Roundabouts Ahhhh!!

Scottie99

Why do people use the left lane when turning right at roundabout?? I've lived in Ireland for six years now and amount of near misses is beyond a joke. Is it ignorance or just they don't care?

Random

Poorly designed roundabouts. Poor driver education. Complete lack of caring.

Pick one. I'm gonna say a combo of all three.

cabrwab

Random wrote: »

Poorly designed roundabouts. Poor driver education. Complete lack of caring.

Pick one. I'm gonna say a combo of all three.

Yeah all three +1.
And peoples road positioning on roundabouts can be hairy too contributing to these near misses!

mickdw

Lazy drivers who dont realise that itis highly dangerous. Lots of lorry drivers do it too. They claim its necessary but its just as dangerous.

Damien360

Only ever seen this practice is Galway city.

Nobody and I mean nobody looks when in Cork City. Lanes mean nothing.

Biggest problem is 2 lanes in and one lane out. Loads of people think it is an opportuntiy to overtake. If you ever use the Edgeworthstown bypass in Longford and Longford bypass you will see that happen all the time.

Dublin is not that bad except for Walkinstown which is lunacy and Dublin airport/M1/M50 merge which can be very poor for nobody looking. Most of Dublin will not give an inch and it discourages the chancers. Belfast is better and they leave the chancer stuck in the lane forever to teach him a lesson.

colm_mcm

very hard to go around smaller roundabouts in the right lane in a large lorry, especially with drivers flyint through on your left side potentially getting caught in your tailswing. drivers often take up 2 lanes to avoid this sort of situation. people don't drive defensively or considerately enough where trucks are involved.

Damien360

The large rig drivers are good and I can understand when they block up the lanes to make a safe turn. Some of the best drivers in the country with the exception of supervalu ones for some reason. The dumper truck drivers are no better than the average baseball cap wearing driver. Change lanes throughout their turn. Have'nt a clue how to approach a roundabout and fancy an overtake at any non-oppurtunity.

Scottie99

colm_mcm wrote: »

very hard to go around smaller roundabouts in the right lane in a large lorry, especially with drivers flyint through on your left side potentially getting caught in your tailswing. drivers often take up 2 lanes to avoid this sort of situation. people don't drive defensively or considerately enough where trucks are involved.

I drive HGV's and at small roundabouts I position myself for protection. Its more the larger roundabout where the situation happen. I know that some HGV drivers use the left lane at roundabout because that takes the blind side out of the equation. I personally feel that you leave yourself open (legally) if a collision happens, so its right lane for me.

stevenmu

A lot of people do it just to skip a queue in the right-hand lane. I suspect that a lot of them are too thick to realise how dangerous it is, and they think they've discovered some clever short cut

johnnyonionring

there are alot of people out there who really need to resit their test!!!:eek:

vectra

Damien360 wrote: »

Nobody and I mean nobody looks when in Cork City. Lanes mean nothing.

+1
Bloody lunatics

Voodoomelon

Saw a good one today.
On a roundabout today this woman came out of the road to my right (my 3 o'clock) and I let her go past and proceeded to follow her round, no indicating at all. She goes past a second exit and proceeds to take the third exit and indicates right as she takes it.

How can you get something SO wrong?

Greenmachine

Voodoomelon wrote: »

Saw a good one today.
On a roundabout today this woman came out of the road to my right (my 3 o'clock) and I let her go past and proceeded to follow her round, no indicating at all. She goes past a second exit and proceeds to take the third exit and indicates right as she takes it.

How can you get something SO wrong?

she hit the indicator the wrong way, however she did have the right of way because she was to your right. She definately could have got it more wrong.

um7y1h83ge06nx

I have a great one. I would have felt like thumping the head off the guy but decided to chill out because I was right.

Anyway, I was entering a standard 4 exit roundabout in Limerick. I wanted to take the second exit so I took position on the left lane. In the right lane was another car indicating right.

We both entered the roundabout at roughly the same time, me going a little quicker. Just after passing the first exit I indicated left to shown I was taking the second exit.

As soon as I exited the roundabout I was treated by a series of beeping and light flashing from the car that was in the other lane, really agressively.

Of course, I cut him off, bad me! :rolleyes:

The one thing worse that doing something wrong at a roundabout, is to think you have done nothing wrong and blame some-one else.

Slidey

It boils my blood.

Every morning I come onto the roundabout in Cooloney in Sligo.

1st exit is a dual c and people love to get into the right lane coming into the roundabout and proceed to take the first exit.

There used to be no 'straight on' second exit so there was no worry of people in the LHS lane going straight on, now there there is an exit there.

Some morning I am going to witness a serious accident there, of that I am quite sure

plissken

Alison Inexpensive Sauerkraut wrote: »

I have a great one. I would have felt like thumping the head off the guy but decided to chill out because I was right.

