to make contact or you're emergency braking and its a near miss. Its made worse by stopping at the line if approaching from the east because you're in the area for longer, especially if the car is slow to pull away.
If coming from the east it seems your best bet is to roll slowly torwards the roundabout, prepared to stop if necessary, once you have the front on the roundabout over the line, accelerate to get clear asap.
Gassing Station | Advanced Driving | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff