Briarhill roundabout question from a learner driver

Blinking_Badger

Hi all,

Some help needed from experienced drivers here please.

Yesterday, I approached the Briairhill roundabout from the dual carraigeway by Tom Hogan's garage in the left hand lane intending to take the first exit off it to go out by the airport. I exiting, staying in the left hand lane but this brought me onto the lane for turning left into Parkmore and I had to change lanes and get into the right lane fairly quickly in order to go straight on through the lights there. Was this the right thing to do? People are telling me that I should have exited in the right hand lane but this seems to be going against everything I've learned about roundabouts from my driving instructor................please help, I thought I was making progress but this has got me thinking otherwise.

Thanks
BB

LadyMayBelle

I always exit into the right lane because the provision is there...as a recent test passer this confused me to but you always come off into the left UNLESS road signs indicate otherwise..I guess in this case that applies altho it bends the rule a bit..

Mr.Mister

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Hi all,

Some help needed from experienced drivers here please.

Yesterday, I approached the Briairhill roundabout from the dual carraigeway by Tom Hogan's garage in the left hand lane intending to take the first exit off it to go out by the airport. I exiting, staying in the left hand lane but this brought me onto the lane for turning left into Parkmore and I had to change lanes and get into the right lane fairly quickly in order to go straight on through the lights there. Was this the right thing to do? People are telling me that I should have exited in the right hand lane but this seems to be going against everything I've learned about roundabouts from my driving instructor................please help, I thought I was making progress but this has got me thinking otherwise.

Thanks
BB

Always remember:

Left lane for first and second exit.

Right lane for thrid and fourth exit.

A thing i always do when approaching a roundabout is say.

Left - One - Two

Right - Three - Four

LadyMayBelle

Mr mister..i dont think the question regards which lane he should be in approaching the roundabout (I also dont agree with your rules!). Technically you ought to always come off in the left lane unless road markings indicate otherwise. In this instance you have a choice whether you want to take the left lane exit which takes you to parkmore or the right hand lane which takes you to the airport.....

Blinking_Badger

Mr.Mister wrote: »

Always remember:

Left lane for first and second exit.

Right lane for thrid and fourth exit.

A thing i always do when approaching a roundabout is say.

Left - One - Two

Right - Three - Four

Thanks for your reply Mr. Mister...................I learnt that if an exit is at the 12 o'clock polsition on the roundabout or before it then you use the left lane, if its after 12 opt for the right lane..............is this not so??

LadyMayBelle you are completely right, what I was asking is whether its ok to enter the roundabout in the left lane and exit in the right......this roundabout seems to be not only confusing but downright dangerous...surely you run the risk of cutting off someone in the inside lane when you do this?? Is this what everyone has to do though?

Thanks

BB

jkforde

Always use the left lane to exit at the first exit, no matter what the road layout is after the exit, so IMHO you were correct, it's just that Irish road layouts esp. at roundabouts and their exits are nonsensical.

If you had used the right-hand lane on the roundabout and then went to take the first exit then there was the real chance that you'd have cut across into someone going around the roundabout to your left who wanted to exit at the next exit.

My general rule is any exit more than half way around the roundabout take the right lane, always indicate, KEEP LOOKING AROUND and drive slowly.

Blinking_Badger

Thanks fo the advice Jkforde, can you really go slowly on them? Whoever is with me in the car is usually telling me to speed up and get a move on!! Its rare that I can go around them without having a mini heart attack...hope it gets easier.....when does the fear go? Ever??!

Cheers
BB

martyboy48

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Thanks for your reply Mr. Mister..................1 I learnt that if an exit is at the 12 o'clock polsition on the roundabout or before it then you use the left lane, if its after 12 opt for the right lane..............is this not so??

LadyMayBelle you are completely right, what I was asking is whether its 2 ok to enter the roundabout in the left lane and exit in the right......this roundabout seems to be not only confusing but downright dangerous...3 surely you run the risk of cutting off someone in the inside lane when you do this?? Is this what everyone has to do though?

Thanks

BB

1 this is correct
2 I believe this to be correct
3 You will not be at risk as with points 1 and 2 if you use correct proceedure regarding mirrors and signals..

Stay calm, take your time and you'll be fine..

Acoshla

I used to deal with that roundabout going that direction every day and never had any trouble with it, I always exit in left lane, otherwise as someone else has said you run the risk of cutting someone off, or just causing confusion.

I find the easiest thing to do is even though you're in the left (outside) lane stay a good bit out from the kerb and kind of straddle the two new lanes (not the roundabout ones) as you come off it, quickly moving to the right one. Sounds ridiculous saying it like that but as I also used to work in Parkmore I find people going that direction cling to the kerb in preparation for going left, others stay out further.

jkforde

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Thanks fo the advice Jkforde, can you really go slowly on them? Whoever is with me in the car is usually telling me to speed up and get a move on!! Its rare that I can go around them without having a mini heart attack...hope it gets easier.....when does the fear go? Ever??!

Cheers
BB

Always be aware of other drivers but never ever be intimidated by them! Going slowly is responsible behaviour for a new driver, when you get more confident then a bit of speed is no harm but build up the confidence first, unsure speed is the worse thing on the roads IMO. And relax, it will be become easier and enjoyable!