Anyway, I was entering a standard 4 exit roundabout in Limerick. I wanted to take the second exit so I took position on the left lane. In the right lane was another car indicating right.

We both entered the roundabout at roughly the same time, me going a little quicker. Just after passing the first exit I indicated left to shown I was taking the second exit.

As soon as I exited the roundabout I was treated by a series of beeping and light flashing from the car that was in the other lane, really agressively.

Of course, I cut him off, bad me! :rolleyes:

The one thing worse that doing something wrong at a roundabout, is to think you have done nothing wrong and blame some-one else.

An identical incident happened to me not so long ago in D15. Absolute clown continued flashing his lights and tut-tutting in his mirror,so at the next set of lights rightly or wrongly I hopped out, not for fisty cuffs but just to have a little chat with said neanderthal.

His response was that the left lane of all roundabouts is for going left only :eek: the guy was in his thirties and as he had no L plates displayed I can only assume he was a full licence holder, so to think that I share the road with drivers as incompetent as him really concerns me.

LordSutch

One large roundabout (two laned), Four exits, I wish to take the third exit off & I am in the outside lane (RHS) > but numbskull is on my left & he also wishes to take the third exit, I am indicating left & trying to exit, he is indicating left also, he passes the first two exits still on course to the third he brakes, I brake, windows are wound down & we exchange verbals

Happens all the time, I dunno where these people get their crazy ideas from, its really baffling, and remember the above all happens in the blink of an eye.

Wazdakka

One of my biggest peeves Is when people dont use roundabouts properly, Indicator , Lanes ect.
I know it's probably not one of the more dangerous problems we have with drivers here but it just really gets to me.
We have enough of the bloody things in this country... How do you not know how to use them properly??

Loveless

It's veeeery simple.. Taking first or second exit: Left hand lane.
Taking third or fourth exit: Right hand lane.

Had someone try and overtake me in the RHL of a roundabout yesterday, when we were both taking the second exit.

I'd hate to be living in Galway. Was up there a few weeks ago and you really are taking your life in hands entering roundabouts up there. Would they not put some kind of speed measure in place?

biko

You should see the Bohermore RB now that they put lights in the Huntsman RB.
Traffic backlogs all the way up to Bohermor RB and this causes people to have to sit in the middle of it and chance it whenever there's a small gap.
Hilarity ensues.

Loveless

Clever Galway Co. Co., that's how they get people to slow down on roundabouts.. park in the middle of them. :rolleyes:

mandz

Wazdakka wrote: »

One of my biggest peeves Is when people dont use roundabouts properly, Indicator , Lanes ect.
I know it's probably not one of the more dangerous problems we have with drivers here but it just really gets to me.
We have enough of the bloody things in this country... How do you not know how to use them properly??

Ooooooooh don't talk to me about indicators... it appears that very few around Mullingar know how to use them - I assume they think they are only to be used at Christmas for decoration purposes!! As bad as they are on roundabouts when you're driving behind someone and they just turn without indicating that reeeeeeeeeeally gets my road rage guage going!!

I think half the problem is there are some drivers out there who never had to sit a driving test they just applied for the full driving licence and just got it (some of the older generation drivers)

alias no.9

It's not just roundabouts, I was sitting in a queue of traffic at the lights at the junction of the long mile and walkinstown avenue, coming from the walkinstown roundabout. I was in the left hand lane, stopped just before a yellow box at the gates of the now closed white bishop opel showroom. There was about 20 cars behind me in the left lane, the right hand lane was empty except for three cars between the stop line and the yellow box. Some jackass decided to come down the right hand lane and try to pull across into the yellow box in front of me. I should know better but I was having none of it and went forward to cut him off. I had the window down and so did he and I told him not to be such a prick, he didn't appreciate it much.

You're not smarter than the rest of the people in the queue, you're just more ignorant.

Paparazzo

There's a roundabout in Ashbourne, and seriously, almost every day I used it, someone would go around to the 3rd exit in the left lane. It has 5 exits, one time someone actually went around to the 4th exit in the left lane!

Spiritoftheseventies

Yes amazing how some drivers never use indicators on roundabouts.

Bluetonic

bayviewclose wrote: »

Yes amazing how some drivers never use indicators on roundabouts.

I tend to ignore indicators on roundabouts, more often than not people don't know how to indicate correctly on a roundabout.

trustno1

+ 1 on indicators - not just on roundabouts - but with some people its ALL the time that they don't feel the need to use them..

