Shannon Bridge Roundabout lanes

Poxyshamrock

Just wondering if anybody can help me regarding the lanes outside Jury's Inn coming onto the Shannon Bridge Roundabout.

When coming from Mallow Street towards the Roundabout, you are met with three lanes.

The Left lane which you use to go left towards the Dock road.
The Middle lane, which has a forward arrow, which I use to go out the Condell Road.
The Right lane has a straight arrow also but with a right arrow to bring you down along Bishops Quay and past Clohessy's.

What I dont get is why there is two straight arrows (middle and right lane) because when you get onto the Shannon Bridge there is only one lane.

When should you use the right lane to go straight?

Jofspring

Basically its a silly roundabout. There is no need for there to be two lanes with straight arrows as it causes confusion when exiting for Condell. The far right lane should just be for going down Howleys Quay. Have never understood why they don't just change it.

padma

The right lane is for smart people who wish to skip the guy dawdling in the middle lane to get on to the condell road

phill106

padma wrote: »

The right lane is for smart people who wish to skip the guy dawdling in the middle lane to get on to the condell road

This....


I used to give out about people doing this until i realised they changed the lane marking some years ago. Used to be the right lane was for right only, but they added the straight on arrow.
So if there is a car or 2 in the left lane, and right lane is clear, get into right lane then pretend i am at the starting grid of mondello!
As i would be able to take off quicker then the person in middle lane, I should always be able to get to the exit ahead of them. Often they beep at me, thinking I am in the wrong, but I am not....
Until they change the markings again!


On a side note, saw some nutter go the wrong way around the roundabout there on sunday, and did a uturn in the middle of it :P

padma

If you hang a bit out on the right lane you can block their view too

phill106

padma wrote: »

If you hang a bit out on the right lane you can block their view too

true, bit if I am in the middle lane, and someone does that, you know that if they put the foot down, so can you! They are your safety net!

*official right lane user*

padma

True, True

pappyodaniel

I use the right-lane the whole time when it's busy and about 90% of the time some irate driver blows his horn and tailgates me up the Condell Road. I haven't cut across you, I'm just quicker than you .

phill106

And death to those who try to use the left lane to get over the bridge!

Liam Byrne

Once upon a time that roundabout had 2 lanes with a sign saying "N69 & N18 use both lanes".

I guess it never occurred to the twits re what might happen if the guy on the left was going N18 & the guy on the right going N69.

But that, unfortunately, is what those in charge consider "planning".

Re the current configuration, the right lane is valid to use, but when on the roundabout the rule about "not cutting across someone" still applies - you can't come off at the bridge if there is someone inside you - they have right of way.

So basically it's a valid and safe manoeuvre as long as

1) You're quick
2) You abide by the rules
3) The guy in the middle lane doesn't assume you're in the wrong

I used to do it a bit, but enough idiots blew the bollox out of me or almost caused crashes by trying to force me out that I gave up using it altogether....not much point being right if someone in the wrong ends up killing or maiming you through their stupidity.

Berty

It's simple really. Hatch off the lane. Rarely somebody turns onto the Quay anyway and they could easily and more quickly head down Henry Street and left at the Solicitors place. People, mainly, use this lane for queue jumping EVEN if they are perfectly entitled to by the road markings. It's still jumping the queue(unlike the N18 Roadworks - it's an overtaking lane ffs)

Get white paint and kill the lane, I say.

Liam Byrne

Beer Baron wrote: »

It's still jumping the queue

Not really. It's marked for straight ahead. It's not our fault if everyone chooses not to use that lane.

If every second car used that lane then you'd be where you should be further back.

It's like using a parking space that everyone else has ignored.

That said, given the reaction of the idiots that take offence, it ends up being dangerous, so yes - it should be re-marked for right turn only - with advance warning of the change so that you're not relying on an arrow in the road that might be covered by a car in front.

Jofspring

Fair enough using the right hand lane but all it takes is one person to speed up in the middle lane to stop you cutting in and you have a crash. Stupid having two lanes even if some of us get away with skipping queues the odd time. Surprised there hasn't been a crash or a serious crash there yet. 9 times out of 10 you have the person in the middle lane competing with the person in the right hand lane to get through on the other side first and this in any situation on the road is dangerous and unnecessary.

Berty

If there are two lanes on there should be two lanes off like the Groody Roundabout. There isn't on the Dock Road Roundabout so it shouldn't have two lanes on. It's a mistake in my opinion by the council so I don't use it because it encroaches on other peoples lanes.

