Correct roundabout lane

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596299#Comment_122596299

WRONG and makes no sense whatsoever.

Go back and retrain - you'd fail a test with that

freddieot

So, the key word in the rules there is 'generally'. If they meant 'must' then that is what would be written.

While the 12 oc rule is 'generally' the best option, its not hard and fast and the driver should evaluate every individual roundabout if they have no road arrows.

This is what

freddieot

in the main, the ‘golden rule’ will help you to drive safely on almost any roundabout.

more confusion. So, the golden rule, will not help you drive safely on some roundabouts !

As I said before, the planners are the ones causing confusion.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596380#Comment_122596380

Planners and the rules/guidelines.

Small around near me is too small as built it's basically survival of the fittest. Two lanes entry and one lane exit. It's only low speed and congestion that stopping more accidents from happening. Very common design in Ireland.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596371#Comment_122596371

I think the 12 o clock rule is terrible. Statistically it seems to causes more accidents in other countries with a similar rule. I assume because it's encourages people to blast through.

It's a frequent question on boards, which illustrates how confused people are about it. Even in this thread People are getting the rules wrong.

Golden rule is don't hit anything, there's no point being right according to the rules and having a collision.

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596422#Comment_122596422

I agree. There are too many poorly designed roundabouts with two lane entry that are way too small. In my view if two busses can't safely drive around the roundabout sude by side then it shouldn't have two lanes.

Gooser14

I would agree with you had the Rules of the Road not been changed many years ago to clock system.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596459#Comment_122596459

I'd be curious to know why they were changed and since nowhere else afaik copied it, it suggests it's not seen as useful.

It was inferred by that earlier article that similar charges were done not for safety but to improve throughput.

_Kaiser_

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596449#Comment_122596449

Where I come across these sorts of roundabouts where it's marked as 2 lane entry (even though it's a single lane right up to that point) but only wide enough for one-ish on the roundabout itself - or its one of those painted ones - I just straddle both lanes on entry. Better to control the flow of traffic on it with me than risk being sideswiped halfway through.

May not be the "right" way, but it's often the safest.

Here's an example in Portlaoise I'm very familar with…

Painted narrow roundabout with 2 lanes.. the left is left only, the right straight on

But with the painted roundabout and tight angles/junction, there's nowhere near enough room to swing around the "roundabout" while still leaving room for left turning traffic - plus a lot of cars in that left lane just drive on through anyway!

Result: People drive over the "roundabout" and/or nearly sideswipe each other trying to merge at the other side. In fact that's what happens here with the jeep just driving over it…

My solution above (straddle both) is far safer in that scenario.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596505#Comment_122596505

That's where experience and road position comes into it. You can't straddle a 3 or more lane roundabout though.

J_R

Hi,

The first explanation published in Ireland regarding roundabout rules used a two lane, four exit roundabout and used the exit numbers as a guide

The second and latest guide uses the same roundabout layout but this time they use the clock face as a guide. They also used the words "should generally approach",(not "must") so these rules are open to variations.

To guide motorists on roundabouts with numerous lanes and exits directional arrows and place names are painted on the lanes. The rule book goes on to state that these must be followed/obeyed.

The only problem with roundabouts is that some motorists harkens back to the very basic rules when they obviously do not apply to that particular roundabout. They are superseded by the lane markings and/or configuration of that particular roundabout.

Flinty997

Perhaps the planners shouldn't make layouts that require bespoke markings.

markpb

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596422#Comment_122596422

There's nothing wrong with a roundabout having mismatching numbers of entry and exit lanes. Change into the lane lane before you approach your exit and exit from there. It's much safer than attempting to exit from the inside lane anyway.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122597060#Comment_122597060

Its a problem when it's too small. They should filter it to one lane before entry instead of having that conflict on the roundabout. Again when it's too small.

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596505#Comment_122596505

Whoever 'designed' that should be shot!

Padre_Pio

I would imagine the left lane is the correct lane, but there's a similar roundabout near me and I always use the right lane.

