Whose Right of Way?

[gdaybruce]

Approaching a T junction with a mini roundabout this morning, intending to turn right. Car coming from my left was signalling right and was already negotiating the roundabout. Expecting him to take the road I was coming from, I pulled onto the roundabout, only to discover that he was, in fact, performing a U turn and was continuing around the roundabout. Luckily, he passed behind me but I certainly wouldn't have pulled out onto the roundabout if I'd realised he was coming all the way round. It left me wondering though, if we had collided, who would have been at fault? I suspect the answer is me since he was already on the roundabout and was signalling right and therefore had right of way. On the other hand, I would have argued that if you are performing a manoeuvre such as a U turn at a mini roundabout you have a duty to exercise caution (as this guy did, fortunately). 50/50 perhaps?

[agent006]

I think minis count in exactly the same way as full fat roundabouts do. So if he was doing a u turn on a motorway rbout for instance and you then pulled out on him then you'd be at fault.

On the other hand i do remember reading somewhere that it's illegal to do a u turn on a mini roundabout.

[leosayer]

You can sometimes tell what a car is going to do on a roundabout by their positioning and indication. To perform a U-turn on a mini-roundabout a car would have to approach on the far left due to the limited space, indicating to the right - this looks odd and may have given you enough warning to give way.

Sound like he did the sensible thing and took it slowly.

[havoc]

IIRC, if it's a painted roundabout, not a proper one with kerbs, then you should not perform U-turns. Not that that would've helped you if he'd t-boned you!

Anyone confirm?

[mph999]

Hmm, interesting one, by the book you must give way to traffic on a roundabout so technically I would say you would be at fault. Fair to say, it's easy to get caught out though. I try and hang back until the car is well on its way of where it's going, yep, takes a few seconds longer, but avoids possible issues.

Not aware that it's illeagal to do a U-turn at a roundabout - though I'll ask around.

Heard the other day that the max. speed on a r/about is 30mph ??? That was news to me too, and as far as I know, incorrect.

Martin

[havoc]

AFAIK max speed on a r-bout is the same as for the adjoining roads.

[rsvmilly]

I'm pretty sure it is perfectly legal to do a U-turn on a mini roundabout. I can't lay my hands on a copy of that or Roadcraft ATM but ISTR that it even warns you of the possibility of other cars doing just this.

Incidentally, I once saw an artic do a u turn on a mini roundabout, in a space that my car would struggle to.

Edited to add link to DSA site. It is number 164.

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/17.htm



>> Edited by rsvmilly on Thursday 29th December 13:22