Liam Byrne

Jofspring wrote: »

9 times out of 10 you have the person in the middle lane competing with the person in the right hand lane to get through on the other side first and this in any situation on the road is dangerous and unnecessary.

If they overtake you on the left then they're completely in the wrong.

But if they're inside you as you turn left then you're in the wrong.

I agree that it's stupid - as are many lanes and markings around Limerick - and I've already mentioned how dangerous the old markings were.

Yes, the council should fix it so that it's less dangerous.

LB6

Beer Baron wrote: »

If there are two lanes on there should be two lanes off like the Groody Roundabout. There isn't on the Dock Road Roundabout so it shouldn't have two lanes on. It's a mistake in my opinion by the council so I don't use it because it encroaches on other peoples lanes.

It's the same with Dooradoyle Roundabout, outside the Hospital.

Two lanes in from Raheen side, and one out towards city exit.

Left lane is for 1st and 2nd exits off a roundabout. Right lane is for 3rd and subsequent exits, ie. right lane for the Regional Hospital Exit. HOWEVER, they have marked the right lane as straight ahead (wrong).

The amount of stupid driving that goes on there in the mornings when people are in a hurry for work etc is diabolical. They come shooting down the outside and try to cut you off from the right as they try to squeeze into the lane. Then ya get some other smart gits, who think it's ok to cut you up on the inside and hare off down the bus lane to try and get in before the lights.

I'm by no means a slow driver, but I'm careful. It's just the stupidity of some that will be the cause of some ambulance taking that Hospital Exit off the Dooradoyle Roundabout.

LEARN THE FREAKIN' RULES OF THE ROAD and USE THEM - PROPERLY.

Rant over :rolleyes:

Mc Love

Another roundabout is the one by Old crescent. Coming from Raheen to go over the flyover, you should be in the right hand lane, but more often than not, some dope in the left hand lane thinks you are the wrong and tends to get the grump with me, its most annoying.

bazz26

Just get a quicker car lads.

Liam Byrne

LB6 wrote: »

Left lane is for 1st and 2nd exits off a roundabout. Right lane is for 3rd and subsequent exits, ie. right lane for the Regional Hospital Exit. HOWEVER, they have marked the right lane as straight ahead (wrong).

Road markings over-rule the "general" rule.

The issue that no Irish authority has copped on to, however, is if there's a car in stopped front of you then you can't see the friggin' road markings!

Goofy

It doesnt matter anymore any way. There are plans to remove the roundabout and put in lights.

source

Goofy wrote: »

It doesnt matter anymore any way. There are plans to remove the roundabout and put in lights.

Those plans were scrapped months ago, as the council realised that the roundabout is now capable of dealing with the current traffic loads using it.

TestTransmission

bazz26 wrote: »

Just get a quicker car lads.

Easiest solution

adaminho

Use the tunnel!


Signed Limerick City Council!

MarkR

One of these days I will get the holy trinity. I'll be in the centre lane. Line of traffic behind me as I come up to the roundabout. Suddenly, a rogue passat will appear on my left, clearly not intending to turn left, but intending to belittle me by swooping past me. On the right, a micra with wonky foglights will zoom up next to me.

Obeying all traffic laws, I will carry on around the roundabout in my appropriate lane. The passat will hit be edged out, hitting the sign, landing in the skate park. Hopefully on top of one of the skangers with no shirt on.

The micra won't be able to keep up to my sedate pace, attempt to overtake me, realise there is no second exit lane, and hit a kerb. Blowing out the fog lights forever.

Berty

MarkR wrote: »

One of these days I will get the holy trinity. I'll be in the centre lane. Line of traffic behind me as I come up to the roundabout. Suddenly, a rogue passat will appear on my left, clearly not intending to turn left, but intending to belittle me by swooping past me. On the right, a micra with wonky foglights will zoom up next to me.

Obeying all traffic laws, I will carry on around the roundabout in my appropriate lane. The passat will hit be edged out, hitting the sign, landing in the skate park. Hopefully on top of one of the skangers with no shirt on.

The micra won't be able to keep up to my sedate pace, attempt to overtake me, realise there is no second exit lane, and hit a kerb. Blowing out the fog lights forever.

Aha but your plan will be foiled by a pedestrian sauntering out in front of you and you will get sideswiped by a truck who was watching the Passat and Micra crash.

Stab*City

Its simple, centre lane for slow drivers and right lane for faster drivers. Actually they should put a sign up to that effect.

