Discussion
Is indicating at roundabouts going out of fashion ? - Drivers of flashy german cars in particular seem to thinks its beneath them to let me know where they're going. Less important drivers who DO bother to indicate do so to show what they ARE doing, not their INTENTION. Really helpful. The remainder who don't indicate, I think havn't a clue which way they should be flashing. A pet hate of mine this, yet its SO simple. Does it matter ? - yes. Most annoying is sitting ready to enter the RBT, not knowing if I need to give way or not, when Mr 523i is going off at the exit before mine. Also, MPV drivers NEVER indicate do they ?
Another thing. Lane discipline at roundabouts. So simple again. Turning left, leftmost lane. Going straight on, leftmost lane. Turning right, rightmost lane, unless otherwise marked, or dualled exits. This seems quite beyond most people.
I am not a sad IAM person either, before you snipe !
Comments ?
Another thing. Lane discipline at roundabouts. So simple again. Turning left, leftmost lane. Going straight on, leftmost lane. Turning right, rightmost lane, unless otherwise marked, or dualled exits. This seems quite beyond most people.
I am not a sad IAM person either, before you snipe !
Comments ?
Couldnt agree more on the lane discipline thing. This is endemic in Surrey. People going to Tescos or to drop tabetha and toby off at school just lurch aimlessly from lane to lane, regardless of who or what is around them. by the way, for other annoying things, see the 'current pet hate thread' for some top notch rants.
Silly cow entered a roundabout opposite me and started to indicate left. She then proceeded to drive straight past the next exit and therefore right across my bows. If I had assumed she was going to actually turn left as indicated and had therefore pulled out she'd have smacked me in the driver's door and I wouldn't be typing this message. Fortunately something told me to hang back.
Also congrats to the Polo driver who decided to change lanes on the Embankment without looking, indicating, thinking, etc last night while I was along side them. Fortunately I was in second so was able to get clear with a quick blast, but it was very, very close. She was in a left-turn-only lane and decided she wanted to go straight on. Clearly the right thing to do was to weave around oblivious to the outside world.
Also congrats to the Polo driver who decided to change lanes on the Embankment without looking, indicating, thinking, etc last night while I was along side them. Fortunately I was in second so was able to get clear with a quick blast, but it was very, very close. She was in a left-turn-only lane and decided she wanted to go straight on. Clearly the right thing to do was to weave around oblivious to the outside world.
quote:
Silly cow entered a roundabout opposite me and started to indicate left. She then proceeded to drive straight past the next exit and therefore right across my bows. If I had assumed she was going to actually turn left as indicated and had therefore pulled out she'd have smacked me in the driver's door and I wouldn't be typing this message. Fortunately something told me to hang back.
I know two wrongs don't make a right, but...
if I'm in an arsey mood and someone does this to me, I make a show of lunging out onto the roundabout before realising "in the nick of time" what they are upto.
I do the same if they're turning right without ANY indicators.
Matt, the trouble with these no-brainers is that they wouldn't twig you were trying to make a point. The moral of the story is NEVER believe anybody's indicators on roundabouts. I think its the self cancelling stalk partly to blame. People are lazy and don't switch it to 'left' as they exit, so you and I think they're still coming round. Actually I think this is more annoying than not indicating at all. Like I said, I think most of them havn't a clue what to do, so if in doubt don't bother to indicate, and hope for the best.
I'm with you all on this one - winds me right up.
There's a newish service area on the A14 midway between Cambridge and Huntingdon, and they stuck a new roundabout in there. The signage isn't huge, but it is there, and it does tell people which exit to take to go in a given direction on the A14. The problem is that it does so in terms of "A14 to" rather than A14 E or W, which is what non-locals end up thinking in terms of. Hence, it's not uncommon at all to find idiots going the whole way around the roundabout on the outside edge, or lorries backing back onto the roundabout having taken the wrong exit, and so on.
This sort of unclear signage is at epidemic proportions in this country... for a while the signs on the M11 northbound telling you how far it was to the next services would say something like "Services: A14, 25 miles". Of course, it doesn't tell you whether that's the A14 W to Huntingdon (yes) or the A14 E to Ipswich/Harwich (no). D'oh.
Seethe.
There's a newish service area on the A14 midway between Cambridge and Huntingdon, and they stuck a new roundabout in there. The signage isn't huge, but it is there, and it does tell people which exit to take to go in a given direction on the A14. The problem is that it does so in terms of "A14 to
This sort of unclear signage is at epidemic proportions in this country... for a while the signs on the M11 northbound telling you how far it was to the next services would say something like "Services: A14, 25 miles". Of course, it doesn't tell you whether that's the A14 W to Huntingdon (yes) or the A14 E to Ipswich/Harwich (no). D'oh.
Seethe.
Maybe its because I drive a german car but why oh why oh why does everyone try to push me into the centre of a roundabout.
The scenario
Approaching a dual lane entry to a roundabout I take the right hand lane to turn right.
The shopping trolley in the nearside lane is either going left or straight on - however they ALWAYS manage to completely avoid the lanes painted onto the road to help them and cut right into my lane before lurching off left to go straight on - meanwhile I am either hard on the brakes or on the roundabout.
They could be excused avoiding the lanes on the road if they were looking over the shoulder wondering where my car is but this is never the case.
Can someone please explain how these people manage to get to their destinations with their eyes shut - every time I try it I end up in a ditch!!!
The scenario
Approaching a dual lane entry to a roundabout I take the right hand lane to turn right.
The shopping trolley in the nearside lane is either going left or straight on - however they ALWAYS manage to completely avoid the lanes painted onto the road to help them and cut right into my lane before lurching off left to go straight on - meanwhile I am either hard on the brakes or on the roundabout.
They could be excused avoiding the lanes on the road if they were looking over the shoulder wondering where my car is but this is never the case.
