What is it with the roundabouts?!

aoraki

<vent>
For a city that is chock-full of roundabouts, it is also chock-full or numptys who haven't a freaking clue how to use them!!! Now, maybe somebody will correct me about this one, but when I was a young fella learning to drive, it was drilled into me that when you had 2 lanes going into a roundabout, when you are taking the 1st and 2nd exit you stay in the left lane (indicating left before you come to the roundabout for the 1st exit, and if you're taking the second exit you indicate left after you have passed the 1st exit). Anything after the 2nd exit you take the right lane going into the roundabout, and you indicate right.

Seems pretty straightforward, no? Then will somebody tell me why is Galway full of drivers who will stay in the left lane, not bother with any indicators whatsoever and then proceed to drive all the way around the roundabout and take the 3rd and 4th exits, without so much as a look to see what's going on around them?? I've driven in loads of cities, but Galway seems to take the biscuit when it comes to driving (atrociously) on roundabouts? Can anybody tell me where I can get a hood-mounted rocket launcher for my car please??!

</vent>

biko

Welcome to boards. The way you describe it (as well as the 12 o'clock method) is the right one but indeed, a lot of drivers couldn't care less/don't know.
Hopefully once they all have full licences it'll stop.

Zzippy

biko wrote: »

Hopefully once they all have full licences it'll stop.

Whoosh!! :eek:

..
...
.....I think that was a flying pig

brianthebard

biko wrote: »

Welcome to boards. The way you describe it (as well as the 12 o'clock method) is the right one but indeed, a lot of drivers couldn't care less/don't know.
Hopefully once they all have full licences it'll stop.

lolz imo the problem is people who got licenses when there were feck all roundabouts in the country.

leninbenjamin

brianthebard wrote: »

lolz imo the problem is people who got licenses when there were feck all roundabouts in the country.

not to mention the ones who got full licences even though they never took a test.

aoraki

hehe Zzippy, I think you're right! Can't see it changing anytime soon!

To be honest, I haven't noticed a pattern of drivers who engage in this practice - I've seen young drivers do it as well as older experienced drivers who *should* know better. I think a lot of it is down to impatience too. Some drivers will look at the queue in the right lane and go "nah, can't be arsed, I'll just stick in the left lane and ignore the rules".

Bugs the bejeebus out of me though! (You can see that I have a lot to be worrying about! :P)

PS. Cheers Biko, good to be here!

biko

The way I see it is that all the new drivers, getting their licences now, will do it right and also influence their parents or people they share the car with.
The drivers who just don't care will be picked up by the guards or fender-bender with someone and have to fork out the insurance. Kick them in the wallet.

MargeS

How come they have ad campaigns about how to overtake safely, but not on the one issue that turns up on boards regularly..... how to navigate roundabouts that do not have nice simple exits at 6,9,12 & 3

kevmy

The feckin worst are the taxi drivers. I think twice in 6 years in Galway have I seen them bastids indicate on a roundabout. It's a disgrace and shocking dangerous for anyone trying to cross the road at roundabouts

aoraki

Biko, I wish I had your optimism in the Guards picking up these gobshi-ites on the roundabouts! Admittedly I've only been in Galway for a few years, but I've yet to see anybody being pulled up for driving like a tit around a roundabout. Sure, the guards probably do it themselves, the cads! And like yourself, I'd like to think that learners will influence their parents with good driving practices. But I can see 3 problems with that; 1) A fair few learners get their first driving lessons FROM their parents, so the influence goes the other way at the start. 2) If parents the world over are anything like my own parents, they are likely to be extremely stuck in their ways and not willing to make any change to their norm! 3) Like I said before, sheer impatience. I think in a lot of cases the drivers know bloody well which lane they should be in, but can't be arsed joining the queue in the right lane.

Marges, yeah admittedly there are some confusing roundabouts in Ireland, but I do think that the majority of them in Galway city are of the garden-variety-4-exits-type. There is NO excuse for the level of muppetry that goes on! And yeah, you are spot on about the blind spot that seems to exist in driver training about using roundabouts correctly and safely.