Berty

Stab*City wrote: »

Its simple, centre lane for slow drivers and right lane for faster drivers. Actually they should put a sign up to that effect.

People don't read signs or road markings. You know that. :rolleyes:

Stab*City

Beer Baron wrote: »

People don't read signs or road markings. You know that. :rolleyes:

I love to read signs..

Berty

Stab*City wrote: »

I love to read signs..

timbertime

The roundabout that annoys me is the one on the Tipperary/Ballysimon road at the BMW garage/Halfords. There are no makings on the road here. So technically if heading for Tipperary/Waterford from town you should be in the right lane as its the third exit. Bloomfield rd is no. 1 and Groody is the 2nd. But 99% of drivers keep to the left lane and take the third exit. Wrecks my head!! Ugh!

Grizzly 45

I would like to know what rocket scientist put a zebra crossing literally at the exit onto the bridge/entrance onto the roundabout??:mad::mad:
It is bad enough that you have possibly two or even three cars trying to exit onto the bridge and you are trying to keep an eye on the cars "meshing" into the single line of traffic that you also have to watch out for people blithly ignoring oncoming traffic in front as well.
Somone slams on the brakes in front because some fukwitt has cycled out onto the zebra crossing or used their kid as a human shield in a buggy to get across,will cause and has caused a few rear enders there.:(
Heres a novel solution for sorting this out.
MOVE the zebra crossing UP 20 meters onto the bridge so motorists have time to break and slow down when they actually see you trying to cross.It does take a few meters to stop a few tons of steel yknow!

OR
BUILD a walkover there.Simples really.

Berty

Grizzly 45 wrote: »

you also have to watch out for people blithly ignoring oncoming traffic in front as well.
Somone slams on the brakes in front because some fukwitt has cycled out onto the zebra crossing .

I don't stop for cyclists on PEDESTRIAN crossings. Never have and never will UNLESS of course they pose a risk to my car(of hitting it).

Get off and walk.

Whilst I'm here. I also hate people who STAND right on top of a Zebra crossing but have no intention of crossing. Probably waiting for a lift. :mad:

dr.fuzzenstein

That roundabout does my head in.
Logically, left lane for turning left, middle lane for straight ahead and right lane for turning right.
Everything could be so easy.
But then some fcukwit decides to put a second "straight ahead" arrow down and you have people racing each other across to the other side, in case of an accident you can argue about "being in the right", etc..., but one should argue about "being fcuked in the head" when it comes to road design.
As for the argument "people should use both lanes", that is insane, you'd have two lanes trying to merge on the exit, that's worse, if anything.
And, yes, death to people who use the left lane for going straight ahead!
Also death to people who use the Parkway Shopping Centre lane to cut across waiting traffic to go down the Dublin road towards the city centre!

thesimpsons

timbertime wrote: »

The roundabout that annoys me is the one on the Tipperary/Ballysimon road at the BMW garage/Halfords. There are no makings on the road here. So technically if heading for Tipperary/Waterford from town you should be in the right lane as its the third exit. Bloomfield rd is no. 1 and Groody is the 2nd. But 99% of drivers keep to the left lane and take the third exit. Wrecks my head!! Ugh!

the rules of the road say nothing about 1st, 2nd or 3rd exits. The rules state that if you are going straight ahead you take the left lane on the roundabout and signal appropriately for the exits. Bloomfield Rd (is that the small one leading to Bloodmill road ?) and Groody and straight ahead for Tipperary are all left lane exits as the Tipperary Road continues from the town side straight line through to the 3rd exit, then the left lane is the correct one. The ROTR do not really spell it out for anthing other than the standard 4 exit roundabout but its quite clear about going left, straight ahead and right. There is nothing in ROTR about 1st, 2nd or 3rd exits.

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

Mc Love

So funny as the most on here including myself and my driving instructor told me that for the 1st and 2nd exits its left lane and for all subsequent exits stay in the right lane unless there are road markings telling you otherwise

Berty

Mc Love wrote: »

So funny as the most on here including myself and my driving instructor told me that for the 1st and 2nd exits its left lane and for all subsequent exits stay in the right lane unless there are road markings telling you otherwise

One of the annoyances on the Newport roundabout that I use numerous times a day is that when they were buildling it there were signs on the newport entrance stating you should you use the right lane/inner orbital lane for the old Dublin road which contradicts everything we know about roundabouts. It is the 2nd exit and at 12 O'Clock. People often use this lane to overtake rush hour traffic. I love those people WHEN they try it next to me because I match their speed and block them.