My second biggest, most annoying peeve when it comes to roundabouts is peoples road positioning when coming up to the roundabout and where it breaks into two lanes... there's a roundabout I use every day leaving work and I have to wait ages to turn left for the first exit as the idiots ahead are all in one line on the now two lanes for the roundabout.. and because the left that I am taking is not a heavily used exit (leads to a country road) they are all quite happy to let me sit there and wait.. highly, highly annoying.. get in to the correct lane people!!!... :mad:

Berty

Does anybody remember my story from a few months back:

I approached the Kilmurry roundabout in Limerick. One lane on and One lane off but like with every roundabout you should take the outer orbital lane or the inner orbital lane. I took the inner orbital lane taking the 12o'clock 2nd exit. There was a guy in the inner orbital lane with his indicator to go right(3rd exit, 3o'clock).

We past the 1st exit and we were neck and neck. I went to exit and so did he. I didnt give him an inch(screw him) so he trys to hit my car by swinging his wheel at me.

He cuts up by driving along the bus lane and you could see the smirk on his face.

Next roundabout. 3 lanes on and 2 lanes off. The furtherst left lane goes to the 1st exit only and the other two can be used for the 2nd. I took the inner orbital lane as my turn off was just after the roundabout so by doing this I got past him again.

He followed me for a few miles down back roads and residential areas. I jumped out and we had a roaring match. He produced Garda id. I told him to fvck off and called the Gardai. He drove off. Garda investigated him and found he was a serial drink driver and had a charge of ABH against him. They called to him regarding the incident. I have heard nothing since.

Long story short and moral of the story and moral of this thread.

Other people are stupid. :rolleyes:

Pete4779

The clock stuff is mentioned here, but isn't part of the rules of the road and is generally taught in the UK, not here.

The usual situation where there is confusion is that the roundabouts with awkward or poorly positioned exits have road markings.

If the left lane has a road marking saying Right Turn, then the left is lane is what you use to make a right turn. Road markings overrule general road rules; for example, a 60kph sign on a motorway overrules the general rule of 120 kph.

In the UK, many roundabouts are better planned so the clockface rule works in most situations. In Ireland, the 1st/2nd rule works for the small local ones and road markings and advance signs are put up on much much more to avoid confusion.

If in doubt, just follow the road markings.

Spiritoftheseventies

Bluetonic wrote: »

I tend to ignore indicators on roundabouts, more often than not people don't know how to indicate correctly on a roundabout.

well you have to give way to someone indicating left off third exit.

Tech3

Parkway roundabout aside the drivers arnt too bad when it come to roundabouts in Limerick.

Actually in the raheen industrial estate they have the whole system f**ked up with the left lane for only turning left. Every single driver just ignores it and uses the clock system. I wonder will the city council ever sort it out as it doesnt make sense.

Spiritoftheseventies

tech2 wrote: »

Parkway roundabout aside the drivers arnt too bad when it come to roundabouts in Limerick.

Actually in the raheen industrial estate they have the whole system f**ked up with the left lane for only turning left. Every single driver just ignores it and uses the clock system. I wonder will the city council ever sort it out as it doesnt make sense.

re County councils there was a big debate recently on last word about how speed limits are set on roads.

Berty

As I am down in Kerry right now I will just mention(again) that their roundabouts are:

Left lane - Left hand turn only

Right lane - Right hand turn and straight on.

MORONS! :mad: Same goes for Mayo County Council.

I was turning into the retail park on the Castleisland road in Tralee so using the left lane as was the truck in front of me. Women in C reg car behind did the whole "follow the leader" thing and then decided she was going straight on. She was blown out of it by all the other traffic.

Spiritoftheseventies

Berty wrote: »

As I am down in Kerry right now I will just mention(again) that their roundabouts are:

Left lane - Left hand turn only

Right lane - Right hand turn and straight on.

MORONS! :mad: Same goes for Mayo County Council.

I was turning into the retail park on the Castleisland road in Tralee so using the left lane as was the truck in front of me. Women in C reg car behind did the whole "follow the leader" thing and then decided she was going straight on. She was blown out of it by all the other traffic.

not necessarily. som roundabouts and its exits roads are layed out differently.

craichoe

bayviewclose wrote: »

well you have to give way to someone indicating left off third exit.

I never drive off indicators, If i did i wouldn't have the front of my car present anymore.

Saw a guy one morning, indicate to take the first exit, cut across two lanes and shot out the other side of the roundabout ... thing was the guy behind me was beeping at me trying to get me to move out.

He saw it happen and sort of slunk down behind the steering wheel looking sheepish.

Quint

I drove behind this auld one from my estate for a few miles, she made about 10 turns at junctions and she didn't indicate once!

