Roundabout Question

Leonard Hofstadter

Ok, unlike pretty much everyone else out there, I DO know how you're supposed to work the indicators(like no indication approaching when taking the 2nd exit unless the 2nd exit is off to the right in which case you do indicate right approaching the roundabout), thing is though, what about roundabouts with a lot of lanes in them, like the Kinsale Road Roundabout in Cork or back in the days of the Red Cow Roundabout in Dublin?

My old fella reckons it's stupid doing the normal indicating rules here because roundabouts like these have more than 2 lanes e.g. if say the exit ahead has 2 lanes and you are in the second lane i.e. there is a lane to the left of you.

My old fella reckons if I'm in the second lane and taking the exit ahead that I should not indicate left because that gives the impression that I want to switch lanes, I reckon that you should indicate left because you are taking the next exit and you always indicate left before the exit you wish to take.

So, which one of us is right, and why;)?

PS: I don't want a rant about why I'm asking this question, the general incompetance of Irish drivers, your opinions on this etc, I just want someone to tell me what the correct thing to do in this situation is(if people interpret what I'm doing wrongly that's not my problem, they should know how to drive and the ROTR) I tried looking at the ROTR but that only describes your regular roundabouts with 1/2 lanes in them.

TIA, as they say.

Absurdum

you're correct

jaffa20

I don't think irish drivers understand the concept of a single lane roundabout, so i'd say they certainly wouldn't understand how to use a roundabout with multiple lanes. So, it's definitely best to use indicators in this case:D

Helpful linky

mickdw

Defo indicate..

so there are 2 lanes leaving the roundabout on your chosen exit. You are in the one on the right. This lane will typically be for your exit and also for continuing on around the roundabout. You therefore must indicate to show you plan to exit. Of course the fact that you are exiting the roundabout means you are actually in theory changing lanes anyway so you must indicate. It will also ensure that the stupid driver on your left wont try to continue around the roundabout and run into you.

stevenmu

You're correct for two reasons, first you indicate because you want to exit the roundabout, second because you have to cross the other lane to get off.

You shouldn't exit the roundabout and end up in the left lane as part of one manouver, you should either exit the roundabout in the right lane then separately change lanes, or change lanes on the roundabout then exit.

corktina

you are totally correct. Another reason you should indicate is so that the guy waiting to come ON to the r'about knows he can with with safety. Indicating incorrectly at r'abouts is a cause of congestion.

Cookie_Monster

on s similar vein is anyone familiar with the roundabout over the M50 Leopardstown exit? I use it a fair bit coming down from Sandy ford village and onto the M50 south. When going around the it the lane markings actually run off the roundabout down the slip road so you are not in effect changing lane. To continue around the roundabout you would be indicating left, or be in the right most lane.

I don't indicate on this roundabout (that part anyway) as the lanes specifically guide you off the roundabout.

Maruney

stevenmu wrote: »

You shouldn't exit the roundabout and end up in the left lane as part of one manouver, you should either exit the roundabout in the right lane then separately change lanes, or change lanes on the roundabout then exit.

People do this annoying manouver all the time -
Roundabout has 2 lanes entering and 2 lanes exiting.
Car going straight through approches and goes around in right lane.
On exiting the car indicates and leaves the roundabout in left lane.

Why is this lane change been made when going straight through, the right lane is not ending?

inforfun

Indicate and be prepared to use the brakes and horn for the f*ckwit in the outer lane who is going to take the 3rd exit of the roundabout.

Berty

RE: The Kinsale road roundabout. You should indicate when you plan to leave the roundabout, but thats common sense.

The thing about this roundabout is that it's lane are specific. They go to specific place's and if you are in that lane then you should invariably be going where the road markings tell you.

Redjeep!

inforfun wrote: »

Indicate and be prepared to use the brakes and horn for the f*ckwit in the outer lane who is going to take the 3rd exit of the roundabout.

So are you saying that you should go around in the left hand lane even for an exit past the 12 o'clock position ?

I'm not accusing anything so no flames, just trying to understand. I would always have thought that for any exit past 12 o'clock (with single lane exits) the correct procedure is to enter in the right hand lane, move across into the left hand lane around the exit before yours and then exit.