People then heading from the Motorway to Newport stay in the left lane/outer orbital lane and go ALL the way around in the "Scenic route" as its known and then take the Newport exit thereby passing by two exits in the meantime.

Then there are those coming from the Dublin Road heading to Newport who use the outer orbital lane(correct) and I'm coming from the Motorway(inner orbital/right lane) and they come onto the roundabout with me meaning that they are now blocking my exit. Now, I have right of way because I was on the roundabout first but it still causes annoyance.

Then there are those coming from the Dublin road heading to Newport who enter the roundabout in the right lane/outer orbital lane and try to cut back across into the left lane for the Newport exit. I also love when they try it on me because they always lose.

The same applies to people at the Dublin road roundabout whom use the left lane(city bound) to bypass all the traffic in the right lane. I always catch them out as well.

Drive defensively is what I always say and piss them off when you can.

Liam Byrne

thesimpsons wrote: »

the rules of the road say nothing about 1st, 2nd or 3rd exits. The rules state that if you are going straight ahead you take the left lane on the roundabout and signal appropriately for the exits. Bloomfield Rd (is that the small one leading to Bloodmill road ?) and Groody and straight ahead for Tipperary are all left lane exits as the Tipperary Road continues from the town side straight line through to the 3rd exit, then the left lane is the correct one. The ROTR do not really spell it out for anthing other than the standard 4 exit roundabout but its quite clear about going left, straight ahead and right. There is nothing in ROTR about 1st, 2nd or 3rd exits.

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

100% incorrect

1st & 2nd exit = left lane
Subsequent exits = right lane

This has been done to death on various boards

Bloomfield Rd (is that the small one leading to Bloodmill road ?) and Groody and straight ahead for Tipperary are all left lane exits as the Tipperary Road continues from the town side straight line

The Ballysimon to Tipperary line is NOT "straight" - it's about 1 o'clock rather than 12 o'clock (there's a specific thread about it here somewhere, but I can't be arsed going looking for it now).

Bloomfield & Groody = left lane
Tipperary & B&Q = right lane

thesimpsons

Tipperary road is the N24 on both sides of the roundabout and looks like as close to straight ahead as any irish road I've come across. This, combined with recent chat with a driving instructor, means I'm going to stay in the left lane on the roundabout - but its ok cos I'll keep an eye out for you in the other lane.

where does it say anywhere in ROTR that exits 1st, 2nd or 3rd use any particular exit ?

Cookiemunster

Liam Byrne wrote: »

100% incorrect

1st & 2nd exit = left lane
Subsequent exits = right lane

Have to say I agree with thesimpsons on the Tipp Rd.
If you stay on the N24 going through the Tipp Rd RAB the you're going straight ahead through the RAB and therefore you keep left as per the rules of the road.

If you were correct then driving down Childers Rd from Roxboro and turning right out the Old Cork Road I should keep left to turn right as the 1st exit is straight ahead and the 2nd exit is out the Old Cork Road.

thesimpsons

see this thread which gives a roundabout query to the RSA and their answer to it

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055998652&page=1

Berty

thesimpsons wrote: »

see this thread which gives a roundabout query to the RSA and their answer to it

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055998652&page=1

I e-mailed the RSA before about roundabouts in Tralee and Castlebar where they ALL have markings denoting you use the right lane/inner orbital lane for the 2nd exit and all following this. The left lane is ONLY for the 1st exit.

I wanted to know if they believe this will confuse drivers from these regions when they pass their tests and drive into other counties.

They said you follow the road markings and local rules. Cop out really.

dr.fuzzenstein

There was a pretty good thread about roundabouts in the motors forum.
Check this out:
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056163797

Liam Byrne

thesimpsons wrote: »

Tipperary road is the N24 on both sides of the roundabout and looks like as close to straight ahead as any irish road I've come across.

OK - earlier it was "it's straight" and now it's "as close to straight" ?

Check the map and come back to me

http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Limerick+Road+Roundabout,+County+North+Tipperary&hl=en&ll=52.650706,-8.577576&spn=0.005689,0.013797&sll=53.566414,-8.305664&sspn=5.377976,14.128418&geocode=FfzrJwMdUNKI_w&z=16

Anyway, if you do it correctly you won't have an issue, but yes - keep an eye out for me because if you do it incorrectly you will be blown out of it and be at fault if you cause an accident.

If you were correct then driving down Childers Rd from Roxboro and turning right out the Old Cork Road I should keep left to turn right as the 1st exit is straight ahead and the 2nd exit is out the Old Cork Road.