Kev - Yeah, I did notice that about Taxi's alright, probably the worst of the lot! Transit Van drivers come in a close second!

Black_Knight

I see people manys a time on the Tuam road roundabout, on the N6 faceing to town via the ring road. In the left hand lane, indicating right, getting past the 1st exit, and then indicating left...

If your going straight through a round about, theres no logic in indicating right. I always assums this tool beside me is gonna go on a trip around the roundabout in the outside lane! Awful stupidity.

On a slightly side note, the roundabout up Sean Mulvoy road / sandy road / Tuam Road / bohermore road / that road down to the eye cinema! The worst roundabout at 5pm in galway! Traffic parks on the roundabout, and unless you get an on the ball driver stopping on the roundabout, you'll get blocked off!
Its my route home from work so its a right auld pain, luckily bohermore road (my exit) is never too busy so I can always get on to it.

sharkDawg

kevmy wrote: »

The feckin worst are the taxi drivers. I think twice in 6 years in Galway have I seen them bastids indicate on a roundabout. It's a disgrace and shocking dangerous for anyone trying to cross the road at roundabouts

Its not only in Galway, taxi drivers in general seem to do what ever the hell they like on the road.

kevmy

Black_Knight wrote: »

On a slightly side note, the roundabout up Sean Mulvoy road / sandy road / Tuam Road / bohermore road / that road down to the eye cinema! The worst roundabout at 5pm in galway! Traffic parks on the roundabout, and unless you get an on the ball driver stopping on the roundabout, you'll get blocked off!
Its my route home from work so its a right auld pain, luckily bohermore road (my exit) is never too busy so I can always get on to it.

I presume your talking about cemetery cross. That roundabout is way to small for the amount of traffic it handles. A larger roundabout there would solve a lot of the problems

scary_tractors

So so true about the Bohermore roundabout - it's incredibly dangerous, as well as being a pain in the ass. I've been caught on the Mulvoy road for 45 minutes simply because the roundabout is too small to cope with all that traffic.

In relation to people indicating or not on roundabouts, I'm a young driver with only a year's experience but I know for a fact I am better on roundabouts than my parents, because they never had formal lessons, live in the country where there are very few roundabouts, and there were very few roundabouts in Ireland when they were learning to drive. People do need to be educated on this one.

workaccount

I'm not sure if people conciously decide there going to go around to the third or fourth exit to avoid sitting in a Q.

It's just too dangerous to do (if you know what you are at) as you you will cut someone off on the inside and they will most likely have to hammer on the brakes. I'd imagine this is how most crashes happen on roundabouts.

I have really seen some mad stuff though in Galway....was coming out from tesco on the roundabout with lights and someone took a right. This was in the evening at a really busy time! Took the plank 5 mins to turn around. Where did she learn how to drive?

I wonder would you see something like that in any other countries?

I also saw a woman drive the wrong way up a dual carraigeway...probably other things that aren't coming to mind right now aswell but to get back to the point.....I would say Irish driving will not improve unless some fundamental things are changed. Irish people just couldn't give a f*ck really.....apart from me and a small minority (I mean small).

I'm sure there's plenty of people on this board who are guilty of all this sh*t too.
Will you change your ways? Probably not cause you couldn't give a f*ck either.

Oh yeah and what about people who arrive at a roundabout and decide to drive there car right onto the roundabout crossing the white line with their whole car completely blocking your view in the other lane.

Webbs

I drive on the left lane then go round the roundabout to turn right at the eye cinema roundabout (Ffrench roundabout?), if i am coming from college road at rush hour as you get the idiots turning the right lane and roundabout into a carpark because they won't use the two bloody lanes outside the eye.

Its actually safer to do this as you sail up the left around the traffic and straight down the merging lane, your not sat on the roundabout praying someone doesnt come into your backside (I will add that in any other case or time of day I wouldn't dream of doing this if the traffic is moving more than 5mph).