Can someone please explain how these people manage to get to their destinations with their eyes shut - every time I try it I end up in a ditch!!!
What really annoys me is when you approach a roundabout,two lanes one straightover/left the other straight over/right of course everyone cues up for ten miles in the left lane,and then of course i wanna go straight over but use the right hand lane(like it says i can).And then everyone cueing in the left hand lane that are going straight on dont,wont let me CONTRAFLOW into the one lane the otherside,AND look at me as if ive just landed from the plant Uranus.
Rant over,I,ll get me boots
Simon
Rant over,I,ll get me boots
Simon
quote:
Another thing. Lane discipline at roundabouts. So simple again. Turning left, leftmost lane. Going straight on, leftmost lane. Turning right, rightmost lane, unless otherwise marked, or dualled exits. This seems quite beyond most people.
NO NO NO NO!!! straight over definately in right hand lane !! I agree with Simon, except I am even more extreme in my views. The sad bastards who queue in the left lane are pond life.
When I want to turn left, I frequently have to go up in the RIGHT lane, ORBIT the roundabout, and exit that way. ALL because of the moronic queuing mentality.
Now if I'm on my bike, I just turn across the front of the lead car, and no problem. I'm outta their face as soon as they have even moved an inch, but by car it's bloody annoying!!
Carl.
Carl, you don't by any chance drive a BMW do you ?
Seriously though, its contentious what you do where you have dualled entry (oo-er !) and singled exit. Seems a waste of road space not to use rightmost lane, so filter in there (pre RBT), or on exiting RBT ? Most drivers take offense with the latter option don't they ? - Perhaps its the difference between asking (pre RBT) and demanding (at exit). It may make sense, but its just not good manners, OK ?
>> Edited by littlemisshavoc on Tuesday 5th March 12:46
Seriously though, its contentious what you do where you have dualled entry (oo-er !) and singled exit. Seems a waste of road space not to use rightmost lane, so filter in there (pre RBT), or on exiting RBT ? Most drivers take offense with the latter option don't they ? - Perhaps its the difference between asking (pre RBT) and demanding (at exit). It may make sense, but its just not good manners, OK ?
>> Edited by littlemisshavoc on Tuesday 5th March 12:46
Not really contentious, if you have a roundabout with 4 entries/exits all single lane exit with dual lane entry you have the option of left or right lane for going straight on - check your highway code. To turn left indicate left and take left lane, to go straight on do not indicate on entry, then indicate left after passing the first exit, to take the last exit (you cannot turn right at a roundabout in the UK) take right hand entry lane, indicating right and switch lanes/indicators when passing the second exit. Dead simple really, until numpties are around.
Havoc: Yeah right.. if you want to get anywhere on the roads you have to drive reasonably assertively - and if that's confused by some with having poor road manners, then big hairy deal - most people don't know their arse from their elbow when it comes to motoring, so I'm not gonna lose any sleep over being considered ill mannered because I see me piece of road and go for it....
>> Edited by CarZee on Tuesday 5th March 12:59
>> Edited by CarZee on Tuesday 5th March 12:59
Oh dear. I guess we shouldn't expect bikers to adhere to the highway code. Never mind, as Hurtbiker says, they're generally not in the way long enough to cause offence
www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/hc/8.htm
(anyone in favour of compulsory re-tests?) 
If there's only TWO lanes approaching, use the LEFT lane for STRAIGHT ON (see nice diagram).
If three lanes, different (and easier) ball game.See Para 162.
As for this "daft queueing mentality"...
well I agree, sonmetimes it makes sense to use all the road available, e.g. to avoid a queue that stretches back enough to obstruct another intersection.
BUT if everyone uses all approach lanes to queue, then what about the poor bastard who wants to take an unpopular exit? Ever heard of gridlock? Sometimes there is a good reason to queue. And you should try to stick to the rules in general (except where unusual local factors apply).
Anyone want to borrow this soap box?
www.roads.dtlr.gov.uk/roadsafety/hc/8.htm
(anyone in favour of compulsory re-tests?) If there's only TWO lanes approaching, use the LEFT lane for STRAIGHT ON (see nice diagram).
If three lanes, different (and easier) ball game.See Para 162.
As for this "daft queueing mentality"...
well I agree, sonmetimes it makes sense to use all the road available, e.g. to avoid a queue that stretches back enough to obstruct another intersection.
BUT if everyone uses all approach lanes to queue, then what about the poor bastard who wants to take an unpopular exit? Ever heard of gridlock? Sometimes there is a good reason to queue. And you should try to stick to the rules in general (except where unusual local factors apply).
Anyone want to borrow this soap box?
quote:Not true. And that is not what para 162 says either. It simply says "select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout, signaling where necessary". If you read the highway code, you will indeed find that either lane (for two lane roundabout) is acceptable where travelling straight on, unless marked otherwise.
If there's only TWO lanes approaching, use the LEFT lane for STRAIGHT ON (see nice diagram).
If three lanes, different (and easier) ball game.See Para 162.
MEMS:
Can't disagree with you there. But the diagram DOES strongly imply that you should use the LEFT lane.
HOWEVER, I admit there are many RBTs (especially where there's a two-lane exit) where using both lanes on approach makes sense. But that's not what's in the diagram. I believe the diagram does show best practice for that particular (simple) situation.
(I think I'm going round in circles - perhaps I'm in the wrong lane...)
Can't disagree with you there. But the diagram DOES strongly imply that you should use the LEFT lane.
HOWEVER, I admit there are many RBTs (especially where there's a two-lane exit) where using both lanes on approach makes sense. But that's not what's in the diagram. I believe the diagram does show best practice for that particular (simple) situation.
(I think I'm going round in circles - perhaps I'm in the wrong lane...)
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