Which lane to use approaching the roundabout?

kluivert

Do you know which lane to use when approaching a roundabout?

Are you sure?

When you wish to take the first exit, use the left lane.
When you wish to take the second exit, use the left lane.

When you wish to take the third exit, use the right lane.
When you wish to take the forth or more exit, use the right lane.

How fecking hard of a rule is that to remember?

Am fed up of old people (over 60's) not understanding this.
Am fed up of rich folks in expensive cars not understanding this.
Am fed of every tom dick and harry who pulls into the right lane, to take the second exit and then cuts you up as they try and squeeze their jeep back in infront of you.

You can only take the right lane approaching the roundabout, exit on the second exit, if the left lane is blocked off. A line of traffic doesnt count.

Wow I love this country style of driving.

I wonder if they changed the points systems the other way around, you got bonus points for correct driving work in this country, because everything else seems pretty much backwards.

Thanks for listening.

Jumpy

Enforcement my good buddy. The only way to fix it.

Anan1

kluivert wrote: »

Am fed of every tom dick and harry who pulls into the right lane, to take the second exit and then cuts you up as they try and squeeze their jeep back in infront of you.

Drive faster.;)

Jumpy

Anan1 wrote: »

Drive faster.;)

I am tempted to sig that, coming from you

Anan1

I've always been a fan of drive faster - especially when there's a monkey in an SUV trying to cut in on you!;)

biko

The way I was taught it:
If there are no markings - left lane for any exit up until 12 o'clock. Right lane for any exit after 12 o'clock. (You are at 6 o'clock approaching the rb)

Vikings

I would often use the Right lane taking the second exit when the Left lane is being used by a car waiting to take the first exit or at least in indicating that they wish to use the first exit, doesnt always work like that though so I let them take the second exit first and I slide in behind them.

Now if it was the other way around and I was in the left lane wishing to take the second exit and a car was in the right lane also wanting to take it, surprise surprise they never slow down or check their mirrors to see if anybody using the correct lane is there and barge their way through!

Fozzie Bear

I hear you. Its a royal pain in the ass the way some muppets drive at round abouts. While not wishing to generalise i usually find thats its women and old people who are the worst offenders. Males do it too! But not as often as the others.... Another pet peeve (while i'm at it) of mine is not using your indicator or else using it too early or too late! GRRRRRRRRRRRR

kluivert wrote: »

When you wish to take the second exit, use the left lane.

You can use the right lane if there are two lanes coming off the 2nd exit i thought? This however causes problems with muppets who use the left lane to take the 3rd exit, i sh1t you not! Regular occurance at the Headford road roundabout (beside Motorpark) for those who know it in Galway and also at the Ballybrit/Tom Hogans roundabout occasionally. You should be allowed by law to drag these people from their cars and beat them over the head with a copy of the rules of the road.

Dades

I'll use the right lane for the second exit where there is more than one lane coming off at that exit.

And what's more I'll enjoy doing it too.

Henry Ford III

Fozzie Bear wrote: »

....You can use the right lane if there are two lanes coming off the 2nd exit i thought? This however causes problems with muppets who use the left lane to take the 3rd exit, i sh1t you not!...

Indeed you can Fozzie. The same lunacy goes on wholesale on the Shannon bridge roundabout in Limerick btw.

The feds simply ignore it :mad:

afatbollix

Dades wrote: »

I'll use the right lane for the second exit where there is more than one lane coming off at that exit.

And what's more I'll enjoy doing it too.

yip me too.

its in the rules of the road that if you are going stright on you can use both lanes.... so dont bitch about it.

poker-jacks

Ive been thinking of saving up to comssion a tv and radio ad for this. Its the worst thing in the world, that along with people who dont know how to indicate on roundabouts.

Worst in my eyes is the roundabout at the graduate in Killiney and then lower down at Glenageary as well.

Thanks for highlighting this OP!!

h3000

Henry Ford III wrote: »

Indeed you can Fozzie. The same lunacy goes on wholesale on the Shannon bridge roundabout in Limerick btw.

The feds simply ignore it :mad:

What I really hate at this roundabout is when people use the left hand lane coming from the coonagh cross side to take the third exit out the dock road. :mad:

cson

Had a mong child do this to me yesterday. Take the right lane going for the second exit, nearly resulting in my front right wing being taken off had I not been paying attention.

macshadow

What i hate is those little roundabouts that look like a saucer,people don't know their left from their right any more.