And for idiotic driving I give you the woman who I saw recently at set of red lights on the Tesco roundabout realise she had gone too far round so reversed back around the roundabout into oncoming traffic to take the entrance she had just passed!

Art_Wolf

Black_Knight wrote: »

If your going straight through a round about, theres no logic in indicating right. I always assums this tool beside me is gonna go on a trip around the roundabout in the outside lane! Awful stupidity.

TBH I actually do this, because when I did not a fair few times I narrowly avoided a crash as the person on the inside attempts to take the second exit. I would have assumed it was actually good practice. Then again I was similarly drilled in the 12/after 12, left/right lane setup and feel it is much better to indicate to let people know what you are actually intending to do. A flashing light is better then nothing to attract someone's attention.

workaccount

Art_Wolf wrote: »

TBH I actually do this, because when I did not a fair few times I narrowly avoided a crash as the person on the inside attempts to take the second exit. I would have assumed it was actually good practice. Then again I was similarly drilled in the 12/after 12, left/right lane setup and feel it is much better to indicate to let people know what you are actually intending to do. A flashing light is better then nothing to attract someone's attention.

I think it is actually the correct thing to do.(will have to check the ROTR) I was actually thought this by my instructor albeit he was fairly rubbish.

I used to always do it but stopped after reading others complaining about it.

It's not an easy one as it seems to cause as many problems using it as not using it. And seeing as no-one seems to use indicators or understand what they do anyway you may just be a little better off not using them. (depending on what grade of clown is on the inside - unfortunately no way to measure)

Black_Knight

Art_Wolf wrote: »

TBH I actually do this, because when I did not a fair few times I narrowly avoided a crash as the person on the inside attempts to take the second exit. I would have assumed it was actually good practice. Then again I was similarly drilled in the 12/after 12, left/right lane setup and feel it is much better to indicate to let people know what you are actually intending to do. A flashing light is better then nothing to attract someone's attention.

But your indicating to a direction you arnt going, which doesnt help anyone. Indicating right, im assuming your going past the 12 o' clock exit. No indicator, im assuming your taking a 2nd or later exit, but before the 12 o' clock exit.

workaccount

Black_Knight wrote: »

But your indicating to a direction you arnt going, which doesnt help anyone. Indicating right, im assuming your going past the 12 o' clock exit. No indicator, im assuming your taking a 2nd or later exit, but before the 12 o' clock exit.

It helps me!! I like to know what everyone is doing when I arrive at a roundabout. :mad:

You have to assume there taking the second exit.

Black_Knight

But upon entering a roundabout, if you see someone to your left indicating right, what do you assume? as far as you see it, they could be taking any exit except the 1st one.
on the other hand, if someone to your left doesnt indicate, you assume they are going straight on or the 1st exit because you cant see the indicator on the other side of the car.

Either way, neither of us are certain where that car is going. If they have their right indicator on and on the roundabout it goes off, how am I to know they have switched to the left indicator, or if it was just knocked off automatically while turning.

I would assume theyve indicated to go right (all the way around the roundabout) and thus have to watch em like a hawk to see what their doing until safe.
Im guessing you would assume they have switched to the left indicator and are turning off, but theres always a chance they're not.

I think the simple way to sort this out, marking on the roads! Arrows saying which lane goes where! Lough Rea bypass used to be a disaster with people using any entrance to the roundabouts. Its still poor, the arrows are too late.
Tescos roundabout, its a bit of a mad one, but I find if you stick to your lane and follow your arrows, its all good.

workaccount

Black_Knight wrote: »

But upon entering a roundabout, if you see someone to your left indicating right, what do you assume? as far as you see it, they could be taking any exit except the 1st one.
on the other hand, if someone to your left doesnt indicate, you assume they are going straight on or the 1st exit because you cant see the indicator on the other side of the car.

