Some questions about roundabouts

dennyk

Question for you folks: what's the proper way to deal with a gridlocked non-signaled roundabout when the road is jammed due to traffic volume (and not a temporary obstruction like a slow-moving vehicle or something that will be clear shortly)? Are you supposed to wait until your exit is clear before entering the roundabout? Seems like that would be difficult or impossible in many cases, as you might not have a clear sight line to your exit, and in any case if you don't enter the roundabout when you have an opportunity, other cars will take up the space and you'll basically be blocked out indefinitely.

If you are on a roundabout and must stop due to traffic, what determines right of way at that point? Do you still have priority over cars trying to enter? I was turning right at the R926/Dooradoyle Rd. roundabout from the M20 the other day, and traffic was at a near-standstill all the way from the motorway ramp to the Crescent. I was able to get onto the roundabout and over to the inside lane, and stopped before the yellow "no stopping here" hash marks at the Dooradoyle Road entrance because traffic was backed up to that point. As soon as traffic began moving, about four or five cars forced their way into the inside lane of the roundabout from Dooradoyle Road; the last two almost collided with me as I'd already started moving again before they entered the roundabout. Had I given up the right of way by stopping there somehow, or were they the ones doing it wrong?

Also, what's the generally accepted etiquette (legal or otherwise) for roundabouts in that sort of traffic? Is it typical for cars stopped in the roundabout to each let one person enter in front of them (sort of like a zipper merge), or are the poor saps trying to enter from a side street between two busy roads just doomed to sit there for ages waiting for a gap that will never come? Also, if the "correct" roundabout lane for your exit is backed up but the other lane is clear, should you move to the clear lane and try to squeeze back over when you get to your exit, or should you just stay in the proper lane?

One more question; there's a mini-roundabout at a T-junction that I drive through regularly (in Ballina at the Killaloe-Ballina bridge, if you're familiar). There are no-stopping yellow hash marks in the roundabout for both the north and south short branches of the T, and traffic backs up heading outbound at the long (west) branch due to a traffic light a short way down the road. When traffic on the west branch starts moving, there are always cars lined up on both short branches waiting to enter the roundabout and exit at the west branch. Which of the two branches has priority to enter the roundabout at that time? (Being a mini-roundabout and with the placement of the yield markings, there isn't room for both cars to enter simultaneously, or they would both reach the exit point at the same time and collide. Also, note that due to the bridge traffic control, there is no traffic entering the roundabout from the west branch when the westbound traffic has a green light, so that isn't a factor.) In practice, the first car on the north end can see the traffic light down the road and will usually enter the roundabout as soon as it turns green, before the exit is actually clear, but from that point on it becomes a free-for-all. Are we supposed to be taking turns entering at that point, or is one direction always supposed to yield to cars trying to enter from the other direction?

J_R

Hi,

1st Para
No, you do not wait. Say you are taking the 2nd exit and you wait until the 2nd exit is clear, you are blocking the traffic behind that wishes to take the 1st exit. Stay in the queue. Enter but do not block other crossing traffic

You enter all junctions even if your exit is blocked, but when stopping you do not stop in a position that would block other crossing traffic. In an ordinary X-Junction this area is usually marked by a yellow box. (A good driver does not need a yellow box to tell him/her where they would cause inconvenience/ block other traffic). On a roundabout you would watch out for traffic wishing to exit from an inner lane - leave space.

2nd Para

A stopped can have no "Right of Way". It could be broken down, no fuel, stuck in reverse gear etc etc. AND before moving off the onus is on the driver of the stopped car to ensure it is safe to do so.
See:- The Most Dangerous Roundabout In Ireland

The small silver car had come from the Malahide Road and was heading towards the pavilion centre in the left lane. The large grey car was travelling up the duel carriageway and heading south bound towards Dublin in the right lane. The large grey car had being stopped in traffic on the roundabout. In the meantime traffic from the Malahide Rd. had started to move on to the roundabout in the left lane but the right land was still stationary. When the right lane started to move the large grey car continued un his journey but an this stage the small silver car was turning right in the left lane and ''Bang''

The large silver car obviously tried to "reclaim" his "right of way".

All lanes in a roundabout are equal. There is no such thing as following a main road thru a roundabout. Ordinary lane rules apply.

3rd Para A.
No problem allowing the odd car enter. Just do not wave them in, that is illegal.

3rd Para B
Stay in lane. Would you allow a car in in front of you that had obviously jumped the queue. (When you had been patiently creeping slowly forward for the past hour)

Last Para.
All situations like this. Common sense rules apply