Wertz

Spooky, was just about to come into the forum and post specifically regarding this.
Was out and about the w/e (accompanied, before any of you start) and on three separate occasions at 2 different r'abouts, I had people behind me on approach pull into the righthand lane, as I positioned myself to go straight on, and proceed to try and "overtake" me as I drove straight on, forcing a second lane where there was none. One idiot had the gall to beep their horn at me as if I was the one in the wrong!
These weren't old or young, they were my age, both female and male, no modded civics, no AMG mercs, just common cars....and none of the offenders (apart from me) had L-plates displayed.
I am so sick and tired of the lack of knowledge and even more the lack of enforcement of proper usage f something that's such a common part of our road system.
I said it back in the provisional driver thread in AH and I'll say it again here; we need a proper campaign of education for ALL drivers on the roads on the basics that make road use safer and more rewarding for everyone involved. We had one in the very early 80's (where I actually learned, aged ~8, how to approach, indicate and exit a r'about) but the only driver's ed ads I see today are those about overtaking ;maybe not enough people die on r'abouts to warrant spending money on educating people about their proper use...

littlejukka

i was coming through the roundabout between douglas court shopping centre and mcdonalds a few weeks back when a woman had the fantastic idea to not only cross 2 lanes to get in front of me, but then to invent a PARKING lane where she decided to drop off 2 of her fat mates who took an age to extricate their holes from the back of the car. the look of indignation on her face when i drove past blasting the horn was comical. yeah, I'M the arsehoIe

wil

Wertz wrote: »

These weren't old or young, they were my age, both female and male, no modded civics, no AMG mercs, just common cars....and none of the offenders (apart from me) had L-plates displayed.
.........
I said it back in the provisional driver thread in AH and I'll say it again here; we need a proper campaign of education for ALL drivers on the roads on the basics that make road use safer and more rewarding for everyone involved. We had one in the very early 80's (where I actually learned, aged ~8, how to approach, indicate and exit a r'about) but the only driver's ed ads I see today are those about overtaking ;maybe not enough people die on r'abouts to warrant spending money on educating people about their proper use...

The more I read you lately the more I wish you had gone for that test and probably passed.:)
Anyway you say plenty of the stuff I have been saying for ages.

1 - the crap drivers in this country cant really be categorised as they can in the UK, because they cover all categories, there are crap drivers scattered through all, old, young, middleaged, professional, boyracer.
That is firmly down to driver education or lack of it as that is the only really common factor. In the UK the vast majority of drivers reach a minimum standard by 19 ie they pass the test. They cant drive for a living without it, and in some cases they cant drive for a living unless they have proven if after passing either by years no accidents or advanced courses/tests. I had to do an advanced test to drive company cars because I had my licence less than 2 years, many hire companies wouldnt rent to you unless you were over 21 or had licence 3 years.

Here they dont even bother checking if you passed. When you combine learners and lucky bag licences thats a lot of people on the road without any checks - that concept cant be good in any system, let alone a system where your life is on the line.

2 I agree those public service ads were very effective. Weve gotten a bit too snobbish to be told how to drive any more. Thats for developing countries. Shure weve had cars for 10 years now, why would be need ads telling us the right way to approach roundabouts, change lanes etc:rolleyes:

3 you have a very valid point about roundabouts - that I hadnt actually considered until you highlighted it, intentionally or not - the number dying on roundabouts probably is very low. That would be because the combined impact on most roundabouts would rarely be over 60kph as even the most absentminded do tend to slow approaching them, and you do enter at an angle, hence deflecting some of the impact.
An impact while on the roundabout from another on it could hardly be above a relative speed of 20kph. So unlikely to cause death.

Traffic lights are a different matter with people breaking reds lights at any speed, possibly even in excess of 80kph so the chances of a full impact side on collision in excess of 80 is much higher, hence higher risk of fatality.:(
This is another reason I think there are far too many lights in Dublin and elsewhere.

littlejukka wrote:

.... not only cross 2 lanes to get in front of me, but then to invent a PARKING lane ........the look of indignation on her face when i drove past blasting the horn was comical. yeah, I'M the arsehoIe

in this instance the ar$ehole was in the other car and there needs to be a lot more horn blowing and less meek acceptance on our roads. A healthy dose of nonviolent road rage (with a smile) might go a long way.:)
As for indicating, too soon, too late or not at all.
An Irish relation living in England made this comment on the subject of late indicating -
"An Irishman will always tell you where he WAS going"