Either way, neither of us are certain where that car is going. If they have their right indicator on and on the roundabout it goes off, how am I to know they have switched to the left indicator, or if it was just knocked off automatically while turning.

I would assume theyve indicated to go right (all the way around the roundabout) and thus have to watch em like a hawk to see what their doing until safe.
Im guessing you would assume they have switched to the left indicator and are turning off, but theres always a chance they're not.

I think the simple way to sort this out, marking on the roads! Arrows saying which lane goes where! Lough Rea bypass used to be a disaster with people using any entrance to the roundabouts. Its still poor, the arrows are too late.
Tescos roundabout, its a bit of a mad one, but I find if you stick to your lane and follow your arrows, its all good.

Your probably thinking too much. Just drive your car the right way (alertly) and hope someone doesn't do something stupid.

If there indicating right in the left lane at all then there most likely a decent driver....the dumb f8cks will be the ones not indicating at all. So just assume there taking the second exit and go about your own business.


Arrows??? Meh. The real answer lies in the licensing and education system and then enforcement on the roads of course. The people that don't give a fu*k will try anything and don't care about finding out the right way to do things...They should be forced.

Don't get me wrong either. I'm not one for a complete and outright police state but these ones are elementary and should be followed by all means.

Black_Knight

workaccount wrote: »

Your probably thinking too much. Just drive your car the right way (alertly) and hope someone doesn't do something stupid.

Been there done that, and when someone cuts infront of you and you catch the back/side of them, your the one to blame! Not you specifically, that'd just suck! Its happened to me!

workaccount wrote: »

Arrows???

Arrows do the business for me. Easy to understand, the mess that is the red cow is a good example! (arrows on signs but its the same idea)

workaccount wrote: »

The real answer lies in the licensing and education system and then enforcement on the roads of course.

Too true, but last I looked, this is far from an ideal world and in my opinion, thats little more then a fantasy!

workaccount

Black_Knight wrote: »

Been there done that, and when someone cuts infront of you and you catch the back/side of them, your the one to blame! Not you specifically, that'd just suck! Its happened to me!

What? If he cut across in front of you it should be his fault??

What kind of world do we live in!

Black_Knight

workaccount wrote: »

What? If he cut across in front of you it should be his fault??

What kind of world do we live in!

Too true! I was shocked! Should of got the guards out, but I was so sure it would definatly go my way!

1500 beans claim! Thank got it as a sh!ty micra

workaccount

Black_Knight wrote: »

Too true! I was shocked! Should of got the guards out, but I was so sure it would definatly go my way!

1500 beans claim! Thank got it as a sh!ty micra

Tell me what happened exactly.
Was this in Galway?


grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad::mad::mad:

I'd go f8ckin mental if someone tried to claim off me for their stupidity.

biko

Art_Wolf, workaccount et al
Don't indicate right in the left lane when you intend go across the Rbt.
Bad practice which confuses everyone else.
"Is he indicating right but means left? Is he confused where he's going? Is he drunk?"

Don't blame the system - there is a system ROTR that you are not following, thus adding to the problem. Follow the ROTR and don't second guess other drivers.


"Stay in the left hand lane, but do not indicate "left" until you have passed the first exit/the exit before the one you intend to take.
Where conditions permit, usually on larger roundabouts, you may follow the course shown by the broken line."
http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/roundabouts.html

padi89

Here lies the problem, Workaccount likes to indicate right when going straight ahead because it MAKES HIM FEEL SAFE despite the fact it is completely incorrect.......to sum up ME ME ME.

Nothing against you personally but your driving attitude sucks.

Art_Wolf

biko wrote: »

Don't blame the system - there is a system ROTR that you are not following, thus adding to the problem. Follow the ROTR and don't second guess other drivers.

Problem is the vast majority of drivers do not follow this - a huge amount try to guess what you are doing in the left hand lane and decide to take the right land in the hope you are going to take the first exit, allowing them to ease in and take the second exit. Indeed this is where I would say the majority of accidents occur as they speed off to get in front of the left hand lane driver.

