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Child Item

Correct roundabout lane

robclay26

I was wondering if anyone would please let me know which is the correct lane to use on the round about as shown. I have attached a pic of the sign and a satellite view from Google.

Entering the roundabout from the the R407 and turning off at the second R148 for kilcock. The lanes don't have any marking except for the white yeild triangles painted on road.

The sign shows the exit is at 12 o clock position, the exit isn't exactly 12 o clock as per satellite view.

Screenshot_20240906_185613_com.google.android.apps.maps_edit_673727865578445.jpg

I was debating with a colleague that the left lane should be used to take the exit for kilcock as its at 12 o clock as per sign post. Which is what you use for guidance.

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

Would really appreciate if a driving instructor or tester, garda, any professional driver or something that recently passed a road test. be able to say which lane is correct.

Appreciate your input and feedback. 👍

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65535

Enter where it says R407, give way to traffic coming from your right.

Then, when on the roundabout turn on your right indicator, stay in the right lane

Pass the first exit, then the other entrances and 1 more exit - then just before your turnoff check the left lane, turn on your left indicator and proceed into it to exit at the orange arrow.

RonanG86

It's so little beyond the 12 o'clock position (what is it? 12:15?) that I think take the left lane is correct.

robclay26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122589981#Comment_122589981

Exactly! It's a very debatable one! That's why I'm looking for the correct answer and not a person's opinion or what they would do. I see people using both lanes

Flinty997

I never thought that 12 o clock rule made any sense.

BlakeS94

It's not even debatable, you go by the signage for the roundabout/junction, it's stated 12 o clock, left lane entry, stay on left lane, and left lane exit.

robclay26

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590021#Comment_122590021

Thats exactly what I was saying to my colleague! 😂

kirving

It really depends on the traffic volumes per exit.

If for arguments sake 80% of traffic goes towards Sligo, then the right lane would be correct.

If 80% of traffic goes towards Dublin, then the left lane would probably be correct. Given that it's in Kildare, I would suggest that more traffic goes towards Dublin.

Noone is out there with a protractor measuring angles, and the sign shows the exit dead on 12 o'clock, so by default I would suggest the left lane on that basis too - not that there is even any law about the clock face.

baxterooneydoody

I'm a lorry driver with many cpcs under my belt and if I was coming into that having never driven into it before I'd take left lane but knowing the roundabout I'd probably hit it in the right lane as most of the traffic would be heading for the motorway

_Kaiser_

More than 2 exits away or past 12 o'clock.. right lane

FishOnABike

You can't see the far side of the roundabout (or should that be oval about) as you approach it. It shouldn't depend on psychic powers, magic local knowledge or an accompanying drone to give a birds eye view of the roundabout to figure which lane one should be in. The sign shows the Kilcock exit at 12 o-clock and there's no other sinage or road markings to indicate any special lane designation so I would say to use the left lane.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590842#Comment_122590842

Exactly this.

Which is why 12 o clock never makes sense. It should be right lane and move left lane before your turn. Simple and robust.

But no it's the clock rule (or best practise) and people are always asking about it.

GTTDI GOD

It’s the third exit on the roundabout, right lane.

Driving instructor.

mrslancaster

Hate roundabouts 😡

J_R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590937#Comment_122590937

Hi,

I was a driving instructor for a wee while. Now retired. One of my favourite lessons was getting a pupil who had been driving for a few years and like you hated roundabouts. And showing them how simple they are. However might take a few lessons to work on this one attached

Roundabouts are simple, provided basic common sense is applied. There is only one rule unique to a roundabout - when entering, turn left. All other possible situations - the basic rules of the road apply. There is no other special rule.

And from the ROTR - the Roundabout Golden Rule

Golden rule
This ‘golden rule’ should help motorists to drive safely at any roundabout
regardless of the number of exits:
Think of the roundabout as a clock.
If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists
should generally approach in the left-hand lane.
If taking any exit between the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock positions,
motorists should generally approach in the right-hand lane.
If there are road markings showing you what lane you should be in,
follow those directions. Traffic conditions might sometimes mean you
have to take a different approach but, in the main, the ‘golden rule’ will
help you to drive safely on almost any roundabout.
133
Údarás Um Shábháilteacht Ar Bhóithre
Road Safety Authority

Flinty997

So simple its takes a novel to explain it.

Spot the difference.…

https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/roundabouts.html

https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/roads-safety-and-rules/stopping-giving-way-turning/roundabouts#:~:text=Using%20roundabouts,-Roundabouts%20manage%20the&text=When%20you%20approach%20a%20roundabout,or%20from%20directly%20opposite%20you.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2639400/Australian-roundabouts-dangerous-world.html

XsApollo

roundabouts like the one in the OP, if the road isn’t busy I would take the right lane, now if the roundabout was busy I would stay in the left so I wouldn’t get stuck or have to navigate traffic to get out of my lane.

Saying that if I didn’t know the roundabout, going by the sign I would be in the left.

J_R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590015#Comment_122590015

Hi,

But it makes perfect sense. If the exit is past 12 it means that it is to the right.

Therefore you indicate to the right and move to the right, this now allows traffic that is going straight or turning left to overtake (Undertake ?) legally on your left.