Most people on the roundabout near Kilcock for instance seem to think the correct way is to enter in the left hand lane and then stay in it all the way around even the third or fouth exit.

saltcoats

the best and safest way to exit roundabouts in ireland i have found is to wait untill apx. 3:30am on a tuesday and post lookouts at all entrance/exit lanes using both radio and semaphore singaling. but still make sure your insurance is up to date cause the vast majority of drivers on irish roads dont have a ****ing clue what they are doing

langdang

Berty wrote: »

RE: The Kinsale road roundabout. You should indicate when you plan to leave the roundabout, but thats common sense.

The thing about this roundabout is that it's lane are specific. They go to specific place's and if you are in that lane then you should invariably be going where the road markings tell you.

I'll have to agree with your dad OP, and disagree with all the people who say you must indicate no matter what on the Kinsale Roundabout. As Berty says, the lanes are very specific, so unless you're changing lanes or the lane is for more than one option I'd recommend devoting your attention to potential kamikazi pilots around you.

Simplify it to this: (Imagine it's the Sarsfield road roundabout)
3 lane signalled roundabout.
Next exit is a dual carriageway.
You are in the middle lane on the rounadbout, stopped at traffic lights. marked with a straightahead arrow. Car either side of you. You are going straightahead, taking the righthand lane of the dual carriageway (until it's practical to merge into the lefthand lane obviously).
Neither of the other cars cares as long as you do this, unless they're about to do something completely illogical and contrary to the ROTR.(In which case your indicating isn't going to prevent them acting the gimp, they were just born like that)
So do you indicate to leave this roundabout or not?
Who are you benefitting by indicating?
People on the roundabout? - no, unless you're going to swerve into their lane, they don't give a monkeys what you do.
People coming onto the roundabout? No -because it's a signalled roundabout. All you'll do is make the guy to your left think you're about to veer into his lane.

That's not to say you never indicate, just that on signalled roundabouts with specific lanes, then you sometimes cause more confusion by indicating...

The Bandon road roundabout is badly designed IMO, and indicating is essential...

Theta

Rules of the road image showing points of indication on a two lane roundabout.

And besides that you should normally exit a roundabout in the lane you enter it (unless there are less lanes coming off).

corktina

you should always indicate your intention to leave a roundabout by signalling left at the junction before the one you want irrespective of what lane you are in and irrespective of the road markings.

I find it beyond belief that so many Irish drivers are so clueless on things like this. It is laid down and so simple.

Guy:Incognito

I find it very frustrating at roundabouts. Peopel are just making it up as they go allong. The big roundabout on the way from the Spawell to Wellington in Templeogue (Dublin ) is a prime example. Coming down towards it from Spawell there are 2 lane enterign the roundabout. Very simple you would think, left lane for left and straight and right lane for Right and coming back on yourself. There only 1 lane at each of the exits. Yet at least half of the people in front an dbehind me every time use the right lane to go straight, some indicate right while being in the right lane to go straight.

I even had one guy in a golf look in his rearview mirror and shake his head at me after he went straight in the right lane and I went straight from the left.

I was 2 cars behind a woman the other day that took up position in the right lane indicating right, but whe wasnt fully in the right lane, her left wheels were in the left lane. Needless to say as she got half way roudn she indicated left and exited , meanign she went straight throught the roudabout. Now I did'nt think much because this crap happoens all the time. But at the next roudnabout down at Perrystown , which has the same lane layout but is a small roundabout she goes straight through but from the left lane and does no indicating. Did she suddenly realise how to use lanes properly and ferget she had indicators? All in the space of a few hundred meters.

Zubeneschamali

corktina wrote: »

I find it beyond belief that so many Irish drivers are so clueless on things like this. It is laid down and so simple

No, it isn't.

At the roundabout which the OP references, there are lane markings on the roundabout clearly defining some lanes leaving the roundabout as "straight on". If you are in one of those, and indicating left, I will read that as an indication that you are about to change lane, not go straight on in your lane off the roundabout.

The rules about indicating etc. are the default rules when no other road markings or signs tell you what to do. They are not absolute rules. From the ROTR:

You must obey any road markings on the lanes and/or other instructions to show what lane to use if you intend to take a particular exit from the roundabout.

Unless road signs or road markings indicate otherwise, follow the steps below, when taking the first exit, going straight ahead or taking later exits off a roundabout.