Maybe that uncertainty over what I am doing would make them pause and not attempt such dangerous driving - uncertainty has proven to make people more cautious drivers.

Anyway if people do not follow the system then there is obviously a problem and until such time that the system is understood I feel allot safer on the road broadcasting my intentions. Real world, knowing you were in the right is great but does not help if your car is out of action until you get your claim sorted and garage fixes the car.

workaccount

padi89 wrote: »

Here lies the problem, Workaccount likes to indicate right when going straight ahead because it MAKES HIM FEEL SAFE despite the fact it is completely incorrect.......to sum up ME ME ME.

Nothing against you personally but your driving attitude sucks.

wtf are you on about....I don't do it anymore...I was told initally it was the right thing to do...perhaps for the reason art wolf says.

padi89 wrote: »

Nothing against you personally but your driving attitude sucks.

My driving attitude??? How narrow minded are you... :P

padi89

workaccount wrote: »

wtf are you on about....I don't do it anymore...I was told initally it was the right thing to do...perhaps for the reason art wolf says.




My driving attitude??? How narrow minded are you... :P

Fair enough if you don't do it anymore my apologies i read incorrectly.Its OK you dont suck

Looking back i should have quoted Art Wolf......oooops

Black_Knight

workaccount wrote: »

Tell me what happened exactly.
Was this in Galway?


grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr :mad::mad::mad:

I'd go f8ckin mental if someone tried to claim off me for their stupidity.

Dont want to get into the nitty gritty details, but someone came across into my lane cutting me off, jumped on the brakes to no avail. She said nothing really, more or less she wouldnt do anything and leave it at that. I said id take her number and get on to her after I access the damage. All good, went away. 5 mins later I get a call from the guards to call down about it.
Guard was telling me, 99% of the time, if you get them from the back or even the backside, its your fault! Insurance company backed this up with a claim.
Whats a real kicker is, I suggested getting her number! So she in turn took mine. If I met her again:mad::mad:!

Twas in galway alright.

biko

Art_Wolf wrote: »

Problem is the vast majority of drivers do not follow this - a huge amount try to guess what you are doing in the left hand lane and decide to take the right land in the hope you are going to take the first exit, allowing them to ease in and take the second exit. Indeed this is where I would say the majority of accidents occur as they speed off to get in front of the left hand lane driver.

Maybe that uncertainty over what I am doing would make them pause and not attempt such dangerous driving - uncertainty has proven to make people more cautious drivers.

Anyway if people do not follow the system then there is obviously a problem and until such time that the system is understood I feel allot safer on the road broadcasting my intentions. Real world, knowing you were in the right is great but does not help if your car is out of action until you get your claim sorted and garage fixes the car.

Even though I agree with the first bold the way I see it is that it is you being the problem. If the inside car speeds off at the rbt you hang back and slot in behind them inside the rbt. Once you reach your exit you blink and turn.

Some rbts are 1-lane and some 2. Do you do this at every rbt or just Terryland?

Second bold, just because other may not follow some rules doesn't mean you can't. Start doing things right instead. Follow the ROTR.

Art_Wolf

I dont actually do it at Terryland - I generally do it on the Tuam road roundabout just before it turns into Bothermore, heading into the city... though that could also be because of that first exit always being blocked up *shrugs*

July

Art_Wolf wrote: »

TBH I actually do this, because when I did not a fair few times I narrowly avoided a crash as the person on the inside attempts to take the second exit. I would have assumed it was actually good practice. Then again I was similarly drilled in the 12/after 12, left/right lane setup and feel it is much better to indicate to let people know what you are actually intending to do. A flashing light is better then nothing to attract someone's attention.

Indicating right when in the left lane is not good practice, it's WRONG!

workaccount wrote: »

I think it is actually the correct thing to do.(will have to check the ROTR) I was actually taught this by my instructor albeit he was fairly rubbish.