If exit at or before you stay left and allow traffic to overtake.

Basic idea is that you share the road - allow traffic to safely overtake.

There was another thread on here about indicating if the first exit was at 12 0 clock. You follow the same normal rules, not too soon that it could be missinterpreted but soon enough to benefit and warn others of your intentions. So, about 9 o'clock.

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122591330#Comment_122591330

On that basis I would say always use the left lane on that roundabout if going from the R407 to the R148 Kilcock.

Whether to take the left lane or right lane shouldn't depend on a subjective view of how heavy traffic is and a potential difference of opnion between two drivers.

Road safety depends significantly drivers driving in a consistent and predictable manner. This needs unambiguous rules, road design and signage.

At driving speed here's limited time to observe, comprehend and respond. If it's not obvious it's potentially dangerous.

Flinty997

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122591528#Comment_122591528

If it's a 3 lane roundabout it makes no sense.

And a rule should work for all scenarios. It's not even in other countries afaik.

I think it sprung out of these half assed tiny roundabouts we have so many of which are too small to change lanes on.

Oz has similar rule and it's the cause of lots of accidents. Ireland has no stats on it afaik.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590921#Comment_122590921

I'd tend to agree with this but that roundabout needs better lane signage. Technically it is left lane because the exit is shown at 12, but it should be designated right lane because it's the 3rd exit.

Traffic would flow better then with 2 exits for each lane.

Again it shows the cock up that is the clock rule, before as you say it was left for first and second exits, right for anything after. If the clock rule was applied to the walkinstown roundabout it would be a disaster.

J_R

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122591682#Comment_122591682

Hii,

But quite a few junction approaches have three lanes, causes no problem. Then you have multi lane highways, again no problem. Roundabouts are exactly the same, only difference the exits on roundabouts are closer together.

And then you have directional arrows, which may well over-ride the standard rules.

And then there is using common sense, when dealing with the traffic.

BlakeS94

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590857#Comment_122590857

You're not supposed to change lanes while on a roundabout, there's too much happening and there's more of a chance of causing a collision while you're judging the angle of the roundabout as you're going around, cars coming off and on at multiple different junctions. Stay in the lane you started off in and exit in that lane, only time you should be going right lane to left lane is when you're exiting and you're driving across the left lane to get to your exit.

Flinty997

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

You can't get into the 2nd or 3rd lane without changing lanes.

https://youtu.be/iAgX6qlJEMc?feature=shared

freddieot

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

On larger roundabouts there is no option except to change lanes on the roundabout . That's why many of them have dotted lines in the lane divides so you can do that.

On a large multi exit roundabout, nor the small little ones, you should always try to position yourself safely so that you can exit without interfering with other drivers. That sometimes means that after you pass several exits you need to move over to the lh lane before exiting.

markpb

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

Where does this idea come from? It’s not in the Road Traffic Acts and it’s not in the RSA’s Rules of the Road. It’s clear that traffic engineers don’t believe in it either because they routinely delineate lanes with dashed line markings, indicating that you can change lanes. I suspect it’s coming from a small bunch of driving instructors who don’t know any better.

TheRiverman

Note the arrow on the road sign for Kilcock and Trim. It is showing straight ahead. The general rule is stay in the left lane when going straight ahead unless arrows in the lanes directs otherwise. I have always thought this so called 12 o'clock rule is ridiculous.Anyone here ever drive on the roundabout going east out of Athlone at Kilmartin's n6 Centre ? The roadsign shows Birr straight ahead, but most people drive in the right lane instead of the left because of the 12 o'clock nonsense.

[Deleted User]

Page 133 rules of the road.

https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/r1---rules-of-the-road/ruleoftheroad_book-for-web.pdf?sfvrsn=b5d57830_7

Golden rule

This ‘golden rule’ should help motorists to drive safely at any roundaboutregardless of the number of exits:Think of the roundabout as a clock. If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motoristsshould generally approach in the left-hand lane.If taking any exit between the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock positions,motorists should generally approach in the right-hand lane.If there are road markings showing you what lane you should be in,follow those directions. Traffic conditions might sometimes mean youhave to take a different approach but, in the main, the ‘golden rule’ will help you to drive safely on almost any roundabout.

They say "should use the right lane for exits from 12 o'clock to 6 doesn't say you must so do they mean must or should meaning no one gives a **** what you do ?

I've always said from 12 o clock take right lane but people don't believe me.

One such notorious roundabout is the Merck roundabout coming out of Carlow Town heading towards Castledermot, the exit for Castledermot is clearly at the 1 O'clock position but 99% of people take it in the left lane !

TheRiverman

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122595894#Comment_122595894

What direction is Castledermot on the roundabout road sign leading in to it ? I presume it is showing straight ahead.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122590668#Comment_122590668

Can you link to anything that says that?

Approach signage suggests left lane is the most appropriate lane to use.

But as there's no hard and fast rules on roundabout entrance/exits, plain common sense and reasonableness also comes into play.

Something far too many motorists lack.

Notch000

You going to take thirds exit so definitely inside lane. I was taught during during my bike license training that 12 o'clock or beyond are for right inside lane. A lot of sign will have the exits posted otherwise at 11 O'clock or so for this reason