Advice on How to Use This Junction...

Advice on How to Use This Junction...

Author
Discussion

ColdoRS

Original Poster:

1,845 posts

134 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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I've used this roundabout for years and always been unsure of one situation that I very very occasionally find myself in. It seems other road users also don't really know; there doesn't seem to be any consistent way that this lane/exit is used.



So, I am in the blue lane, I want to exit the junction into the blue lane. Am I in the correct lane to do so?

Often, people will sit in the green lane, and exit onto the blue lane. Causing those drivers queueing next to them to feel they've been cut-up. I understand their thought process in some respect, as if they are in the green lane and exit into the green lane... they will be going back from whence they came.

On the other hand (and probably why I feel the blue-blue is the correct lane discipline) the road markings are not contoured for exiting this green lane, onto the blue lane - the cars who do it this way have to cross the hatchings, there is no other way to do it.

Unless, the blue lane should in-fact be exiting far left onto the red lane; this would let the green lane swing wide and exit onto the blue lane.

No clear road markings although I'm sure there is a rule of the road that should be applied.

Streetview for reference; https://www.google.com/maps/@50.7196379,-3.5285587...

Hopefully that makes sense.

Edited by ColdoRS on Wednesday 21st December 21:12

anonymous-user

61 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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Aren't there any road signs on approach?

ColdoRS

Original Poster:

1,845 posts

134 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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pocketspring said:
Aren't there any road signs on approach?
None that I remember or can see on street view(I've added the street view link to the OP)

rallye101

2,218 posts

204 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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You've used it for years, reckon your local council and police force will give some good tips....

InitialDave

12,235 posts

126 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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Coming in "cold" without having driven it before, yes, I'd probably use the left lane.

If you drive it often enough to have seen what people usually do, I'd say use whichever lane causes the least conflict with the drivers around you.

ruggedscotty

5,792 posts

216 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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No you are in the wrong lane and people will see you as queue jumping. The general way of a roundabout is no one really is expected to go all the way round... Look at your typical roundabout sign and it will have a gap in the bottom right quadrant. This not a roundabout and its not a simple junction either... However on the approach its three lanes - left fiorward, middle forward and right, and right right. You enter the junction and then its both lanes right. then through the junction its left left and right forward. this is whats causing the feeling of being cut up. your using the left lane to pass traffic going right, and forward.

my take on this would as below...


Pica-Pica

14,468 posts

91 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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ruggedscotty said:
No you are in the wrong lane and people will see you as queue jumping. The general way of a roundabout is no one really is expected to go all the way round... Look at your typical roundabout sign and it will have a gap in the bottom right quadrant. This not a roundabout and its not a simple junction either... However on the approach its three lanes - left fiorward, middle forward and right, and right right. You enter the junction and then its both lanes right. then through the junction its left left and right forward. this is whats causing the feeling of being cut up. your using the left lane to pass traffic going right, and forward.

my take on this would as below...

I would generally accept that approach but that is with the benefit of an overhead view, or familiarity. When approaching at road level, then, as a newcomer, the full knowledge of the layout may not be clear.

OP is familiar, so the route suggested here is best. Just be cautious of who is around you and where they are going. Try to be visible, and not in blind spots.

ruggedscotty

5,792 posts

216 months

Wednesday 21st December 2022
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even without looking at it from above... its obvious... and its undertsandable why others are getting annoyed.

FiF

45,528 posts

258 months

Thursday 22nd December 2022
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I agree with scotty here, part of problem is OP is trying to treat it as a roundabout when in reality it isn't.

Clearly a lot depends on traffic flow, signs, road markings, but how many vehicles in the right hand lane as marked yellow on scotty version actually want to go right onto the green lane. If there's a minority then the rest will want to follow the yellow route. Understandable why potential conflict occurs.

We all get in the wrong lane at some junctions on unfamiliar territory, but with a regularly used one then should soon get used to how the flow goes, even if that's not as the planners thought it might. Also get used to spotting people out of position either due to unfamiliarity with the junction or someone just chancing it.

Peter3442

424 posts

75 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
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What is the purpose of the green lane if not to take the blue exit? Of course, I can say that with the benefit of an aerial view!

It's another example where inadequate or misleading info is provided to the unfortunate driver. Presumably, it's to collect extra rates from body shops?

Beware when driving in areas where local authorities mark right turn lanes at roundabouts with straight-on arrows!

Brassblaster

213 posts

27 months

Sunday 15th January 2023
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Unless your green lane has a right turn only arrow painted on the tarmac or on a sign at the side of the road, I wouldn't assume it's for right turn only.

Sometimes things are simpler from above, but this looks like a straightforward two lanes continuing across into two lanes exactly as Scotty has drawn out.

On street view I'd be assuming the same thing, to be honest, though I can see how either approach could feel uncomfortable in practice because it's the sort of junction that won't be used consistently - more clear markings would be wise, IMHO

fooman

227 posts

71 months

Monday 16th January 2023
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You've marked the picture wrong, where you have blue and green going up this should be red and blue. Now the lanes make sense, the remaining green is a right had exit and it's you who is changing lanes and cutting up folk in the actual blue lane.