I used to always do it but stopped after reading others complaining about it.

I'm glad you stopped.

workaccount wrote: »

You're probably thinking too much. Just drive your car the right way (alertly) and hope someone doesn't do something stupid.

Someone like you? The right way to drive your car is by the rules of the road.

workaccount wrote: »

If they're indicating right in the left lane at all then they're most likely a decent driver....the dumb f8cks will be the ones not indicating at all. So just assume they're taking the second exit and go about your own business.

Anyone who is in the left lane indicating right is the 'dumb f8ck'. Someone in the left lane who's going straight ahead is perfectly correct not to be indicating at all (until they pass the first exit).

workaccount wrote: »

What kind of world do we live in!

One where people make up their own rules while driving, clearly.

biko wrote: »

Art_Wolf, workaccount et al
Don't indicate right in the left lane when you intend go across the Rbt.
Bad practice which confuses everyone else.
"Is he indicating right but means left? Is he confused where he's going? Is he drunk?"

Don't blame the system - there is a system ROTR that you are not following, thus adding to the problem. Follow the ROTR and don't second guess other drivers.

+1

Art_Wolf wrote: »

Problem is the vast majority of drivers do not follow this - a huge amount try to guess what you are doing in the left hand lane and decide to take the right land in the hope you are going to take the first exit, allowing them to ease in and take the second exit.

How can you possibly know what is going on in other drivers' heads? That's what indicators are for and that's why they should be used correctly!

Art_Wolf wrote: »

Anyway if people do not follow the system then there is obviously a problem and until such time that the system is understood I feel a lot safer on the road broadcasting my intentions.

Ironically, if you're using your indicator incorrectly, you're not broadcasting your intention at all!

Art_Wolf

July wrote: »

How can you possibly know what is going on in other drivers' heads? That's what indicators are for and that's why they should be used correctly!

Because they pull into the right lane coming up to the roundabout and then attempt to ram me so they can make the second exit. I have not actually seen this *not* happen at a single busy roundabout in Galway so far.

Yes I understand I am not following the rules of the road and yet with the rules not being understood by most, apparently not enforced by any guards (just from reading the start of this thread) and complicated by inexperienced drivers I feel I have a greater chance of coming off a roundabout in one piece by indicating where both lanes of traffic on the roundabout can see - that I am not intending to take the next exit.

padi89

Art_Wolf wrote: »

Yes I understand I am not following the rules of the road and yet with the rules not being understood by most, apparently not enforced by any guards (just from reading the start of this thread) and complicated by inexperienced drivers I feel I have a greater chance of coming off a roundabout in one piece by indicating where both lanes of traffic on the roundabout can see - that I am not intending to take the next exit.

Well if your not following the rules of the road and you have admitted this then why do you expect everybody else to, why not have a free for all? Your not exactly setting a good example for others to follow............
You can't expect for people to bend the rules for your safety, its like people that expect special treatment because the have a baby on board sticker :P

If your in the left lane of a two lane entry to a roundabout and your indicating right to me it says:
A) Your lost, you know your in the wrong lane and would like to get into the right lane for turning right.
Your too lazy to join the que in the right lane for turning right so il just go completely around indicating
In other words you are going to cut me off in both circumstances.

aoraki

If your in the left lane of a two lane entry to a roundabout and your indicating right to me it says:
A) Your lost, you know your in the wrong lane and would like to get into the right lane for turning right.
Your too lazy to join the que in the right lane for turning right so il just go completely around indicating
In other words you are going to cut me off in both circumstances.

Exactimundo.

If you are in the left lane indicating right and intending to take the 2nd exit on a standard 4 exit roundabout, that is wrong on so many levels. That's just going to cause complete confusion for the drivers around you.

I drive on the left lane then go round the roundabout to turn right at the eye cinema roundabout (Ffrench roundabout?), if i am coming from college road at rush hour as you get the idiots turning the right lane and roundabout into a carpark because they won't use the two bloody lanes outside the eye.

