When to indicate on Irish roundabouts?

PowRTocH

I just wonder who actually teaches Irish drivers how to signal other drivers when they round roundabouts? It is plain and simple in the RSA handbook from pages 130 - 132, which one to turn on and when.

But why or why do they get in the left lane, indicate right, then either go right (from the left lane) or proceed to go left at the next exit. Isn't it clear that you indicate right from the right lane if you are going right?

It seems that they indicate right every time they are Not going left?

And if you are in the right lane going straight, these idiots in the left lane decide to go right form that left lane, causing endless amounts of near misses as they appear to be on their own planet.

If you have a roundabout with no left exit (only a straight on and a right) why do they indicate right, then proceed to go straight? And why when there are two lanes do they pick the left lane to go right?

I am sure that they are not taught this to pass their driving tests, so why it is that at least 30% of the drivers on Irish roads always do this at a roundabout?

My personal observation is to never believe drivers when they use their indicators - working on the theory that if they should use them they don't and if they do use it, they will put the wrong one on at the wrong time.

I used to live in Spain and a local Spanish driver admitted that Spanish drivers only use their indicators at Christmas.

It is a joy to go away on holiday and see how drivers should negotiate roundabouts clearly and with the correct use of indicators. But that all falls apart when we return to the Emerald Isle.

Silvera

It's down to lack of driver education and awareness.

Dont forget approximately 100,000 Irish drivers got a 'free' full licence around 1980 when the govt issued full licences to any holder of a 3rd provisional licence, i.e. they never sat any driving test!!:eek::(

NomadicGray

Don't you stay in the left lane when going straight unless signage to indicate otherwise?

In fact you do indeed stay in the left lane going straight, i guess we all need a refresher now & then.

http://www.rsa.ie/Documents/Road%20Safety/Leaflets/Leaf_booklets/Roundabouts_DL_2012_v3.pdf

solomafioso

This is a pet hate of mine too. My understanding is on your bog standard four exit roundabout the left lane is for the first and second exits and the right lane is for the third, always. Indicate left if taking the first. Sometimes you can (I'm not too sure if it's correct to) indicate going straight and the right lane indicate right to take that exit.

Some eejits, who have no patience, will notice that the outside lane is free or moving faster and will use that one to go straight on. In one instance I had to blast some oul fella who did this to me!

MascotDec85

solomafioso wrote: »

This is a pet hate of mine too. My understanding is on your bog standard four exit roundabout the left lane is for the first and second exits and the right lane is for the third, always. Indicate left if taking the first. Sometimes you can (I'm not too sure if it's correct to) indicate going straight and the right lane indicate right to take that exit.

Some eejits, who have no patience, will notice that the outside lane is free or moving faster and will use that one to go straight on. In one instance I had to blast some oul fella who did this to me!

What you've said, in essence, is correct but I also feel using the exit number to determine the lane you live can be confusing, particularly when a roundabout is not standard.

Treat it like a clock. You enter from 6:
Any exit AT OR BEFORE 12 is the left lane. Any exit AFTER 12 is the right unless road markings or signs say otherwise.

salmocab

People are generally aware what lane they should be in, they just choose to go where they will move quickest because in my experience people are a55holes. The walkinstown roundabout is a beaut 6 exits all busy and apparently the procedure for getting on is to stop across the first lane of the roundabout then when someone coming around it looks to falter on their accelerator you have to gun it taking care not to look right at any time so you can't see what you have pulled in front of causing them to jam on. Then you can indicate at any time before or after your exit. Although it seems to work.

Fluorosilisic Frank

Is it correct that when exiting a roundabount onto a dual carriageway, you should always exit into the left hand lane of that carriageway, regardless of where you entered from? I'm sure I remember seeing this in a rules of the road book....but I've been honked at on a number of occassions in Galway for doing this, so now I just exit into the right hand lane like every body else.

J_R

Fluorosilisic Frank wrote: »

Is it correct that when exiting a roundabount onto a dual carriageway, you should always exit into the left hand lane of that carriageway, regardless of where you entered from? I'm sure I remember seeing this in a rules of the road book....but I've been honked at on a number of occassions in Galway for doing this, so now I just exit into the right hand lane like every body else.

Hi,

Irrespective of where you entered, you should always exit in the left lane - but only if clear. Otherwise exit in the right lane then change to the left at the first safe opportunity.

J_R

solomafioso wrote: »

This is a pet hate of mine too. My understanding is on your bog standard four exit roundabout the left lane is for the first and second exits and the right lane is for the third, always. Indicate left if taking the first. Sometimes you can (I'm not too sure if it's correct to) indicate going straight and the right lane indicate right to take that exit.

Some eejits, who have no patience, will notice that the outside lane is free or moving faster and will use that one to go straight on. In one instance I had to blast some oul fella who did this to me!

Hi,

What is the problem if there are two lanes in and a two lane exit. ???

If the left lane is blocked/full why not use the right lane ?

ProudDUB

J_R wrote: »

Hi,

What is the problem if there are two lanes in and a two lane exit. ???

If the left lane is blocked/full why not use the right lane ?