How many have met people coming the wrong way around a roundabout?:eek: A few too many is my own experience:(

biko

http://www.lireland.com/theory/roundabouts.htm

littlejukka

biko wrote: »

http://www.lireland.com/theory/roundabouts.htm

and?

that series of diagrams only apply in circumstances where there are two lanes enterring and two lanes exiting on the second exit, where the first and third exit have only one lane each, assuming it is a 4-spoke roundabout with each spoke perpendicular to the next, no allowance for a left-turn lane, no lights, no requirement to switch lane mid-roundabout to take a 3rd or subsequent exit and no hazard on the roundabout itself.

there is absolutely no way that showing a learner that pathetically symplistic diagram and expect it to apply in every situation encountered in the real world is adequate. it's more pathetic that some people expect that it will.

mega

Where conditions dictate otherwise, you may follow the course shown by the broken line. ??? Please explain.

littlejukka

mega wrote: »

Where conditions dictate otherwise, you may follow the course shown by the broken line. ??? Please explain.

do you have a full license?

where there is anything other than the symplistic layout shown there (such as a left filter lane, an exit between 9 and 12 o'clock, or a hatched run-off area) you simply follow the lane as shown with a broken white line.

mega

What about Walkinstown roundabout, all knowing one.

littlejukka

mega wrote: »

What about Walkinstown roundabout, all knowing one.

what about it? if it's too difficult for you to use, avoid it.

Dalfiatach

It's not entirely the fault of the drivers either. Most driving instructors teach the so-called "12 O'Clock Rule" which of course can be completely wrong if there are 3 exits at 8,10 and 12 O'Clock, which is fairly common in real-world roundabouts...

I drove from Derry to Galway on Sunday evening and nearly got creamed by morons about 27 times. Muppets tailgating with lights on full beam, overtaking on blind bends, pulling out of side roads right in front of me, suddenly slowing to 50kph on the open road for no apparent reason then zooming off again at 120kph, the 50kph Club who suddenly remember how to accelerate as soon as you try to pass them, Zoolanders who can't turn left, and the complete gob****e on the Collooney roundabout taking the right onto the Tubbercurry road - two lane entrance, single lane exit. As I am slowing and indicating right in the right entrance lane, I notice a car approaching the roundabout at speed in the left lane way behind me, proceeds around the left lane parallel to me, then attempts to barge past me on the exit. Fecking clown very nearly killed both of us, and would have if I hadn't been paying attention. Never used his indicators either :mad:

I drive all over Ireland quite a lot so I'm used to the bad driving on Irish roads but Sunday night was fecking atrocious, appalling, unbelievable. Shocking altogether.

J_R

mega wrote: »

Where conditions dictate otherwise, you may follow the course shown by the broken line. ??? Please explain.

Going straight ahead;

* Approach in the left-hand lane but do not signal yet.
* Signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.
* You may follow the course shown in the illustration by the broken red line in situations where:

* the left-hand lane is only for turning left or is blocked or closed, or
* when directed by a Garda.

Therefore it is not OK to use the right hand lane unless above applies.

That link to Lireland is out of date. That is the explanation taken from the OLD rules of the Road.

In the 2007 edition the RSA has attempted to clarify some points

See the new explanation herre:- Roundabouts New ROTR.

Tomas_V

J_R wrote: »

Therefore it is not OK to use the right hand lane unless above applies.

While the advice here is generally sound, it is just good advice, not law.

The ROTR has no force in law and, other than requiring drivers to 'keep to the left', the detailed advice in the ROTR is not backed by any equivalent regulation.

My pet peeve on roundabouts would be drivers who overtake.

Tails142

The problem as I see it stems from the fact that many roundabouts have marking contrary to the general rule.

A roundabout near where I live has 2 roads leading on to it (6 o'clock), but all the exits only have one lane out (at 3, 12 and 9 o'clock). Left lane is marked for 1st exit only, and right lane is for all the others.

This roundabout pattern is very common and leads people to believe that the left lane coming on is for the 1st exit only.

Alun

Tails142 wrote: »

The problem as I see it stems from the fact that many roundabouts have marking contrary to the general rule.

A roundabout near where I live has 2 roads leading on to it (6 o'clock), but all the exits only have one lane out (at 3, 12 and 9 o'clock). Left lane is marked for 1st exit only, and right lane is for all the others.

This roundabout pattern is very common and leads people to believe that the left lane coming on is for the 1st exit only.

