Correct lane advice for the Cement Factory Roundabout - Needed for Driving Test

Mango Joe

Hi all,

I would really appreciate if ye could very kindly give me clear and definite correct lane advice for the Cement Factory Roundabout and the one after it leading onto dock Road and Motorway.

Its for a friend who is just worried they'll mess up their driving test by making a critical error near the very start.

Am I correct in saying its not quite standard?

I think they may have may have changed the rules here to improve traffic low into the City and onto Motorway, ie they've painted on the lanes to stay in left or right lane etc.

If someone could please confirm for all approaches, ie from City Side or Clarina (N69) approach etc.

Many thanks in advance.

realdanbreen

I think the safest thing your friend could do is have a chat with a driving instructor. Interpretations of how to use roundabouts are 10 a penny. My own system, unless Lane is marked otherwise, is left Lane for exit 1 and 2, otherwise right Lane.

moby2101

Hi

I drive this road daily.
Treat both roundabouts as you would any other, there are no changes or designations to either.

Mango Joe

Thanks for the replies folks - Much appreciated.

What's throwing this into confusion somewhat is that I have heard on at least two separate occasions of people sitting the driving test running into trouble because the Tester on the day said they were in the wrong lane when they were utterly adamant they were in the correct lane.

I was also certain there was a Boards.ie thread on it but I annoyingly cannot locate it now.

Mango Joe

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686475#Comment_123686475

Thanks for this - She says her Instructor is on holidays unfortunately - You are right though !!

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686483#Comment_123686483

Actually, if you intend to use the N18 it's clearly written on the road that it's left lane for N18 Northbound and right lane for N18 Southbound.

Mango Joe

I don't think the Driving Test route takes the N18 though?!

Also the N18 from looking at Google Maps seems to got West/North Towards Galway or East/North towards Dublin.

At no point does it go South like?!?!?

Cookiemunster

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123686964#Comment_123686964

The N18 runs from Galway to Limerick so the directions are officially called Northbound and Southbound. And if you're traveling towards Limerick you're Southbound.

As to the test, stay left for on both roundabouts to access the Dock Road.

Red Silurian

Those roundabouts weren't there when I did my driving test all those years ago but what I do remember is if you treat the roundabout like a clockface then any exit after the 12 O Clock mark takes the right hand lane and you indicate right but all others take the left lane. Also indicate left when you have passed the exit before the one you are going to take. This knowledge helped me to pass my driving test all those years ago

In the case of driving to the city from the cement factory you take the left lane on both occasions to reach the dock road. Some roundabouts are different, notably the shannon-bridge roundabout when coming from the dock road or the city where you use the left lane when turning left and the right lane for the other 2 exits so just watch that.

MarkR

That roundabout is one of those where you have to read the road markings and signage to get it correct. And there's no guarantee others will be doing it correctly, so you really have to be vigilant.

Insect Overlord

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123969325#Comment_123969325

Spot on. It's mad how many drivers learn the Rules of the Road to pass the tests, but never have the cop-on to actually pay attention to their surroundings when they're actually out there driving!

Cookiemunster

So @Mango Joe, it's just over 3 months later. How did your friend get on with their test?