People waiting at the first exit assume anyone in the left lane will be exiting at the first exit and I've had a few bum clenching moments

GreeBo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122592643#Comment_122592643

You change lanes to get to the lane beside the exit as you pass the earlier exits, otherwise you will have to cross 1 or more lanes at the last minute and you will have a car on your left, probably in your blind spot.

Buffman

@robclay26 "My colleague is a Lorry driver with CPC and said you should use the right lane to enter the roundabout and exit for kilcock."

Hi OP, sounds like your colleague has never driven on that junction. You can tell him that if he tries to take that exit from the right lane in a HGV in busy traffic he's almost guaranteed to be in an accident.

The distance between the entrance from the Enfield road and the exit to the Kilcock road is not much longer than an artic, there is basically no room for maneuvering a HGV. Anyone familiar with the junction will know how busy it is. If he tried to get off from the right lane there, it's highly probable somebody will be on his left side already, probably in his blind spot, either trying to undertake or exit or having entered from the Enfield road.

When driving a HGV or any other large vehicle (and all other vehicles to be fair) the goal is to navigate the junction safely, while giving consideration to 'rules', but not being forced into potentially dangerous maneuvers just to try to keep to the 'rules'.

To give as much chance as possible of navigating that and other similar junction safely in a HGV/large vehicle, your best bet is to maintain possession of both lanes on the approach road and then stay in the left lane regardless of what exit you're taking, while using indicators appropriately. If you go into the right lane at a busy time (basically all the time there), you will find it extremely difficult and dangerous to get back into/through the left lane to exit.

As anyone who drives them knows, the rules of the road don't override the laws of physics when it comes to large vehicles on small roads.

Even in a car at busy times there, you can very easily find yourself 'stuck' in the right lane until someone lets you into the left lane, so I observe most people just stay in the left to avoid the hassle/risk.

TheRiverman

Unfortunately too many drivers haven't a clue, don't bother and have no interest in "reading the road". Roundabouts are not complicated and that ridiculous "12 o'clock guideline/rule" should be scrapped.

Padre_Pio

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122598091#Comment_122598091

The notion of looking at a roundabout like a clock face is ridiculous.

You have the first exit, the second exit and so on..

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596202#Comment_122596202

On the sign it's 12 O'Clock

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.8538292,-6.8853782,3a,41.2y,16.15h,91.52t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sp4t-EsfDUFG4JSJbTVFfUA!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

On Approach it's clearly at 2 O'Clock, See the Red van coming "from" the Castledermot direction.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.8546296,-6.8838636,3a,53.5y,37h,87.88t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s-_YXMHWFgwiHs8XBR7AMTQ!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Mad_Lad

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596380#Comment_122596380

Typical Irish, instead of having arrows on the road , so many roundabouts are the same in Ireland,

Here's another good one, coming from Castledermot, Towards Carlow Town, in the Pic below the last exit is the offramp for the M9 so technically the Carlow exit is the last exit under the bridge and is after 12 O'clock anyway yet 99% of people take the left lane all the way around.

https://www.google.ie/maps/@52.8928825,-6.8560406,3a,75y,218.56h,99.36t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sCbUbWMf8Bta0uqjuUoazGg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?coh=205409&entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkwNC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

jd

Ok, here's one. Going straight ahead, left lane or right.

I said left, another driver said right lane :)

Mad_Lad

^^^^^^^^I would say right lane for this straight road ahead which looks to me to be at 1 O'clock

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596299#Comment_122596299

That's incorrect.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122596371#Comment_122596371

driver should evaluate every individual roundabout if they have no road arrows

No, drivers should be reading the sign on approach and following the exits as per their position on the sign.

Why do people think councils go to the bother of putting up signs on approach marking exits resembling a clock face? It's so that the 12 o'clock rule can be applied and drivers get into the correct lane.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122599061#Comment_122599061

Approach sign shows the position of the exit at 12'oclock, so left lane.

farhankn

I always wanted to ask How the Priority works on this Junction. Can you someone please explain who get the priority ?

TheRiverman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122599061#Comment_122599061

Left lane. There is no agument.