There are already variations in the rules in terms of the number of lanes - e.g. two lanes in the 2nd exit allows both lanes to go straight ahead (as is the case at the Dock Road coming from Mungret) - and obviously if there are 2 exits you use the right-hand lane to turn right.....the same applies at the Crescent (and the St Pauls mini-roundabout).

At least it's a lot less arbitrary than trying to imagine a birds-eye view.

But the bottom line is that even the RSA couldn't answer the question definitively when it was put to them by a few of us a while back......they have contradicted themselves a number of times in replies (and the emails are posted here on boards somewhere).

Its typically Irish - don't, under any circumstances, give a definitive answer.

But the generally-accepted better rule (that, as I said, doesn't involve guessing what Google sees) is 1st & 2nd exits = left lane.

Jofspring

Liam Byrne wrote: »

OK - earlier it was "it's straight" and now it's "as close to straight" ?

Check the map and come back to me

http://maps.google.ie/maps?q=Limerick+Road+Roundabout,+County+North+Tipperary&hl=en&ll=52.650706,-8.577576&spn=0.005689,0.013797&sll=53.566414,-8.305664&sspn=5.377976,14.128418&geocode=FfzrJwMdUNKI_w&z=16

Well going by that map then that is definitely straight through the roundabout. If you approach lets say at 6 O'Clock (from town) then going out the Tipperary Rd would most definitely be 12 O'Clock (or straight through).

Always thought the rule of thumb was anything past 12 on a roundabout then you use the right hand lane unless marked on the road.

Mc Love

Jofspring wrote: »

Well going by that map then that is definitely straight through the roundabout. If you approach lets say at 6 O'Clock (from town) then going out the Tipperary Rd would most definitely be 12 O'Clock (or straight through).

Always thought the rule of thumb was anything past 12 on a roundabout then you use the right hand lane unless marked on the road.

Not if you zoom in, its about one o'clock

thesimpsons

and if you go and look at the signpost which gives the directional information, its straight ahead. unless you were to actually drive with a birds eye view, you would have to accept that the NRA signpost is correct (mind you rather than a birds eye view, some people seem to use horses blinkers when driving on roundabouts).

Mc Love

Thats fair enough I suppose going by the sign post it is straight ahead. But I think it has to come down to the amount of exits. Why else would a lot of people accept that rule. Why was I thought by a driving instructor if you are taking the 3rd or 4th or 5th you take the right hand lane and the left hand lane for exits 1 and 2. And obviously that rule applies only for exits when there are the typical 4 exit roundabout, it wouldnt apply to the Kilmallock r/a

Signpost:


Roundabout in question:

Mc Love

Another very similar r/a is this one:
http://maps.google.ie/?ll=52.66186,-8.594753&spn=0.005017,0.015117&z=17&layer=c&cbll=52.661628,-8.59488&panoid=4I_TUeiazRqNSTrs_HidaA&cbp=12,4.75,,1,-1.25

If you were to go to rhebogue, would you stay in left lane or the right lane? It has the road markings though and it says to go straight on to stay in the left lane.

thesimpsons

I don't know why a driving instructor would have told you that rule McLove as the driving instructor I was speaking to recently told us to use the straight ahead or 12/1 o'clock rule. I was being a driving supervisor to a learner and sat in on a lesson or two and clarified some rules with him. The learner came across two roundabouts in their test and using the 12/1 o'clock rule, passed the test so I guess thats what the driving testers are working with as well.

thesimpsons

Mc Love wrote: »

Another very similar r/a is this one:
http://maps.google.ie/?ll=52.66186,-8.594753&spn=0.005017,0.015117&z=17&layer=c&cbll=52.661628,-8.59488&panoid=4I_TUeiazRqNSTrs_HidaA&cbp=12,4.75,,1,-1.25

If you were to go to rhebogue, would you stay in left lane or the right lane? It has the road markings though and it says to go straight on to stay in the left lane.

as there are road markings they will always over ride the ROTR but either way, I'd stay in left lane as its a straight ahead exit

Mc Love

thesimpsons wrote: »

as there are road markings they will always over ride the ROTR but either way, I'd stay in left lane as its a straight ahead exit

Yeah its basically the same as the tipp r/a so in future I will use it correctly.

Its how you interpret the clock rule i guess, as if you use the Kilmallock roundabout coming from Roxboro you wouldnt stay in the left lane if you were taking Old Cork road even though its the 2nd exit.