Roundabout lane markings

bog master

Now I am losing it over this and yet stand to be corrected. Entering a roundabout and turning at first or second exits, ie left or straight, it has always been my understanding you enter in the left lane and then exit. Taking a third or subsequent exit, you are on the inner lane.?

Have come across a good few roundabouts, mostly outside Dublin yet busy enough where the signs, if u can call them that, usually road markings have anyone turning left ie first exit in the left lane, fair enough, anyone going straight ie 2nd exit or further on the innner lane! And with any sort of traffic, you cant see the road markings! So to me rules of the road says X, and some bright eyed road engineer says Y

xFROSTY Gx

Ya there after changing a good few roundabouts to operate that way aswel down here in waterford. I think its a good idea in some cases as it reduces traffic

DubTony

You should follow the rules of the road unless the bright eyed engineer tells you otherwise. There are lots of roundabouts all over the country with different rules, and work quite well when they're marked accordingly. It's when the markings wear off that the trouble starts.

Berty

bog master

DubTony wrote: »

You should follow the rules of the road unless the bright eyed engineer tells you otherwise. There are lots of roundabouts all over the country with different rules, and work quite well when they're marked accordingly. It's when the markings wear off that the trouble starts.

Thats all fine and good, you are coming to the roundabout, you know which exit you want, position yourself lanewise. then find you are in the wrong lane because you cant see the markings on the road because there are cars on it.
Some of these telling you the opposite are 50 yards or less from the roundabout. To me its like saying stop on red at about traffic lights but some junctions allow you to go through on a red!

L1011

99% of "different" roundabouts marking wise are the same as each other - they use a spiraling system where you move over a lane for each port (something tells me I'm not explaining this very well). Take a look at the ones you're finding different to the norm and you'll probably see this is how its done... there are horrific exceptions to the rule however, Cork's magic roundabout comes to mind.

BostonB

Some roundabouts go from 2 lanes to 3 and back to 2 as you go around.

The rules are here.

http://www.rulesoftheroad.ie/rules-for-driving/junctions-roundabouts/roundabouts.html

But the lane markings are crazy in this country.

Wishbone Ash

bog master wrote: »

then find you are in the wrong lane because you cant see the markings on the road!

I totally agree. It's pointless having surface only markings.

Tarabuses

Does there have to be a roundabout road sign at the approach to a roundabout for it to legally be a roundabout and must there also be a stop line at the entrance?

Johnboy Mac

Try the roundabouts on the Castlebar 'ring' road, at the last minute there is only a painted sign on the road (and can only be seen if there ain't too much traffic) to tell you that its right hand lane for straight on or right - a joke!

A few sign posts and early road markings would make a hugh difference.

Big Nasty

Try negotiating the Arc de Triomphe roundabout just once and you'll find even the Walkinstown roundabout in rush hour like childs play!

Wishbone Ash

Tarabuses wrote: »

Does there have to be a roundabout road sign at the approach to a roundabout for it to legally be a roundabout

There should be a roundabout sign but I can't see it making much practical difference. It not as if you are going to drive straight on over the top of the centre just because its missing a sign. In relation to yielding, one is required to yield to traffic approaching on the left if it was being treated as a four road junction in the absence of a legal sign.

Tarabuses wrote:

and must there also be a stop line at the entrance?

They usually have a narrow continuous white line across the left-side entrance and a YIELD triangle sign on the surface with a yield signpost and a 'keep left' arrow sign (and traffic light signs if applicable).