Entering and Leaving Very Busy Roundabouts

tk05

I have my full license but I'm posting here because I believe everyone could benefit from clarification about roundabouts.

The ROTR only describes how to use one specific roundabout and doesn't provide rules that can be applied to roundabouts in general(For the most part). One gap is multilane roundabouts and I would like some opinions on the correct but more importantly SAFEST way to use them.

I've attached a picture of the layout of a roundabout I use multiple times a day. In the evening it is extremely busy and I am always entering from B (in the image) and intend to exit at A (First exit). About 75% of other motorists on the roundabout intend to use the same exit. The problem is that the entrance to my right (C) has an endless queue (You'd have to wait two hours for there to be a gap in traffic from that road) so anytime there's a gap in traffic coming from other entrances it is immediately seized by someone coming from C. How can one safely get onto the roundabout in this situation. If I'm taking the first exit I usually have take a bit of a risk and enter when there is oncoming traffic in lane 2 which will ALWAYS use the same exit as me and will often exit into my lane (lane 1) without checking their mirror.

If I'm using a later exit and want to enter into lane 2 (from A) it's almost impossible since cars from C will not allow there to be any gaps. Keep in mind that most people tend to be in third or fourth gear in this roundabout so you can't just enter expecting someone to slow to let you in.

Another question I have is about approach lane. I was taught that the approach lane is related to the exit you are taking (unless sign posted otherwise) and that if you are in lane 2 you must exit into lane 2 (And change lanes later if you wanted to be in the left lane). If I'm coming from B and want to exit into the right lane of A (Lane 2 of the first exit) I thought I had to approach in the left lane. However I see many (MANY) people approach using the right lane to take the first exit (into the right lane of that exit). Which is actually correct?
Additionally I've also noticed that most drivers that are in lane 2 of the roundabout exit without yielding (or usually even checking for) anyone in lane 1 of the roundabout. Are drivers in lane 1 actually supposed to yield to anyone in lane 2? I thought that leaving the roundabout from lane 2 counts as a lane change and thus you have to yield to traffic already in that lane.

daveharnett

I think you have a pretty good grasp of how is 'should' work.

There's no silver bullet i'm afraid. Enter when lane 1 is free, and be very cautious of drivers in lane 2 cutting you up as they change lanes and exit simultaneously. They shouldn't but they will.