Ush1

I think the key thing with roundabouts is approaching quite slow if you don't know it and check for road markings. The airport can be slightly confusing as it's often changing but once you know the roundabout it's fine.

daveharnett

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

At the roundabout which the OP references, there are lane markings on the roundabout clearly defining some lanes leaving the roundabout as "straight on". If you are in one of those, and indicating left, I will read that as an indication that you are about to change lane, not go straight on in your lane off the roundabout.

...so you will ease off, and give him some space until you see that he is holding his lane. Hardly the end of the world for either of you, and the people waiting at the next entrance will be able to make some progress.

Redjeep!

The action that gets me the most is when people change lanes to overtake and then change back again. Never seen that one anywhere else.

corktina

Zubeneschamali wrote: »

No, it isn't.

At the roundabout which the OP references, there are lane markings on the roundabout clearly defining some lanes leaving the roundabout as "straight on". If you are in one of those, and indicating left, I will read that as an indication that you are about to change lane, not go straight on in your lane off the roundabout.

The rules about indicating etc. are the default rules when no other road markings or signs tell you what to do. They are not absolute rules. From the ROTR:

You must obey any road markings on the lanes and/or other instructions to show what lane to use if you intend to take a particular exit from the roundabout.

Unless road signs or road markings indicate otherwise, follow the steps below, when taking the first exit, going straight ahead or taking later exits off a roundabout.

sorry but you are making up your own rules.What about the guy waiting to enter the r'about who cant see the road markings? You need to indicate to him that he can pull out as you are turning off.

langdang

corktina wrote: »

sorry but you are making up your own rules.What about the guy waiting to enter the r'about who cant see the road markings? You need to indicate to him that he can pull out as you are turning off.

We're talking about a signalled roundabout that is impossible to go more than 180degrees around without meeting a red light(and if you're "on it" then the guy trying to get on should have a red light unless it's chock-a-block at rush hour or something). Indicating isn't benefiting anyone to your left or right or coming on to the roundabout, as long as you are using the lane you are in for it's intended purpose.

n0brain3r

Howabout the 2nd roundabout coming into Naas from the N7 southbound at the big ball the left lane is for the Monread road meaning you stay in the outside lane to take the third exit the right lane is for back to the M7 Southbound or N7 Northbound the amount of times I've had to stop or yield to someone going straight ahead in the right lane or off at the Monread junction because someone ignores the markings. It's the planners/NRA's fault though any roundabouts with non standard lane layouts should have huge signs on the lead up to them indicating the correct lanes to use road markings are useless in traffic as they're covered by the traffic in front. Another one that gets me is two lanes entering a roundabout with no lane markings why bother it just causes confusion about which lane to be in!

inforfun

Redjeep! wrote: »

So are you saying that you should go around in the left hand lane even for an exit past the 12 o'clock position ?

Nope, that is exactly my biggest cause of anger on Irish roads, people who are in the outer (or left if you want) lane (for 1st or 2nd exit of RA) but still insist it is perfectly ok to go past 12 in that very lane.
It happens so often that nowadyas it does surprise me when no one is trying that stunt.
It goes against all laws, rules of the road, laws of nature to do that.

Zubeneschamali

corktina wrote: »

What about the guy waiting to enter the r'about who cant see the road markings?

It's much worse than that: what about me driving onto the roundabout in traffic? I can't see the road markings either, yet I am required to obey them!

corktina

i mean he cant see YOUR road markings and doesnt know you are going off the roaudabout because you arent indicating....

Ush1

Well lads, it seems the guy who can't see the road markings will be in the wrong.

Cookie_Monster

corktina wrote: »

i mean he cant see YOUR road markings and doesnt know you are going off the roaudabout because you arent indicating....

why can't he see road markings, if he can see your car he can see the road under it. It not like there are giant hedges blocking everything below roof height

langdang

corktina wrote: »

i mean he cant see YOUR road markings and doesnt know you are going off the roaudabout because you arent indicating....

He doesn't need to on a signalled roundabout? Either I have a red light or he does?

corktina

Cookie_Monster wrote: »

why can't he see road markings, if he can see your car he can see the road under it. It not like there are giant hedges blocking everything below roof height

they are some metres away and upside down and have several cars on top of them.....how is he to know FOR SURE that that lane is for cars turning left? If the cars were indicating left, he would know....

rai555

http://www.drivingschoolireland.com/roundabouts.html