Switching lanes when taking 3rd exit

Kindred74

Hi,

My son is doing his lessons at the moment and has received conflicting advice from two different instructors.

On a two lane roundabout where he is taking the 3rd exit that is past 12 o clock, one instructor says he must switch to the left lane immediately after the second exit then leave the roundabout when he reaches the 3rd.

The other says this is unnecessary - just indicate left after the 2nd exit and leave the roundabout once you reach your exit.

The rules of the road say to "move towards the left" but don't seem to specially say to change lanes. I'm unsure if moving left means drift left as you are leaving the roundabout anyway or you actually have to enter the left lane and drive in it for a bit.

Any help welcome, thanks.

CMOTDibbler

The answer as always is to do what is safest.

Both instructors are correct, but they haven't explained it.

You take the left lane on the roundabout if you're taking the first exit. You can also take it if you're taking the second. But if you're taking the third or subsequent, you're in the right lane.

So as you go around the roundabout, you lose the guys on your inside as they take the first or second exits. Which then leaves the left lane free after the second and therefore clear for you to move into as you indicate left and take the third exit.

Kindred74

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102353#Comment_123102353

OK thanks. So say on an empty roundabout in a test scenario, the tester will expect him to move into the left lane immediately after the 2nd exit. Got it.

elperello

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123102353#Comment_123102353

That's pretty much it.

The only issue would be someone entering the roundabout from the second exit and trying to undertake you to leave the roundabout at the third exit.

Indicating your intention to leave at the third exit and moving over immediately after the second exit should be enough to deter them.

Isthisthingon?

I was actually thinking about this very thing last night as I approached a two lane roundabout under a motorway flyover.

There were no markings to indicate lane usage. it wasn't busy but ahead there was a scenario where 1 car took the first exit, staying left, a second car closely behind ( but a safe distance) took the inner lane as he/she took the second exit onto the other side of the flyover which was another roundabout but stayed in the inner lane and exited the roundabout at what was now the first exit of the other roundabout. meanwhile I was talking the same route as he/she so I remained in the left lane for both roundabouts and finally , another car came behind me was taking the second exit on the far side to enter the motorway and he/she stayed in both inner lanes throughout. All this happened pretty much at the same time but again it wasn't aggressive or dangerous driving - just traffic.

Nobody fundamentally did anything dangerous or wrong although not to the letter of the law of the ROTR, its what happens in reality on a roundabout when you have actual flowing traffic but a mistimed or misjudged maneuver can lead to a crash especially where the lanes aren't marked.

J_R

Hi,

The same rules apply on a roundabout as anywhere else.

Indicators, indicate as soon as possible but not too soon that it could be misinterpreted, and

Road position, get into the correct lane as soon as safely possible.

On a roundabout if on the inside lane, indicate immediately after passing the exit before your desired exit. And then move to the left lane as soon as safely possible.

Making a late change is simply idiotic. (Later you could be blocked)

There is only one rule unique to a roundabout and that is you must turn left on entering.

If turning right you stay right, indicating right

If straight on or taking a left turn, stay left

Exit numbers are redundant and may cause confusion.