Give way at mini roundabouts?

[TopPint]

Something that I've noticed only recently is that one of the approach roads to a mini roundabout will have a give way sign and road markings... the other approach roads have only the blue mini roundabout sign - no give way.

I couldn't find a reference to this on the Highway Code booklet... but assume that since it is always on only one approach road, that there is some special meaning that I ought to be aware of!

Is anybody here able to enlighten me?

Regards, Mark.

Edited by TopPint on Thursday 4th June 06:23

[CommanderJameson]

It's just a roundabout - treat it as such. Give way to the right and all that.

[TopPint]

Must mean something; why waste the paint!

[Chris71]

CommanderJameson said:

It's just a roundabout - treat it as such. Give way to the right and all that.

Totally agree, but people seem to treat the one on the way back from my commute like a T-junction! I've had a couple of people beep the horn because I'm turning right in front of them, but of course I'm approaching from their right side as you always would on a roundabout. Fecking Londoners.

[RT106]

The Traffic Signs Manual (which includes road markings) says that a Give Way sign should only be used on an approach to a mini-roundabout where it's impossible to achieve any entry deflection, and must be used in conjunction with the standard mini-roundabout sign.

In other words, where there's a chance that vehicles may enter the roundabout too quickly due to the carriageway alignment the Give Way sign can be provided to provide an extra warning and deterent.

[7db]

CommanderJameson said:

It's just a roundabout - treat it as such. Give way to the right and all that.

Or more accurately: give way to users already on the RAB, regardless of right, left or wherever. Don't enter to endanger any road user.

[p1esk]

TopPint said:

Must mean something; why waste the paint!

Don't worry about it; it's a trifling matter compared with all the other wasted paint, of which there is no shortage these days.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[fpsasm]

TopPint said:

Something that I've noticed only recently is that one of the approach roads to a mini roundabout will have a give way sign and road markings... the other approach roads have only the blue mini roundabout sign - no give way.

I couldn't find a reference to this on the Highway Code booklet... but assume that since it is always on only one approach road, that there is some special meaning that I ought to be aware of!

Is anybody here able to enlighten me?

Regards, Mark.

Edited by TopPint on Thursday 4th June 06:23

mini roundabouts are roundabouts.. hence.. the same rules apply as a normal round about.. its just a different scale. Give way to people on the (mini)roundabout, and give way to people from the right.

Great thing about mini round abouts its a excuse to swing ur back end out (if u dont hit the white blob in the middle of it)

[p1esk]

fpsasm said:

TopPint said:

Something that I've noticed only recently is that one of the approach roads to a mini roundabout will have a give way sign and road markings... the other approach roads have only the blue mini roundabout sign - no give way.

I couldn't find a reference to this on the Highway Code booklet... but assume that since it is always on only one approach road, that there is some special meaning that I ought to be aware of!

Is anybody here able to enlighten me?

Regards, Mark.

Edited by TopPint on Thursday 4th June 06:23

mini roundabouts are roundabouts.. hence.. the same rules apply as a normal round about.. its just a different scale. Give way to people on the (mini)roundabout, and give way to people from the right.

Great thing about mini round abouts its a excuse to swing ur back end out (if u dont hit the white blob in the middle of it)

Von (or an approved equivalent, if there is one ) will nick you if he catches you at it.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[Turkey]

Slightly off topic, but does is it just in Surrey that people launch their cars over mini roundabouts?

I usually drive at a good progressive pace, but seem to be a minority when it comes to slowing down, steering around the roundabout, then accelerating, rather than trying to get air over it.

Admittedly my MG ZS has slightly firm suspension, but still.

[Flibble]

Turkey said:

Slightly off topic, but does is it just in Surrey that people launch their cars over mini roundabouts?

I usually drive at a good progressive pace, but seem to be a minority when it comes to slowing down, steering around the roundabout, then accelerating, rather than trying to get air over it.

Admittedly my MG ZS has slightly firm suspension, but still.

You're in the right in that - it's illegal to drive over the middle of the roundabout in a car or similar sized vehicle:

Highway Code said:

Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.

[Timberwolf]

Flibble said:

You're in the right in that - it's illegal to drive over the middle of the roundabout in a car or similar sized vehicle:

To be fair, if my bit of Surrey is representative, people turning right at mini-roundabouts get round that little problem by simply "cutting" the thing to such an extreme degree that their vehicle actually passes cleanly to the right of the raised section.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

Flibble said:

You're in the right in that - it's illegal to drive over the middle of the roundabout in a car or similar sized vehicle:

Highway Code said:

Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.

This is one of those rules that I really disagree with. If you're going straight on or turning right at a mini roundabout it means that your first action will be a slight turn to the left.

This gives the wrong clues to other road users, and can lead to conflict. Much clearer to take a more logical line around the centre, with wheels on the paint if necessary.

[Flibble]

I think the intention is to slow traffic down as it passes over it - if you have to steer you can't just blast it through at 60 so easily.

[vonhosen]

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

Flibble said:

You're in the right in that - it's illegal to drive over the middle of the roundabout in a car or similar sized vehicle:

Highway Code said:

Mini-roundabouts. Approach these in the same way as normal roundabouts. All vehicles MUST pass round the central markings except large vehicles which are physically incapable of doing so.

This is one of those rules that I really disagree with. If you're going straight on or turning right at a mini roundabout it means that your first action will be a slight turn to the left.

This gives the wrong clues to other road users, and can lead to conflict. Much clearer to take a more logical line around the centre, with wheels on the paint if necessary.

Surely a right hand signal given lets others know your intention.

[Vipers]

vonhosen said:

Surely a right hand signal given lets others know your intention.

Totally agree Von, but sadly hardly no one even bothers to indicate on big roundabouts let alone mini roundabouts, you have to guess where they are going.

As one driver once said "Why do I need to indicate, I know where I am going".............

Then there are the other ones on our roads. The other week I was behind a car driving through Aberdeen on South Anderson Drive, single carriage way with 2 lanes, ie not a dual carriageway as no seperation between them. Loads and loads of roundabouts on this road.

At each roundabout, with only 4 exits, the driver went across each one, ie approaching from 6 o'clock, exiting at 12'o clock, at each one he approached with a right hand indicator on (Me thinks, he is going off at 3'o clock, NO he went off at each one at 12'o clock, mind you he did change to a left indicator as he passed the 9'o clock turn off.

Edited by Vipers on Friday 12th June 07:45

[Vaux]

Vipers said:

At each roundabout, with only 4 exits, the driver went across each one, ie approaching from 6 o'clock, exiting at 12'o clock, at each one he approached with a right hand indicator on (Me thinks, he is going off at 3'o clock, NO he went off at each one at 12'o clock, mind you he did change to a left indicator as he passed the 9'o clock turn off.

I've seen this with my last two Associates - indicate right to go straight on. Their logic being it tells people at 9 o'clock they're going past them. (Full size R/A).

[7db]

Do they do this automatically or just when it looks like someone might encroach out of the side exit?

[Vaux]

7db said:

Do they do this automatically or just when it looks like someone might encroach out of the side exit?

Hard to remember; one I think signalled automatically going in, the other one would signal if she saw someone at 9.

[S. Gonzales Esq.]

vonhosen said:

S. Gonzales Esq. said:

If you're going straight on or turning right at a mini roundabout it means that your first action will be a slight turn to the left.

This gives the wrong clues to other road users, and can lead to conflict.

Surely a right hand signal given lets others know your intention.

...but that means giving two conflicting indications to an onlooker, one via position and another with a signal. Signalling right and then initially moving left always feels like a bad thing to do.

What's the reasoning behind the rule - is it just to slow people down? That might also be why I'm uncomfortable with it.