If the left lane is blocked and people have to go around the blockage and use the right lane, that is one thing. Everyone will be doing the same thing. No problem there.

But if everyone is going straight on and the left lanes is full, tough, you stay in the left lane and wait your bloody turn to exit the roundabout. If people come up to the exit from the right lane and then try to bully their way into the line of cars, who were in the correct lane to begin with, that is how accidents happen.

J_R

ProudDUB wrote: »

If the left lane is blocked and people have to go around the blockage and use the right lane, that is one thing. Everyone will be doing the same thing. No problem there.

But if everyone is going straight on and the left lanes is full, tough, you stay in the left lane and wait your bloody turn to exit the roundabout. If people come up to the exit from the right lane and then try to bully their way into the line of cars, who were in the correct lane to begin with, that is how accidents happen.

Hi,

I do not understand the "bully their way into the line of cars".

As I posted, if there are two lanes in, two lanes out, then two lines of traffic can in complete safety transverse the roundabout. That is, if everybody knows and obeys the rules.

The only time a problem would arise if there was only one exit, I know of several roundabouts on a dul carriageway where this happens and there are no warning signage that there are two lines in but only one out.

But two in, two out, no problem. After clearing the roundabout the person in the right lane changes into the left lane when it is clear and safe to do so.

ProudDUB

If you are going straight ahead, I still think that you should be in the left hand land on approach, even if there are two lanes as you get off.

If you stay in the right hand land and you are exiting at the 12 o'clock position, you will have to cut across the lane of the cars behind you, who may have entered the roundabout at the entrance after yours (the 9 o'clock position) and want to exit straight ahead at their own 12 o'clock position (which is your 3 o'clock position.) If they are going straight ahead and you cut across their lane to exit the roundabout, then what? Who has the right of way & what insurance company pays out, when one of you inevitably crashes into the other?

In Ireland, the use of roundabouts is a joke. People seem to have no clue. It's not helped by the fact that planners do not provide consistent signage on roundabouts.
Every day I see people entering roundabouts in the left lane to turn right, or in lesser cases entering a roundabout on the right lane and expecting to turn left.
Had a very near miss a year ago when I was at a t junction turning right. Driver approaching on right was indicating to turn. I pulled out and he went crazy as he was going straight ahead (while indicating to turn left). Never trust Irish drivers and their indicating.

J_R

ProudDUB wrote: »

If you are going straight ahead, I still think that you should be in the left hand land on approach, even if there are two lanes as you get off.

If you stay in the right hand land and you are exiting at the 12 o'clock position, you will have to cut across the lane of the cars behind you, who may have entered the roundabout at the entrance after yours (the 9 o'clock position) and want to exit straight ahead at their own 12 o'clock position (which is your 3 o'clock position.) If they are going straight ahead and you cut across their lane to exit the roundabout, then what? Who has the right of way & what insurance company pays out, when one of you inevitably crashes into the other?

Hi,

First just to reiterate, if going straight ahead on a standard four exit roundabout you should stay left and only if the left lane is obstructed hould you use the right lane.


Just dealing with the above scenario

1. If I am in the right lane because of a line of slow moving traffic in the left lane, No traffic can enter at my 9 o'clock position. (The line of traffic blocks them). So I do not have to worry overmuch.

2. If I enter a roundabout because of an obstruction in the left lane, the moment I clear the obstruction I get left to exit in the left lane

And from the ROTR:-

Approaching a roundabout

Conditions at roundabouts may vary. When you are coming up to a roundabout, look for directional arrows, road markings or signs which might be indicating which lane you should use for the exit you're taking.
Move into the correct lane in good time. Use the 12 o'clock 'golden rule' to help you plan a safe course of action unless road signs indicate otherwise
Treat the roundabout as a junction. You MUST yield to traffic coming from the right, but keep moving if the way is clear.

And for other traffic, ROTR:-

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to:

pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads,
traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit,
traffic that may be straddling lanes or positioned incorrectly,
motorcyclists,
cyclists and horse riders who may stay in the left-hand lane and signal right if they intend to continue round the roundabout,
long vehicles (including those towing trailers), which might have to take a different course approaching or on the roundabout because of their length. Watch out for their signals.

ProudDUB

J_R wrote: »

Hi,
Just dealing with the above scenario

1. If I am in the right lane because of a line of slow moving traffic in the left lane, No traffic can enter at my 9 o'clock position. (The line of traffic blocks them). So I do not have to worry overmuch.

You do have plenty to worry about.

1. If you going straight ahead, you should have been in the left hand land to begin with. If traffic is moving slowly in the left lane & you want to get through the roundabout quicker than everyone else, that is not a good enough excuse for you to be in the right hand lane. (I'm not talking about an obstruction blocking a lane scenario, I'm just talking about a regular situation.)

If you are going straight ahead, you should have approached the round about in the left lane, entered the roundabout from the left lane and exited the roundabout from the left lane. If you decide not to do that because the left lane is going too slowly for your liking, that is bad driving. It is also how accidents happen, as you are going to have to cut across the lane of traffic to your left to exit the round about. Those cars will not be expecting you to do that. As you were in the right lane, they will have presumed that you were going further around the roundabout than you actually were. They won't be expecting you to cut across them & sooner or later Car A is going to hit Car B, or vice versa.