Well, in that case, it is for the first exit only. If there are road markings present, these overrule the 'default' rules.

These can be problematic though because here there's rarely or never any normal signs echoing the road markings, so if these are obscured, or worn away no-one knows they're there.

Dalfiatach

J_R wrote: »

In the 2007 edition the RSA has attempted to clarify some points

See the new explanation here:- Roundabouts New ROTR.

FFS, that's a bit better but still completely useless. How many real-world roundabouts do you know with 4 exits all lined up nice and neat?

Is it the "12 O'clock" rule or the "3rd and subsequent exits" rule we should all be following? Nobody knows! The ROTR is meaningless drivel! Driving instructors tell learner drivers different things, and every roundabout has magic special road markings and rules all its own.

This country is a joke. The whole system is broken.

Wertz

Besides if you can't already properly use what, on the RotR website, is a very simplistic/basic r'about you really shouldn't be using one....how about some instruction and advice on using multi-lane r'abouts? One near me that has four lanes, 5 exits (2 on to subsequent m-way filter r'abouts) and is never without traffic...it's easy to get confused on a r'about of this type if you don't use one regularly, but with the number of these increasing around the country, it's only a matter of time before everyone on the road has to use one at some point...it's education on these super r'abouts that would help everyone who uses them.

kluivert

Dalfiatach wrote: »

This country is a joke. The whole system is broken.

Couldnt have said it any better.

JamesM

Roundabout near me, 2 lanes on to it - no arrows, most of the traffic goes left, so straight and right stay in the RH lane. You would get blown out of it if you went straight across from the left lane.

kluivert

JamesM wrote: »

Roundabout near me, 2 lanes on to it - no arrows, most of the traffic goes left, so straight and right stay in the RH lane. You would get blown out of it if you went straight across from the left lane.

Thats am afraid is what is wrong with the country, make up their own rules.

Alun

JamesM wrote: »

Roundabout near me, 2 lanes on to it - no arrows, most of the traffic goes left, so straight and right stay in the RH lane. You would get blown out of it if you went straight across from the left lane.

Indeed. There are any number of roundabouts, and indeed other junctions or road layouts around, where the 'locals' seem to have made up their own rules as to how it should be handled, and woe betide anyone from outside who comes along and tries to do it 'properly'.

NeMiSiS

A roundabout I always found.. interesting..( and dangerous) is the one by Power City in Lucan.. (with power city on your left) it has a bus lane which ends before the roundabout (left lane), with an arrow marked straight on, the right lane also has an arrow marked straight on. The other side the bus lane continues 15 feet after the round about. I'd say 90% of the traffic queues in the right lane to go straight on, even though the road indicate markings you can go straight through in both.

If you are coming from the oppisite direction (with Power City to your right) there are again two lanes, but this time with no markings, but people will still use the right hand lane for straight through, utter disaster, dangerous, and in a way I think the markings and behaviour if coming the other direction.. almost "train" drivers that this is correct behaviour.

Similar situation if you continue on and turn right down to head towards the outer ring road, long road with a bus lane. When you reach the end there is a sign saying bus lane ends and two lanes, I have seen people turning left and using the right hand lane to enter the left lane.. if that makes sense.. I saw a truck nearly crush a car doing this.

Another one I can think of is the refurbished roundabout at the City West shopping centre, allthough it is marked clearly(Left lane - left turn only | Right lane straight through - and right) , I would imagine with the traffic volumes through there coming up to Christmas the road markings will be obscured by traffic parking on them waiting to go through.. someone won't see the markings and try go straight through in the left lane and then *bang*. There may be overhead signs here I just can't recall for certain.

There is alot of roundabouts I can think of where this same problem applies, you have such a volume of traffic if the roundabout is marked other than is indicated in the RoTR, that cars obscure the markings. Signs should really be over head and clear. Making road signs more staright forward would also help. For example the roundabout heading south on the M1 that brings you to the M50, I know it may be clear if you are familiar with it, but I can see how many people get confused. Lot's of tourist traffic from the airport add to the danger.

TK

Del2005

Dalfiatach wrote: »

FFS, that's a bit better but still completely useless. How many real-world roundabouts do you know with 4 exits all lined up nice and neat?

Is it the "12 O'clock" rule or the "3rd and subsequent exits" rule we should all be following? Nobody knows! The ROTR is meaningless drivel! Driving instructors tell learner drivers different things, and every roundabout has magic special road markings and rules all its own.

