Multi-lane roundabouts

FionnK86

Nearly hit a car yesterday at the roundabout in Kildare Village. It has two lanes on approach, with one lane at the 12 O'Clock exit. I took the left lane on approach. The single-lane road on approach diverges into the two-lanes, and a car which was behind me took the right lane. As we were coming around the roundabout, he took the 12 O'Clock exit and I was forced to hit the brakes. Am I in the wrong here? I've recently passed the test using the RSA guidelines and thought I was using the correct lane on approach?

mickoneill31

From the www.rulesoftheroad.ie page 130.

Going straight ahead (or any exit to the left of 12 o’clock)
Approach in the left-hand lane (unless road markings say otherwise) but do not
indicate ‘left’ until you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take

Jack Killian

FionnK86 wrote: »

Nearly hit a car yesterday at the roundabout in Kildare Village. It has two lanes on approach, with one lane at the 12 O'Clock exit. I took the left lane on approach. The single-lane road on approach diverges into the two-lanes, and a car which was behind me took the right lane. As we were coming around the roundabout, he took the 12 O'Clock exit and I was forced to hit the brakes. Am I in the wrong here? I've recently passed the test using the RSA guidelines and thought I was using the correct lane on approach?

Depends. Was there one or two exits before the "12 o'clock" ?

If there was one, then you were right.

If there were two, they were right.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

You forgot the rest, here you go:

"...Where traffic conditions dictate otherwise, for example a long line of traffic in the left lane signalling left or roadworks in the left lane, you may follow the course shown by the red line. When leaving the roundabout take extra care at all exits, checking for other road users – for example, cyclists and motorcyclists who may be continuing on the roundabout."

mickoneill31 wrote: »

From the www.rulesoftheroad.ie page 130.

Going straight ahead (or any exit to the left of 12 o’clock)
Approach in the left-hand lane (unless road markings say otherwise) but do not
indicate ‘left’ until you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take

Jack Killian

Isaiah Hot Sneaker wrote: »

You forgot the rest, here you go:

"...Where traffic conditions dictate otherwise, for example a long line of traffic in the left lane signalling left or roadworks in the left lane, you may follow the course shown by the red line.

The "signalling left" is the important bit - you can't just use it to skip a queue. (How you're meant to know that they're all signalling left without chancing your arm anyway will remain a mystery

Mind you

When leaving the roundabout take extra care at all exits, checking for other road users – for example, cyclists and motorcyclists who may be continuing on the roundabout."

There's the exact answer to the OP's issue. It's YOUR responsibility WHEN EXITTING to take EXTRA care re others "continuing on the roundabout".

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

How "long" is a long line of traffic? I'm impatient so one car is "long" enough for me.

Jack Killian

Isaiah Hot Sneaker wrote: »

How "long" is a long line of traffic? I'm impatient so one car is "long" enough for me.

I'm hoping your ballhopping, but just in case.....

One car isn't a "line".

I'd suggest 5+ all turning, but even that seems low; it doesn't just say "line" - it says "long line".

One - well, let's just say don't cut across me on exitting or expect to "merge" having used a roundabout to overtake. If there's one thing I detest on the roads it's people who do that, and as you said it's solely because you're impatient.

I'm impatient too, but I don't queue-jump.

mickoneill31

Isaiah Hot Sneaker wrote: »

You forgot the rest, here you go:

"...Where traffic conditions dictate otherwise, for example a long line of traffic in the left lane signalling left or roadworks in the left lane, you may follow the course shown by the red line. When leaving the roundabout take extra care at all exits, checking for other road users – for example, cyclists and motorcyclists who may be continuing on the roundabout."

I didn't forget the rest. It wasn't relevant so I didn't think there was any value in posting it. Sure I could quote the whole book. Wouldn't be any use to anybody though.

Can you explain the added value rather than just posting a paragraph that doesn't answer the guys question?

He didn't post anything that said traffic conditions dictated otherwise. There was no long line of traffic and of course you take care when exciting the roundabout. You do that if you're in the correct or incorrect lane obviously. So whats the point of your post?

hi5

mickoneill31 wrote: »

From the www.rulesoftheroad.ie page 130.

Going straight ahead (or any exit to the left of 12 o’clock)
Approach in the left-hand lane (unless road markings say otherwise) but do not
indicate ‘left’ until you have passed the exit before the one you intend to take

I wish the RSA would correct the 2nd image on page 131, its wrong.
You will always be approaching at 6 o' clock.

ct5amr2ig1nfhp

We are discussing the OPs video and also the wider use on the "correct" lane going straight ahead/12 oclock. The block of text you left out is relevant to the discussion.

mickoneill31 wrote: »

So whats the point of your post?

I was ballhopping to be fair. But my point was that the rule for going straight ahead is a little grey in that you can use the right lane to go straight when there's a long line of traffic. One mans long is another mans short.

Jack Killian wrote: »

I'm hoping your ballhopping, but just in case.....

One car isn't a "line".