2. It doesn't matter if traffic seems to be moving slowly. That doesn't mean that cars can not enter at the 9 o'clock position after yours. I have often seen cars (taxis usually) forcing their way into the roundabout by driving so far onto it, that cars have a choice to to let them merge in or hit them.

MascotDec85

ProudDUB wrote: »

You do have plenty to worry about.

1. If you going straight ahead, you should have been in the left hand land to begin with. If traffic is moving slowly in the left lane & you want to get through the roundabout quicker than everyone else, that is not a good enough excuse for you to be in the right hand lane. (I'm not talking about an obstruction blocking a lane scenario, I'm just talking about a regular situation.)

If you are going straight ahead, you should have approached the round about in the left lane, entered the roundabout from the left lane and exited the roundabout from the left lane. If you decide not to do that because the left lane is going too slowly for your liking, that is bad driving. It is also how accidents happen, as you are going to have to cut across the lane of traffic to your left to exit the round about. Those cars will not be expecting you to do that. As you were in the right lane, they will have presumed that you were going further around the roundabout than you actually were. They won't be expecting you to cut across them & sooner or later Car A is going to hit Car B, or vice versa.

2. It doesn't matter if traffic seems to be moving slowly. That doesn't mean that cars can not enter at the 9 o'clock position after yours. I have often seen cars (taxis usually) forcing their way into the roundabout by driving so far onto it, that cars have a choice to to let them merge in or hit them.

When there are 2 entries onto and 2 exits off of a roundabout eg. a dual carriageway there's no problem in using the right lane.
You should always check your mirror and signal prior to exiting.

J_R

ProudDUB wrote: »

You do have plenty to worry about.

1. If you going straight ahead, you should have been in the left hand land to begin with. If traffic is moving slowly in the left lane & you want to get through the roundabout quicker than everyone else, that is not a good enough excuse for you to be in the right hand lane. (I'm not talking about an obstruction blocking a lane scenario, I'm just talking about a regular situation.)

If you are going straight ahead, you should have approached the round about in the left lane, entered the roundabout from the left lane and exited the roundabout from the left lane. If you decide not to do that because the left lane is going too slowly for your liking, that is bad driving. It is also how accidents happen, as you are going to have to cut across the lane of traffic to your left to exit the round about. Those cars will not be expecting you to do that. As you were in the right lane, they will have presumed that you were going further around the roundabout than you actually were. They won't be expecting you to cut across them & sooner or later Car A is going to hit Car B, or vice versa.

2. It doesn't matter if traffic seems to be moving slowly. That doesn't mean that cars can not enter at the 9 o'clock position after yours. I have often seen cars (taxis usually) forcing their way into the roundabout by driving so far onto it, that cars have a choice to to let them merge in or hit them.

Hi,


your source and a link to this "Rule" of yours that you can not overtake slow moving traffic on a standard four exit roundabout with two lanes in, two out .

Citizenpain

MascotDec85 wrote: »

When there are 2 entries onto and 2 exits off of a roundabout eg. a dual carriageway there's no problem in using the right lane.
You should always check your mirror and signal prior to exiting.

I thought this too ! but was told by a driving instructor friend recently that unless there is road signage indicating that there is 2 lanes in and 2 lanes out ( Straight ahaead ) you should be in the Left hand lane..

rozeboosje

Not entirely on topic but a little tip:

Imagine you're approaching a roundabout and you're not sure what exit you should be taking. What do you do? Simple.... get into the right lane and indicate right. If you then realise that you should have taken the first or, in some circumstances, the second exit, just ignore the exit the first time, go ALL the way around the round about, and take the exit as if it were a "3rd exit" on your second approach. Problem solved, without crashing into any other cars while trying to perform a stupid manoeuvre in a blind panic....

I've lost count of how many times I have seen people realise they're in the "wrong" lane on a roundabout, and then do something stupid in a blind panic.

That's just plain silly talk. You can't expect Irish drivers to use common sense when navigating roundabouts.

rozeboosje

I stand humbled and chastised :-)

MascotDec85

Citizenpain wrote: »

I thought this too ! but was told by a driving instructor friend recently that unless there is road signage indicating that there is 2 lanes in and 2 lanes out ( Straight ahaead ) you should be in the Left hand lane..

The vast majority of roundabouts that I described will have the road clearly marked.

Citizenpain

MascotDec85 wrote: »

The vast majority of roundabouts that I described will have the road clearly marked.

Thats fair enough -- Unfortunately they dont do markings in Galway

MascotDec85

MascotDec85 wrote: »

The vast majority of roundabouts that I described will have the road clearly marked.

Have you ever noticed that the road markings are so close to the roundabout, that once there is half a dozen cars waiting to enter, you can't see the markings.

NufcNavan

Never understood why people struggle at roundabouts. They're quite easy to handle.

Give way to traffic to your right.

If going left, indicate left.

If going straight ahead, stay in left lane, check mirrors after passing first exit, indicate, leave roundabout.

If going right, get in right lane, indicate right, check mirrors after passing 2nd exit, indicate left, exit roundabout.