This country is a joke. The whole system is broken.

This is the problem that we have. The "driving instructors" in this country don't know how to do roundabouts so they teach people the wrong way. Or else the new batch of drivers are so thick thet they can't be thought the correct way, I hope it's the instructors!! Then people think the the 12 O'Clock rule is correct when the proper one is 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.

BTW while the rules of the road have no legal standing, they are supposed to be what people learn before they drive. If people read them we'd have a lot less trouble as everyone would be working off the same set of rules not what their dog told them.

They should have tests for driving instructors, and if they fail they should be made resit their driving test. That's if they have ever done it:rolleyes:

colm_mcm

Del2005 wrote: »

This is the problem that we have. The "driving instructors" in this country don't know how to do roundabouts so they teach people the wrong way. Or else the new batch of drivers are so thick thet they can't be thought the correct way, I hope it's the instructors!! Then people think the the 12 O'Clock rule is correct when the proper one is 1st, 2nd, 3rd etc.

Check out this previous thread where a self professed expert sticks to the "O'Clock" rule and won't be told otherwise

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2054980034&highlight=roundabout

Dalfiatach

So, "3rd and subsequent in right lane" is technically the correct rule, yes? Every driving instructor I've ever asked has told me the "12 O'clock" stuff, because "3rd" was my personal reading of the ROTR but nobody else on the roads seemed to be obeying it. I always wanted to know for sure cos I drive through 2 such roundabouts daily. Which is fun.

And half the roundabouts have special road markings telling you to do something different, and the locals invent their own rules to cope with the chaos. Man, what a mess.

I can see DrivingInfo's point about the indicating right though on a roundabout where 3rd exit is straight ahead, with a 4th or 5th on past that. Everyone else is going to assume yer heading for exit 4+. Because they all believe in the 12 O'clock Rule.

Del2005

Dalfiatach wrote: »

So, "3rd and subsequent in right lane" is technically the correct rule, yes? Every driving instructor I've ever asked has told me the "12 O'clock" stuff, because "3rd" was my personal reading of the ROTR but nobody else on the roads seemed to be obeying it. I always wanted to know for sure cos I drive through 2 such roundabouts daily. Which is fun.

Glad and sad to hear it's the instructors, but that then begs the question how are these people passing tests if they are being taught wrong? Are the driving testers not reading the ROTR? Yeah I have fun going through roundabouts also, but I always drive as if everyone else is trying to kill me

And half the roundabouts have special road markings telling you to do something different, and the locals invent their own rules to cope with the chaos. Man, what a mess.

If there are special markings you have to follow then as it's a pentalty point offence not to.

colm_mcm

90% of the time the o'clock rule works. this is enough to get through your test. problem is also that the ROTR is badly laid out and only takes 4 exit roundabouts into consideration

Gwynston

What gets my nose up is people in the left lane who are going to take the 2nd exit at roundabouts who indicate right beforehand. :mad: I presume this is to "clarify" to everyone else that they're absolutely, definitely, NOT taking the 1st exit. :rolleyes:

This is confusing for me next to them in the right hand lane indicating right because I AM actually turning right, only for them to suddenly indicate left at the last minute and nip off at the 2nd exit!

bob2oo7

This happens to me every single day....

I meet 2 round abouts on the way to work, therefore on the way back for lunch, back forth etc... thats 8 round abouts every day...

I take the 2nd exit each time, therefoer use the left lane, and do not indicate left, until after I pass the 2nd exit

2 things happen to me every single day without fail

1. becuse I dont indicate until after I pass the 1st exit, people automatically presume Im taking the 1st exit therefore pull out in front of me, and I have to slam on the breaks

2. people taking the 2nd exit dont use the left lane, because the couldnt be bothered waiting in traffic in the left lane. they then cut me off as I am taking the 2nd exit and I have to slam on the brakes.

So, and this maybe completely wrong, but sometime (depending on the day im having) I want someone to hit me, so that I can get out, say to them its all your fault and let the gardai explain it to them also

This is the most annoying thing in ireland for me, some reason I find it very very fustrating

VinnyTGM

Yes OP, correct.
And people have to start using lane;s in relation to the numbered exit, not the position of the exit.
Eg- The second exit is located at 1 o' clock so people indicate right and use the right lane.:mad:

Alanstrainor

Two year old thread...please don't drag up an old thread without good reason. You're more than welcome to start a new thread.