Spiritoftheseventies

Quint wrote: »

I drove behind this auld one from my estate for a few miles, she made about 10 turns at junctions and she didn't indicate once!

worse are the ones who have the indicators on for miles without knowing it. some drivers live in a world of their own.

boomer_ie

The worst example I saw recently while trying to enter a roundabout (the one in front of Loughlinstown Hospital for those that know it) two cars came onto the roundabout from the N11 southbound 1 in LHS lane and 1 in RHS lane. The one in the LHS lane proceeded around to the 3rd (hospital) exit and the one in the RHS lane exited at the 2nd exit both attempting to cut each other off!

As far as I was concerned BOTH drivers were in the wrong!

Spiritoftheseventies

boomer_ie wrote: »

The worst example I saw recently while trying to enter a roundabout (the one in front of Loughlinstown Hospital for those that know it) two cars came onto the roundabout from the N11 southbound 1 in LHS lane and 1 in RHS lane. The one in the LHS lane proceeded around to the 3rd (hospital) exit and the one in the RHS lane exited at the 2nd exit both attempting to cut each other off!

As far as I was concerned BOTH drivers were in the wrong!

you mean they criss crossed?

boomer_ie

bayviewclose wrote: »

you mean they criss crossed?

Pretty much yes

Spiritoftheseventies

boomer_ie wrote: »

Pretty much yes

roundabouts near where I live. off an estate. but are incredibly tight and small.. dont think its possible to go all the way round on them.

Panda Moanium

Berty wrote: »

As I am down in Kerry right now I will just mention(again) that their roundabouts are:

Left lane - Left hand turn only

Right lane - Right hand turn and straight on.

MORONS! :mad: Same goes for Mayo County Council.

I was turning into the retail park on the Castleisland road in Tralee so using the left lane as was the truck in front of me. Women in C reg car behind did the whole "follow the leader" thing and then decided she was going straight on. She was blown out of it by all the other traffic.

And this is the heart of the problem. If there is no consistency in applying the rules is it any wonder that people don't know what to do.

In Castlebar for instance, most of the roundabouts are marked for right lane for straight ahead, but a while back they changed one roundabout so that for one approach only you have to be in the left lane for straight ahead, the other 3 entrances the (local) status quo applies. And of course the only markings to indicate what lane you should be in are on the road and are invariably covered by vehicles whenever there is a build-up of traffic.

As you say, Morons!

boomer_ie

bayviewclose wrote: »

roundabouts near where I live. off an estate. but are incredibly tight and small.. dont think its possible to go all the way round on them.

Im not talking about the small roundabout at the hospital, i mean the full N11 / Shankill / Hospital roundabout.

Spiritoftheseventies

yes think i know the roundabout you are talking about. One is left after the graduate pub, straight ahead is towards Killiney, right goes on to the dual carriage way. I was talking about a different roundabout

boomer_ie

bayviewclose wrote: »

yes think i know the roundabout you are talking about. One is left after the graduate pub, straight ahead is towards Killiney, right goes on to the dual carriage way. I was talking about a different roundabout

Dunno which one ur on about, the link below is the one im on about.

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=53.241497,-6.129289&t=h&sll=53.204418,-6.109185&sspn=0.026737,0.06403&ie=UTF8&ll=53.241624,-6.129298&spn=0.003563,0.008272&z=17&iwloc=A

Voodoomelon

Can't beat a good ol' roundabout rant.

I actually enjoy other people pi$$ing me off on them. Until I get hit.

Brabus

Berty wrote: »

As I am down in Kerry right now I will just mention(again) that their roundabouts are:

Left lane - Left hand turn only

Right lane - Right hand turn and straight on.

MORONS! :mad: Same goes for Mayo County Council.

Ditto for Kilkenny CC. Coming in the Dublin road, at the first roundabout on the ring road in Kilkenny, the same, left lane for left turn only and right lane for straight ahead with right hand turn.

How there have not been any accidents there is a miracle, though it is well marked on the road itself before you enter it.

Maybe the idea is to cut down on congestion at certain times. Who knows.

McSpud

Worst one for me is the one over the M50 by Blanchardstown. Coming in towards the city will almost always get into the left lane to go straight ahead but the odd time will get stuck in the second lane. The last time I indicated well in advance & keep looking inside waiting for idiot to cut across & just went any normal person would assume he was going straight ahead he cuts across to the right to turn onto the M50.

I know some roundabouts are badly designed but that is clear to anyone with a brain cell. There is nothing worse than having to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident caused by someone else. Even worse when that person is oblivious to what happened. :mad:

Busta Hyman

this is called the magic roundabout in the uk and its possibly the best designed roundabout in existence and the first one of its kind in the world

Spiritoftheseventies

where is the "magic roundabout located

Busta Hyman

that one is in swindon and it looks confuseing but if you look at it its great. you can drive the wrong way round the big roundabout while going the right way around the small ones.