I'm confused about roundabouts

dillo2k10

Hi,
I'm only learning to drive and I get nervous on most roundabouts with more than 1 lane. A few weeks ago I was turning right at a roundabout in Ballyfermot. So I went on the inside lane. However when it came to turn off I couldn't as there was a car beside me. If I had of crashed into that person when trying to turn off would it be my fault?

Now anytime I go onto a roundabout I get nervous that I will get trapped again or crash. So should I eventually be in the outside lane or do I come straight from the inside one.

I would follow the green line, but should I follow the purple. I was blocked in from a car that came from the brown mark and blocked me (yellow) where the blue mark is. If I had of turned out whos fault would it have been? (If indicating properly)

Melion

Basically, if you are taking the first or second exit on a roundabout you should be in the left lane. If you are taking the third or 4th exit you need to be in the right lane. Simples!

Melion

Oh and it would have been his fault because he is supposed to yield to cars coming from the right

newmug

AFAIK the rules of the road say you should have been following the green line, and just blended into the outside lane as soon as you pass the exit before the one you intend to take. If there was a car on your left however, either let him pass, go in front of him (not recommended), or go around again. To answer your question about whose fault it would be if yiz collided, it would be yours. In reality though, I think most people would just stick to the outside lane all the way around. Do it right for the test but.

chris_d

newmug wrote: »

n reality though, I think most people would just stick to the outside lane all the way around.

please do not do this.

newmug

chris_d wrote: »

please do not do this.

I dont. I'm just saying that: In reality though, I think most people would just stick to the outside lane all the way around.

ADIDriving

As I see it you are starting in the same position on both coloured routes. However you should check to your left and move over to the left (as you are approaching the church, if I recognise that roundabout properly) following the purple route. That way the driver coming in from the top cannot get in your way. Make sure you do check left though because you can still get someone do the same thing coming from the left of the picture. Roundabout are tricky.

loobylou

Melion wrote: »

Basically, if you are taking the first or second exit on a roundabout you should be in the left lane. If you are taking the third or 4th exit you need to be in the right lane. Simples!

Melion wrote: »

Oh and it would have been his fault because he is supposed to yield to cars coming from the right

This is NOT good advice. Quote 1, ignore exit numbers, it is exit position that is the over-riding factor.
Quote 2. Both drivers would be at fault but, in the event of a collision, you would be deemed to be more to blame as you would be the person changing lanes. Giving way to traffic from the right would not apply here.

**Timbuk2**

loobylou wrote: »

This is NOT good advice. Quote 1, ignore exit numbers, it is exit position that is the over-riding factor.
Quote 2. Both drivers would be at fault but, in the event of a collision, you would be deemed to be more to blame as you would be the person changing lanes. Giving way to traffic from the right would not apply here.

Definitely correct! The exit number system works fine if the roundabout is standard.

However, once the roundabout becomes non-standard (i.e., the exits aren't located at 9, 12 and 3 o clock), using that system is quite dangerous. If you use the clockface system (i.e. all exits from 7 o clock to 1 o clock, use the left lane, exits after 1 o clock to 6 o clock, use the right lane, unless otherwise indicated by signage and/or road markings), this will still work for most roundabouts, be they standard or non-standard.

3-lane roundabouts get tricky as there is no 'standard' rule that applies. It depends on the number of exits, where they are located, etc. Most 3 lane roundabouts should have road markings, but some of them don't. I personally think that three-lane roundabouts aren't a great idea - they don't hugely speed up traffic flow through the roundabout, and there is often ambiguity about which lane to be in (and I can't blame drivers, the rules of the road don't cover 3 lane roundabouts at all :eek:). I'm sure some will disagree with me though!

ADIDriving

Slight refinement to that is if you are following the same road, eg R123 on and off the roundabout you should stay in the left hand lane, to follow the road, even if it is slightly beyond straight.
If you think 3 lanes on a roudabout is bad. try the roundabout around the Arc deTriomphe.

Mr. Presentable

Purple line is correct. At the 2nd last exit you move to the outside (and as you pass it signal left) as any cars in that lane ought to be gone off or ahead of you. The car at brown should let you go and you then are clear to exit.

In a case like you experienced the correct thing is to go around again.