Its actually safer to do this as you sail up the left around the traffic and straight down the merging lane, your not sat on the roundabout praying someone doesnt come into your backside

Webbs, while i can understand your frustration at the traffic sometimes in Galway city, what you're doing there is still wrong. And just because the traffic isn't moving to your satisfaction is not a valid excuse to do it. There's a good reason that the right hand lane is backed up going on to that roundabout, and that's because those drivers, or "idiots" as you referred to them as, know that if they are turning right (ie 3rd or 4th exit) they are supposed to be in the right lane. That's the rule. I suspect your primary reason for going all the way around the roundabout in the left lane is that you can't be arsed queueing. What happens if the car in the right lane want's to take the 3rd exit and go straight into the left lane(merging lane) of the third exit. If you're hareing up on left one of ye is going to slam on the brakes and there will be expletives of the vilest nature exchanged! And who's in the wrong there? - you, cos you've no business being in the left lane after the 2nd exit.

I know these things are small transgressions, and 95% of the time nothing bad happens. But all these small trangressions, such as roundabout antics, indicators being used on a whim, driving down bus lanes, lane hogging on dual carraigeways, they are just indicators of the piss-poor standard of what passes as "driving" in this country. :rolleyes: I mean, for the love of jeebus, the Rules of the Road are not some unintelligible script - they are actually quite straightforward.

po0k

MargeS wrote: »

How come they have ad campaigns about how to overtake safely, but not on the one issue that turns up on boards regularly..... how to navigate roundabouts that do not have nice simple exits at 6,9,12 & 3

Because most people don't try to use roundabouts at 100Kmph

Mrs OBumble

aoraki wrote: »

...There's a good reason that the right hand lane is backed up going on to that roundabout, and that's because those drivers, or "idiots" as you referred to them as, know that if they are turning right (ie 3rd or 4th exit) they are supposed to be in the right lane. That's the rule.

I'm not so sure: I understood that the law was that if you're taking exit 3 or more, you approach in the right land, but once in the roundabout, you signal left when passing the exit before the one you want, check the blind spot and when safe move into the left lane to take the exit.

Of course your average roundabout is a mighty small place to do all this ... and the law is strangely silent about what to do if there's someone in the way ;-)

IMHO, the real problem is that roundabouts are a fine traffic management tool for volumes up to a certain level, but traffic in Galway is now so heavy that regular intersections controlled by lights are needed. But the roads have now been built with these massive roundabouts and it will take a lot of dollars to change 'em.

As a pedestrian, there's one behaviour that I'd really like to change: sometimes when I'm trying to cross a four-lane road at a roundabout, someone tries to be nice and stop to let me cross. The problem is that there's no guarantee that the driver in the other lane will also stop (most don't, so I'm not willing to risk it) - and if they're leaving the roundabout to enter dual-carriageway, it's highly likely that the person behind is travelling too fast so either rear-end the nice person, or swerves out to avoid them. Either way, it's not pleasant. So please .. if you learn nothing else from this thread, learn not to stop unexpectedly on roundabouts!

spurscormac

The worst behaviour I've ever seen at a roundabout was as I came from the Quincentennial Bridge, in the right lane, hoping to head up the Sean Mulvoy road one morning.
Lights were green as I approached & there was a car in front. He slowed right down & I was getting annoyed thinking what the f*%k is this guy doing. Next thing he stops at the green light thats on the actual roundabout to let a passenger out. :eek:

While I will admit that I have broken certain rules in my time, I have never in my life seen such a stupid thing to do on the road.

aoraki

I'm not so sure: I understood that the law was that if you're taking exit 3 or more, you approach in the right land, but once in the roundabout, you signal left when passing the exit before the one you want, check the blind spot and when safe move into the left lane to take the exit.

