Big Roundabouts

Leeg17

K. I passed my test two months ago in Tuam. As they say you never fully stop learning .

The only roundabout I've encountered so far is a small one with 1 lane I guess you could say. and 3 possible exits (not including the one I enter from). I'm full insured on the car, my parents are on hols, but I wanna go on a little adventure to Galway city haha. Thing is the roundabouts are alot different in size and there's 2 lanes in it. I'm confused as to what to do exactly. It doesn't help that I can't find my rules of the road book either.

The procedure of indicating right, and then switching to left after the last exit before the one I want still stands I presume. Just I'm confused as to what lane to enter, and when I have to obey the lights on the roundabout.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Alanstrainor

Provided there are no other markings stating otherwise, presume everythign you already know about roundabouts is the same. If you are taking the first or second exit stay in the left lane, if you are taking any exit after that stay in the right lane.

daveharnett

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

ardmacha

when I have to obey the lights on the roundabout.

All the time.

Leeg17

ardmacha wrote: »

All the time.

dunno why I put that in there, it's obvious.

robbie_998

don't come to dublin so.

walkinstown roundabout will kill you ! :pac:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9bdp1V_wXg

panda_cub

Road markings are the only way to go as the normal rules usually don't apply when there are lights and multiple lanes on the roundabout. But keep an eye on other drivers who aren't complying with the road markings, you have to try to anticipate their every move.


The Driving Test Centre in Cork is just off the Sarsfield road roundabout and I think the majority of tests involve using the roundabout. I know, considering there are three roundabouts on the South link and one at the tunnel, that people need to know how to cope with them, but coming straight onto it for your test seems pretty scary! I know it's not feasible to get everyone doing the test to practice on a three lane roundabout or one with lights as they just don't exist in many counties, but it would really make learning them a lot easier if EVERYONE knew how to use them properly!

Mint Sauce

This is how i was taught, think of the roundabout as clock face, you will always be approaching from 6 oclock, if the turn of you want is anything up to and including 12o'clock, approach in left lane and stay in the left lane going around, indicating to the left as you pass the last exit before your turn. Anything after 12 oclock, approach in the right land , staying in the right lane going around, leaving the lane just after the last exit for your turn, keep indicating right as you go round, indicating to the left as you pass the last exit before your turn.

where i found it getting tricky was not all roundabouts have turns at 9, 12 and 3 o'clock, and not all have three turns off them.

hope all that makes sence.

LilMsss

Roundabouts are scary when you're starting out. Luckily for me (although I thought it was awful at the time), I live in a very busy part of Dublin city and had no choice but to use very large two and three lane roundabouts, even in my early lessons - freaked me out so much!

Once you know the basics of roundabouts it's just about increasing your confidence on using them. Take your time - I remember I would always stop at the yield sign on large roundabouts, even if the roundabout seemed clear, just to gather myself. Of course I'm much better at judging these now, but if you need to stop to check if it's safe to go, then do it - at least it buys you a few seconds to figure things out.

sentient_6

There's only one roundabout in galway to have any concern about & that's the headford. Between dunnes & tesco there. 3 lanes make my head hurt. Man i still cant understand the feckn thing & i over a year on the road. It's literally the only one i've ever had trouble with. & that includes driving all over the country & a week in england also.

It you want to avoid it, when you get to the menlo roundabout go straight(3rd exit, right lane, indicated right until after 2nd exit, indicate left to exit), head up past the hotel, at top of road go left & you'll end up coming in dyke road behind the black box. Every other roundabout in the city should be no hassle(lanes wise, traffic is a different story).

Leeg17

sentient_6 wrote: »

There's only one roundabout in galway to have any concern about & that's the headford. Between dunnes & tesco there. 3 lanes make my head hurt. Man i still cant understand the feckn thing & i over a year on the road. It's literally the only one i've ever had trouble with. & that includes driving all over the country & a week in england also.

It you want to avoid it, when you get to the menlo roundabout go straight(3rd exit, right lane, indicated right until after 2nd exit, indicate left to exit), head up past the hotel, at top of road go left & you'll end up coming in dyke road behind the black box. Every other roundabout in the city should be no hassle(lanes wise, traffic is a different story).

Which is the roundabout you're on about?. I think I'll be fine at the menlo (hotel?) one.

sentient_6

Leeg17 wrote: »

Which is the roundabout you're on about?. I think I'll be fine at the menlo (hotel?) one.

The headford is the next one on from the menlo. After dunnes which will be on your left after the menlo. Its a 3 lane, traffic light nightmare. In my opinion. Worth giving a try for craic maybe!

kiwilostineire

I was shocked by the roundabouts in Ireland, from NZ and all our roundabouts with more than one lane, the outside lane always fades into the first turn and the inside lane merges to the outside one as an option so it is easy to exit without the concern of the one on the outside not exiting. I had to relearn the irish roundabouts as the lines do not make sense. I had to read the road code to understand and even then it is concerning.....

Leeg17

sentient_6 wrote: »

The headford is the next one on from the menlo. After dunnes which will be on your left after the menlo. Its a 3 lane, traffic light nightmare. In my opinion. Worth giving a try for craic maybe!

If I go up past the menlo hotel at the roundabout (before the headford) one I can avoid the Big Ugly 3 lane traffic light one right?

Not that I'm against it or anything, but parents are on hols, and they won't let me drive to galway in the car (only passed 2 months ago don't blame really) not least in galway in traffic :pac:

sentient_6

That's right. Take a left at the top of the road & you'll end up coming in behind where the black box & omniplex are there.

Leeg17

sentient_6 wrote: »

That's right. Take a left at the top of the road & you'll end up coming in behind where the black box & omniplex are there.

That's what my mam does. She's been driving nearly 6 years now and even she hates that roundabout. Those one's I'll be driving through are single lane so I should be fine. Bitta experience never hurt anybody!