Mr.Mister

LadyMayBelle wrote: »

Mr mister..i dont think the question regards which lane he should be in approaching the roundabout (I also dont agree with your rules!). Technically you ought to always come off in the left lane unless road markings indicate otherwise. In this instance you have a choice whether you want to take the left lane exit which takes you to parkmore or the right hand lane which takes you to the airport.....

I only read the start of his post,i shold have read it through.

They were the rules i was thought in Cork by my driving instructor,the rules i as thought by have never done me wrong,i hold a full B,C1,C,D1 and D licence.

All my tests passed first time around. So the rule i go by didn't do me wrong when on a test?

Bob_Harris

On that roundabout there are always people in the Left hand lane going around taking the second exit to get to the Dublin motorway.

So using the right hand lane to take the first exit would not be advisable, even if the road markings are in your favour (as far as I can remember the left lane there is marked straight only and the right lane is marked straight and right)

EDIT: Forget about the "rules" of a roundabout with this one, the markings on the road over-ride any rules. These kind of rules where you think of clock hand positions only apply to standard 4 exit symmetrical roundabouts really.

Mr.Mister

Bob_Harris wrote: »

On that roundabout there are always people in the Left hand lane going around taking the second exit to get to the Dublin motorway.

So using the right hand lane to take the first exit would not be advisable, even if the road markings are in your favour (as far as I can remember the left lane there is marked straight only and the right lane is marked straight and right)

Which is correct.

Bob_Harris

Mr.Mister wrote: »

Which is correct.

But made incorrect by the road markings on that particular roundabout ....

I'm not trying to be smart or anything by the way. I usually take the left hand lane to get to the motorway at that roundabout, mostly because it's quicker than waiting in line in the right hand lane. :pac:

kippy

Okay,
You did the right thing. This is the ONLY way to deal with this turn off and the rules stated above by many are correct.

Also, just an FYI. On the approach road to that roundabout from Tom Hogans, there are lane markings.
The Left lane is labeled: R339
The right lane is labeled: N6
So its pretty obvious that they had to put down markings to clarify what lane you should be in due to the "non" standard exit lanes on the first exit.
Also note,
were an accident to occur on this roundabout where you had entered the roundabout to go straight ahead (N6) on the left lane (labeled R339) I suspect you would be "in the wrong". Despite it going against "standard" roundabout procedure mentioned above.

This roundabout and the roundabout the other side of Tom hogans are the regular scenes of fender benders, as are most around Galway.

Bob_Harris

kippy wrote: »

The Left lane is labeled: R339
The right lane is labeled: N6

Ah yes those are the markings.

I suppose it's more to tell people to not use the right hand lane to get to the R339 opposed to telling people not to use the left hand lane to get to the N6

kippy

Bob_Harris wrote: »

Ah yes those are the markings.

I suppose it's more to tell people to not use the right hand lane to get to the R339 opposed to telling people not to use the left hand lane to get to the N6

Yeah, I would assume that to be the case(based on previous accidents there and queries such as the one in this thread), however by the letter of the law the lanes are marked and if you enter in the wrong lane and are involved in an accident, the repercussions could be interesting.............

Blinking_Badger

Thanks everyone for all your advice, will apply it next time I have to deal with this situation.

Happy and safe driving

BB

Mr.Mister

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Thanks everyone for all your advice, will apply it next time I have to deal with this situation.

Happy and safe driving

BB

Beep beep,beep beep... yeah!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WUET6nSoODE

swe_fi

Another thread about roundabouts, love it. I think I know what the problems with roundabouts is (see above) :-)

To add to the confusion I would say at this place - always stay in left lane, check your mirrors to see if you can safely swerve over in the right lane, which I would imagine in most cases you can - If you cannot safely do that, dont panic just turn left and do a u-ish turn at the entrance to briarhill biz park and go back to the traffic light and turn left.

I would advise against using the right lane when going straight (legal or not, does that really matter in Galway?) for the simple reason that you WILL get people turning right from the left lane every day (me included on occasion) , that is just a fact. I have seen so many near misses and crashes as well because of this. The trick is to accelerate HARD (if the roundabout is clear of course) out of the roundabout so you gain distance to the car on your right because you NEVER know what he/she is going to do.

To add to the fun, You will also get overexcited drivers with greasy finger chewing on chicken drumsticks on their way from the drive-in, or, on their way to the drive in with their mind fixated only on the menu options.

loser2old4board

Spadina wrote: »

I find the easiest thing to do is even though you're in the left (outside) lane stay a good bit out from the kerb and kind of straddle the two new lanes (not the roundabout ones) as you come off it, quickly moving to the right one.

I make that manoeuvre on a regular basis.
I always stay in the left lane on the roundabout but like Spadina says above, keep out from the kerb. Try to think of it as being almost like three lanes on that short section of roundabout and you in the centre. I always exit in the right lane of those two because it's next to nigh impossible to get back in the correct lane
in the short distance to the traffic lights. I don't know if this is officially correct
but it's what almost everbody does, those that don't are left 'begging'
to get back in lane with indicator on and Parkmore traffic getting annoyed behind them.
Best of luck with the driving. If you have time and petrol go out with a patient helper at quite times and practice those manoeuvres.