I agree JustMary, and that's what I meant, you are supposed to be in the right lane approaching the roundabout if your intention is to take any exit after the second exit. And you're right, you should ALWAYS indicate and check your blind spots before making any sort of manoeuver. Follow the ROTR. But in Galway you have to be extra-vigilant on the roundabouts purely because of the way they are mis-used. When I got to Galway I quickly learned to make allowances for the "Numpty Factor", particularly on roundabouts.

Art_Wolf

JustMary wrote: »

Either way, it's not pleasant.

One of the major reasons I have so far not taken up cycling to work..

cL0h

aoraki wrote: »

.... older experienced drivers who *should* know better. ....

Irish Drivers over 50 are not required to indicate by law.

Or so it seems.

galah

neither are mummies in their SUVs or anyone with an 08 reg, apparently...

richiepoorman

Having read some of issues about drivers and roundabouts i have to agree with most of your observations,having driven in the uk for many years they are some differences between drivers here and there.

On approach to a roundabout why do so many drivers indicate right when they are going straight on (or second exit) when clearly this is wrong, also most drivers dont indicate when exiting a roundabout at which ever exit they chose to leave at, i think this is an issue all over the country, i am always amazed at how many people dont understand when you say leave at 1st exit for example, "Do you mean left" is the normal reply, come on!!!!!!.

workaccount

What I've noticed alot in recent times is people coming from the dual slip from headford side onto the roundabout with lights....they keep coming when the light is orange and then a few will take a chance when the light goes red.

I was stopped just before that entrance at the lights and was going up Sean Mulvoy road. Idiots kept coming when my light was green. I could have drove into them....I started beeping and some ass girl looks at me as if she has done nothing wrong.

aoraki

i am always amazed at how many people dont understand when you say leave at 1st exit for example, "Do you mean left" is the normal reply, come on!!!!!!.

Heehee! Yeah, I've witnessed that myself on a couple of occasions! If they have problems counting then I don't hold out much hope for them ever mastering the whole driving thing

On a side note, there seemed to be an upsurge in driving numptyness last week :rolleyes: - probably due to it being race week I suppose.

fozzle

Oh god, I hate galway roundabouts with a passion - maybe it's cos there's so bloody many at once, but I don't think I ever see so much crappy roundabout driving as in Galway.

On the whole "indicating right in the left lane" thing, a good friend of mine is Latvian and her dad and brother are instructors so she's a good driver. She ranted and raved about the Irish inability to use roundabouts for months. Was in the car with me one day while I was learning and chewed me out of it for doing the roundabout wrong. I didn't. Seems in Latvia you're meant to indicate left (they're on the other side of the road so it'd be right here) when you're entering a roundabout - feck knows why. I've been over there and it's true - that's how they do it.

Not saying it's only foreigners doing it by anymeans - almost every time I've come close to being smooshed on a roundabout it's been a brand new jeep - not typically the motor of choice for anyone just here for work. But I do think that a re-education campaign would be worth it. Need the RSA to explain roundabouts to my aunt for a start - she takes the right hand lane (and indicates right) for the second exit and hurls abuse at anyone who gets in her way. Drives a jeep - what a suprise.

workaccount

fozzle wrote: »

Need the RSA to explain roundabouts to my aunt for a start - she takes the right hand lane (and indicates right) for the second exit and hurls abuse at anyone who gets in her way. Drives a jeep - what a suprise.

Have you explained to her that shes actually in the wrong?

Cole

richiepoorman wrote: »

Having read some of issues about drivers and roundabouts i have to agree with most of your observations,having driven in the uk for many years they are some differences between drivers here and there.

It is a pleasure driving in the UK compared to Ireland.
I think the standard of driving is poor in Ireland generally, but Galway is definitely the worst example.

Since I moved here, I have often tried to figure out why it is so bad...lots of inexperienced student drivers? Appalling Garda presence? etc.

I think a lot of drivers are just following each others bad habits and have started to believe that what they are doing is correct. e.g. turning right at roundabouts, while in inside lane...nearly eveyone does it here.