I'd suggest 5+ all turning, but even that seems low; it doesn't just say "line" - it says "long line".

One - well, let's just say don't cut across me on exitting or expect to "merge" having used a roundabout to overtake. If there's one thing I detest on the roads it's people who do that, and as you said it's solely because you're impatient.

I'm impatient too, but I don't queue-jump.

Jack Killian

hi5 wrote: »

I wish the RSA would correct the 2nd image on page 131, its wrong.
You will always be approaching at 6 o' clock.

Only on the way home from work. Going there it'd be 8am

Turtle-TM

Feed Up wrote: »

Can you explain how I'm wrong?

I've explained in the previous post. You should not change lanes on a roundabout. In the right lane of a roundabout and taking the right lane of an exit, you stay in the right lane. Simple.

grogi

hi5 wrote: »

I wish the RSA would correct the 2nd image on page 131, its wrong.
You will always be approaching at 6 o' clock.

I don't understand why the RSA is constantly being quoted as an ultimate source of rules. RSA is a state agency that promotes road safety. It does not make law, it just promotes safe (or in this case unsafe) behaviour on the roads.

"Rules of the road" is not law either. It is an editorial piece.

Irish Statue Book - that's law. And if one wants to know what is legal and what is not, I suggest starting there...

grogi

Turtle-TM wrote: »

I've explained in the previous post. You should not change lanes on a roundabout. In the right lane of a roundabout and taking the right lane of an exit, you stay in the right lane. Simple.

Unless you possess the powers of teleportation, you actually need to... You cannot exit without getting into the left lane...

Charlie-Bravo

I'm lovin' this debate. Jack Killian, grogi is merely talking about this specific roundabout not roundabouts in general. In my opinion, grogi and qrx have the same opinion as me. The road markings do not help when you come off the M50. It would be best to just have the left lane as left-turn only and right lane for everywhere else. I'm sure a traffic survey would even justify the volumes on each lane if they were marked so.

grogi

astrofluff wrote: »

I'm lovin' this debate. Jack Killian, grogi is merely talking about this specific roundabout not roundabouts in general. In my opinion, grogi and qrx have the same opinion as me. The road markings do not help when you come off the M50. It would be best to just have the left lane as left-turn only and right lane for everywhere else. I'm sure a traffic survey would even justify the volumes on each lane if they were marked so.

Actually I was talking about all roundabouts. If we need to have a generic rule applicable to all multi-lane RB and not related to markings, this is an only sensible one that can be applied nationwide and does not encourage dangerous situations.

Feed Up

Turtle-TM wrote: »

I've explained in the previous post. You should not change lanes on a roundabout. In the right lane of a roundabout and taking the right lane of an exit, you stay in the right lane. Simple.

But you still have to enter lane 1 to exit.

Or are you saying that you don't enter lane 1 to exit? If that is the case can you explain how it's done?

irishmoss

Turtle-TM wrote: »

I've explained in the previous post. You should not change lanes on a roundabout. In the right lane of a roundabout and taking the right lane of an exit, you stay in the right lane. Simple.

If you look at Driving School Ireland website they tell you to move into the left lane approaching your exit on the roundabout and also beware of traffic crossing in front of you. I can't post links. They show the same images on the RSA site but explain how to drive on it

VincePP

irishmoss wrote: »

If you look at Driving School Ireland website they tell you to move into the left lane approaching your exit on the roundabout and also beware of traffic crossing in front of you. I can't post links. They show the same images on the RSA site but explain how to drive on it

again someone if using "usual" roundabout situation and not know the specifics of this roundabout - unless you have knowledge of the specific roundabout the OP was taking, it is difficult to comment on the OP.

But I agree above that unless the OP has a car hat can physically jump, then he has to cross the outer lane in order to exit, and as a vehicle was already in that lane, even if that vehicle entered hastily, the OP would have been at primarly fault if an accident occurred as the OP would no have been drivign with due care & attention.

But as the OP was driving wih attention and had sort of expected the motorist entering to be enter hastily and cause a minor obsruction to him continuing at the speed he was going with , the OP therefore did not show due care by agressively stopping suddenly in to "punish" or "make a point" to the other motorist.

therefore, from the OP's own evidence, he op drove without due care and commited an offence.

12Phase

I just had a crazy one.
I was going around the Lower Glanmire Road roundabout in Cork coming from the Jack Lynch Tunnel.

I was coming from N8 at 6'O Clock position in the right hand lane and going to the second exit which is located at 3 O'Clock position 3/4 way around

There's a a dual carriageway at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions and a single carriageway road to Glenmire at 3 O'Clock.

A guy entered the roundabout from the 12 o'clock position and blocked me while blasting me out of it for trying to exit.

My right indicator was on until just halfway across 1st exit and my left was on after that to exit.

Yet he actually flashed, beeped and cut me off.

I wasn't going slow either. Was going around fairly rapidly.

Don't think I did anything wrong there... I know why he thought he could enter the roundabout.