Roundabout

[LordHaveMurci]

You’re about approaching the roundabout on the B3181, bottom of pic where the Pin is, and exiting on the B3181 at top of pic. 3rd exit.
Which lane do you use on the roundabout?

[M.F.D]

Right lane, left for exits one and two.

[Bill]

M.F.D said:

Right lane, left for exits one and two.

[Sebring440]

Following the road ahead, your exit is at 12 o'clock: left-hand lane.

Right-hand lane would be for Uffculme Road.

[Decky_Q]

M.F.D said:

Right lane, left for exits one and two.

This is the only correct answer, anything else is wrong.

[the-norseman]

Looking at it on Google maps, their isn't and marked lanes, there had been back in 2009.

I would probably go with the left lane as its straight across. but either choice your going to have to be cautions of the other lane merging.

[Crusoe]

Highway code would say unmarked roundabout with multiple exits would be left lane for straight ahead unless otherwise marked.

[cliffords]

Crusoe said:

Highway code would say unmarked roundabout with multiple exits would be left lane for straight ahead unless otherwise marked.

Highway code refers to roundabouts where there is one exit prior to going straight ahead.
In the example above it's right lane to exit ahead.

[LunarOne]

I would use either lane as it's straight ahead across the roundabout.

[Saleen836]

If being used by most of the muppets around my way at a roundabout, you start in the left hand lane or if marked out at the exit with two lanes you sit in the middle of both, you then straight line the roundabout without even looking to see if there is a vehicle on your right

[V8LM]

the-norseman said:

Looking at it on Google maps, their isn't and marked lanes, there had been back in 2009.

I would probably go with the left lane as its straight across. but either choice your going to have to be cautions of the other lane merging.

This. There is only one lane.

[CaptainScarlet1967]

Sebring440 said:

Following the road ahead, your exit is at 12 o'clock: left-hand lane.

Right-hand lane would be for Uffculme Road.

I agree with this take.

There are two lanes on the roundabout.

You can reasonably follow the road straight to 12 o'clock from the left-hand lane to take the third exit up the B3181. Ambiguous to have a 'left only' when there's South View Road and the Business Park that technically are left-turns.

Ergo:

- 'Straight or left' for South View Road, the Business Park and continuing up the B3181.

- 'Right only' for Uffculme Road or a 360 degree u-turn of the roundabout back down the B3181.

[LunarOne]

V8LM said:

the-norseman said:

Looking at it on Google maps, their isn't and marked lanes, there had been back in 2009.

I would probably go with the left lane as its straight across. but either choice your going to have to be cautions of the other lane merging.

This. There is only one lane.

The mouth of the entrance to the roundabout is wide enough for two vehicles so I can see how one might think there's more than one lane. But the roundabout itself doesn't seem to be wide enough for two vehicles, so I agree that there's only one lane. Some hatched markings by the side of the traffic island might make that clearer.

[Super Sonic]

CaptainScarlet1967 said:

I agree with this take.

There are two lanes on the roundabout.

You can reasonably follow the road straight to 12 o'clock from the left-hand lane to take the third exit up the B3181. Ambiguous to have a 'left only' when there's South View Road and the Business Park that technically are left-turns.

Ergo:

- 'Straight or left' for South View Road, the Business Park and continuing up the B3181.

- 'Right only' for Uffculme Road or a 360 degree u-turn of the roundabout back down the B3181.

What makes you say there are two lanes? There are no lane markings either on the roundabout or any of it's approach roads
Also what's all the 'left only'. 'straight or left' and 'right only' all about? They sound like the markings on a roundabout approach, but there aren't any!

Edited by Super Sonic on Saturday 19th July 14:38

[CaptainScarlet1967]

Super Sonic said:

CaptainScarlet1967 said:

I agree with this take.

There are two lanes on the roundabout.

You can reasonably follow the road straight to 12 o'clock from the left-hand lane to take the third exit up the B3181. Ambiguous to have a 'left only' when there's South View Road and the Business Park that technically are left-turns.

Ergo:

- 'Straight or left' for South View Road, the Business Park and continuing up the B3181.

- 'Right only' for Uffculme Road or a 360 degree u-turn of the roundabout back down the B3181.

What makes you say there are two lanes? There are no lane markings either on the roundabout or any of it's approach roads.

On Street View (and referring to the older imagery where markings have faded), the only road that has a two-lane split is the B3181 in both directions.

Given this and the width of the carriageway, and whilst there are no lane markings on the roundabout itself, I'd be inclined to treat it as a two-lane roundabout.

This one definitely looks wide enough and one of countless other roundabouts I have come across that don't have markings separating lanes yet are more than one lane.

Obviously exercise caution, hazard awareness etc.

[Super Sonic]

CaptainScarlet1967 said:

On Street View (and referring to the older imagery where markings have faded), the only road that has a two-lane split is the B3181 in both directions.

Given this and the width of the carriageway, and whilst there are no lane markings on the roundabout itself, I'd be inclined to treat it as a two-lane roundabout.

This one definitely looks wide enough and one of countless other roundabouts I have come across that don't have markings separating lanes yet are more than one lane.

Obviously exercise caution, hazard awareness etc.

It's irrelevant what markings used to be there. It's not a good idea to treat it as a two lane roundabout if others treat it as one lane, in fact you are adding an unnecessary risk. The carriageway is wide to allow for lorries. One of the exits is an industrial estate and one leads to a motorway so I would expect lorries to be reasonably common. There is no two lane split on the b3181 on street view.

Edited by Super Sonic on Saturday 19th July 14:58

Edited by Super Sonic on Saturday 19th July 15:02

[V8LM]

It's one lane. The two-lane divide markings haven't been there for a while. Looks like the road marking were possibly repainted around 2018, and the dividers weren't.

Edited by V8LM on Saturday 19th July 14:56

[LordHaveMurci]

There are no lane dividers.

I was taught to use the right hand ‘lane’, there is room for 2 vehicles.

In the months I’ve been using this road, I’m the only one I’ve seen use the r/h side of the r/a, hence the question.

Thanks for the replies, even if we haven’t teached a concensus

[MikeM6]

Left lane for straight on I would say, but expect everyone to be in the wrong place and drive accordingly

[Skyedriver]

Saleen836 said:

If being used by most of the muppets around my way at a roundabout, you start in the left hand lane or if marked out at the exit with two lanes you sit in the middle of both, you then straight line the roundabout without even looking to see if there is a vehicle on your right

Sadly this is the norm.
Take the LH lane, expect someone driving into your drivers door with a blare of car horn
Take the RH lane and expect someone going all the way around the roundabout to the 4th exit in the LH lane driving blindly into your passenger door/wing even though they can see you there. (personal experience).