My changing lane at signalised roundabout issue again!
Discussion
some of you my have seen my post about someone rod raging me on sunday - so i just have a few questions.
i thought i was in the wrong lane approaching a signalised roundabout (in rain, dark etc) , i pulled up nect to the roadrager and started signalling right to indicate that I thought I should really be where he was - even though the manouver i wanted to do was actually go straight on but I think his lane 'fed into' the one i wanted to end up in.
i rolled forwards a bit to make sure *he'd seen* my indicating (i have now decided this was a bit daft and prob what made him think i was trying to get the jump on him, but it was with the best intentions). he then didn't drive away from the lights and assumed he was letting me do what i needed to do. so i just drove foprward and was nowhere near him and there was no danger. he then caught me up and followed me, tailgating with mainbeam on, until i just lost him on a roundabout.
i am not really sure if i was in the wrong lane or not (approaching the roundabout) as the markings were really dodgy and visibility of the road wasn't that good but everything i did was safe enough in that i didn't endanger anyone.
so the point is really on the other forum some people thought i was ok and some thought that even though i hadn't done anything bad as such that by leaving the line first i had antagonised him - but he was so long at getting away i really thought he was letting me get on with it - i don't think i should have necessarily waited for flash from him (!) because that's not really somethink all roadusers do because of the inhernt chance of misunderstanding etc.. so how should i have dealt with this in an IAM way...?!
>> Edited by baskey on Tuesday 8th November 12:49
i thought i was in the wrong lane approaching a signalised roundabout (in rain, dark etc) , i pulled up nect to the roadrager and started signalling right to indicate that I thought I should really be where he was - even though the manouver i wanted to do was actually go straight on but I think his lane 'fed into' the one i wanted to end up in.
i rolled forwards a bit to make sure *he'd seen* my indicating (i have now decided this was a bit daft and prob what made him think i was trying to get the jump on him, but it was with the best intentions). he then didn't drive away from the lights and assumed he was letting me do what i needed to do. so i just drove foprward and was nowhere near him and there was no danger. he then caught me up and followed me, tailgating with mainbeam on, until i just lost him on a roundabout.
i am not really sure if i was in the wrong lane or not (approaching the roundabout) as the markings were really dodgy and visibility of the road wasn't that good but everything i did was safe enough in that i didn't endanger anyone.
so the point is really on the other forum some people thought i was ok and some thought that even though i hadn't done anything bad as such that by leaving the line first i had antagonised him - but he was so long at getting away i really thought he was letting me get on with it - i don't think i should have necessarily waited for flash from him (!) because that's not really somethink all roadusers do because of the inhernt chance of misunderstanding etc.. so how should i have dealt with this in an IAM way...?!
>> Edited by baskey on Tuesday 8th November 12:49
Some people are just totally impatient and have no time for others do they? I wish people would learn to have some compassion and understanding!! Anyway, rant over...
What I normally do is exactly what you did, but hold back a bit as if to say "yes, I know I've made a mistake, could someone let me in please or if not I'm willing to join the back of the queue". Going to the front of the queue could be taken as this guy did - that you are in that lane to try and jump in front.
But basically, the other guy sounded like an idiot. He just chill out a bit!
What I normally do is exactly what you did, but hold back a bit as if to say "yes, I know I've made a mistake, could someone let me in please or if not I'm willing to join the back of the queue". Going to the front of the queue could be taken as this guy did - that you are in that lane to try and jump in front.
But basically, the other guy sounded like an idiot. He just chill out a bit!
This is a classic white van manouevre.
The "correct" way to approach this is to sit back a little. Certainly no indication - you don't want him to know what you're about to do. At night, all running lights should be off... Engine switched to silent running. Surprise is key.
Lights on other direction show amber. This is the signal to go. Our lights will still be red when we cross but we'll have the jump on him!
After this, there is no point moving across to the right to get into his lane - that is until it is nearly too late and a good lurch over just before the bollard is needed. You will probably want to indicate to let him know that you did this deliberately.
* * *
Whilst the above is probably not the advised route, they are all things I have seen drivers undertake in similar situations. I think the actions you took where thoroughly reasonable, although rolling forward was - as you point out - a mistake. It is too easily interpreted as aggressive. Pulling away slowly in a half-overlap, continuing to indicate right, signals clear intent to the vehicle behind (which you will be comfortably ahead of, and so will be more likely to naturally yield).
A wave of thanks often stops a mile of angst.
The "correct" way to approach this is to sit back a little. Certainly no indication - you don't want him to know what you're about to do. At night, all running lights should be off... Engine switched to silent running. Surprise is key.
Lights on other direction show amber. This is the signal to go. Our lights will still be red when we cross but we'll have the jump on him!
After this, there is no point moving across to the right to get into his lane - that is until it is nearly too late and a good lurch over just before the bollard is needed. You will probably want to indicate to let him know that you did this deliberately.
* * *
Whilst the above is probably not the advised route, they are all things I have seen drivers undertake in similar situations. I think the actions you took where thoroughly reasonable, although rolling forward was - as you point out - a mistake. It is too easily interpreted as aggressive. Pulling away slowly in a half-overlap, continuing to indicate right, signals clear intent to the vehicle behind (which you will be comfortably ahead of, and so will be more likely to naturally yield).
A wave of thanks often stops a mile of angst.
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