Maja

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Thanks fo the advice Jkforde, can you really go slowly on them? Whoever is with me in the car is usually telling me to speed up and get a move on!! Its rare that I can go around them without having a mini heart attack...hope it gets easier.....when does the fear go? Ever??!

Cheers
BB

mini heart attack I just passed my theory I will have many mini heart atacks..

Blinking_Badger

swe_fi wrote: »

Another thread about roundabouts, love it. I think I know what the problems with roundabouts is (see above) :-)

To add to the confusion I would say at this place - always stay in left lane, check your mirrors to see if you can safely swerve over in the right lane, which I would imagine in most cases you can - If you cannot safely do that, dont panic just turn left and do a u-ish turn at the entrance to briarhill biz park and go back to the traffic light and turn left.

I would advise against using the right lane when going straight (legal or not, does that really matter in Galway?) for the simple reason that you WILL get people turning right from the left lane every day (me included on occasion) , that is just a fact. I have seen so many near misses and crashes as well because of this. The trick is to accelerate HARD (if the roundabout is clear of course) out of the roundabout so you gain distance to the car on your right because you NEVER know what he/she is going to do.

To add to the fun, You will also get overexcited drivers with greasy finger chewing on chicken drumsticks on their way from the drive-in, or, on their way to the drive in with their mind fixated only on the menu options.

Ba ha ha! Brilliant! Krazies For Chicken

Loser2old4board thats great advice, thats exactly what I was doing, begging to be let into the right lane and conscious of Parkmore bound cars behind me getting p1ssed off..................a quiet evening and a patient co-pilot seem like the job alright..........nice one.

Thanks again,

BB

Blinking_Badger

Maja wrote: »

mini heart attack I just passed my theory I will have many mini heart atacks..

Congrats Maja, dont let my nervousness affect you.........i think i have it just because I'm learning to drive at almost thirty........I see 17yr olds flying around roundabouts without a care in the world.......I'm guessing its just an age thing.

Best of luck with your driving

BB

?Cee?view

OP,

You're doing fine. But a word of advice on where you're looking for advice. Don't look for advice on roundabouts on boards.ie:D

Read the Rule of the Road. Apply the simple rules, which you've been taught by reference to a clock face and you'll be fine.

Steer clear of drivers like Mr. Mister who clearly hasn't a clue how to use a roundabout and just thinks that because he'd not had an accident, he must be the expert. Perhaps if more such as him read the RSA Rules of the Road, we'd all be safer. How anyone could think that taking the right to Dublin Road from Galway Tom Hogan side can correctly be done from the left lane is just astounding. However, the encouraging thing is that the Guards are now clamping down on this exact manouver. I've seen two pulled for exactly this over the last three weeks.

Best of luck, you doing fine and you've a great attitude in that you're eager to learn without forming misinformed opinions on your own version of the "rules".

?Cee?view

Mr.Mister wrote: »

Always remember:

Left lane for first and second exit.

Right lane for thrid and fourth exit.

A thing i always do when approaching a roundabout is say.

Left - One - Two

Right - Three - Four

So wrong it's not funny at this stage.

?Cee?view

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Thanks for your reply Mr. Mister...................I learnt that if an exit is at the 12 o'clock polsition on the roundabout or before it then you use the left lane, if its after 12 opt for the right lane..............is this not so??

Correct. It's very straightforward.

Blinking_Badger

Churchview, thanks for the input and encouragement..................

Take care
BB

Caliden

I come from the same direction as yourself every day and when I come off the roundabout I exit in the right hand lane of the first exit.

There is no way that someone in the right lane coming off the dual carraigeway should be using the first exit of the roundabout.

In the evenings when it's busy I do find myself stuck behind traffic queued up to go down parkmore so I check that I'm clear and change onto the inside lane of the roundabout and move into the right lane of the first exit (not exactly the right thing to do but you would be creating alot of bother for yourself if you waited until you got to the exit before moving into the right lane.

Maja

Blinking_Badger wrote: »

Congrats Maja, dont let my nervousness affect you.........i think i have it just because I'm learning to drive at almost thirty........I see 17yr olds flying around roundabouts without a care in the world.......I'm guessing its just an age thing.

Best of luck with your driving

BB

I am thirty since April... so, yes maybe nervousness is an age thing.. :rolleyes: I start to fear everything - thiefs, flying, snakes and now I will have to ( I want to) go through this driving... (hopefully I wont kill myself or someone else)

BrokenArrows

that roundabout is a disaster. its a pain when coming from the single lane exit from dunnes direction onto the roundabout when all the other exists are 2 lanes.

Blinking_Badger

Maja wrote: »

I am thirty since April... so, yes maybe nervousness is an age thing.. :rolleyes: I start to fear everything - thiefs, flying, snakes and now I will have to ( I want to) go through this driving... (hopefully I wont kill myself or someone else)

Heh heh!!!:D

I know how you feel.............

:pac: