Mini roundabouts

[Robserver]

Does anyone know the reason why some mini roundabouts have white circles as well as the arrows round the dot.There are some on the A350 in Westbury(Wilts)

[James]

Can you describe in more detail?

I think you mean the inner circle which defines the centre of the RAB? Maybe some that are smaller need this defining for those who are slightly less observant?

Try Google Images if you like - might assist...

[christopherwk]

I think youre supposed to go round the white circles (if assuming they're solid lines), unless your vehicle is too large to go round them.

Just a guess?

[crr003]

I think youre supposed to go round the white circles (if assuming they're solid lines), unless your vehicle is too large to go round them.

Just a guess?

No need to guess - HC 164

[James]

I guess your an observer Robserver, and is it possible that this Sunday whilst out for a run you encountered such a roundabout and were asked questions about it?

Just a guess

[Gareth]

No need to guess - HC 164

I don't believe this matches the enquiry of the original poster. Mini-roundabouts are denoted by a filled circle of white paint, yet many also have extra markings, such as a surrounding unbroken white ring of paint. I think these extras are there because somebody thinks they look prettier, but I don't believe they have any significance in law.

Interestingly some mini-roundabouts (i.e. the white paint blob), are encircled by road surface of a different colour, typically red, and some advanced drivers are loathe to drive over the red area.

[MGF]

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/SI/si2002/023113ap.gif

Note 'Item 4'

'Permitted variants: none'

[crr003]

No need to guess - HC 164

I don't believe this matches the enquiry of the original poster.

Probably not - but it does answer the post of cristopherwk?

I've seen the red lane business in Fleet - I drive over it myself.

[MGF]

No need to guess - HC 164

I don't believe this matches the enquiry of the original poster.

Probably not - but it does answer the post of cristopherwk?

I've seen the red lane business in Fleet - I drive over it myself.

Interestingly the regulations have been amended to incorporate the Highway Code's allowance for large vehicles.

[SammyTheSnake]

There's an interesting junction near nuneaton, which unfortunately google maps has an out of date image of (it shows a T junction where there's now an interesting mini-ish roundabout) multimap's image is more recent, but too low resolution to show anything useful. this is where it is.

It's a mini roundabout with about a lane's worth of brickwork and a semi-curb around it. The curb is very small, about 3/4" high, a bit like a dropped curb. My driving instructor told me to not drive on it, but I couldn't help wondering what legal weight the arrangement actually has. I would love to hear what somebody with more intimate knowledge of the laws of the road thought...

Cheers & God bless
Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny
Come on, Al, you've been lurking too long, chip in!

[vonhosen]

There's an interesting junction near nuneaton, which unfortunately google maps has an out of date image of (it shows a T junction where there's now an interesting mini-ish roundabout) multimap's image is more recent, but too low resolution to show anything useful. this is where it is.

It's a mini roundabout with about a lane's worth of brickwork and a semi-curb around it. The curb is very small, about 3/4" high, a bit like a dropped curb. My driving instructor told me to not drive on it, but I couldn't help wondering what legal weight the arrangement actually has. I would love to hear what somebody with more intimate knowledge of the laws of the road thought...

Cheers & God bless
Sam "SammyTheSnake" Penny
Come on, Al, you've been lurking too long, chip in!

There will probably be an industrial estate etc nearby & the route used by large vehicles.
As far as HC etc is concerned you should make every effort to go around, not over the roundabout.

[Gareth]

As far as HC etc is concerned you should make every effort to go around, not over the roundabout.

The problem is working out the boundary of the roundabout, mini- or otherwise. Here is an example in St. Neots, where the mini-roundabout marking is clearly shown by the Google Maps photo, complete with arrow markings showing direction of travel, as per the markings in the link that MGF supplied, yet those arrows are on some reddish road surface. There is nothing in the Highway Code about not using the reddish road surface, yet many advanced drivers are paranoid about avoiding it.

[Gromit37]

There is a 'mini' roundabout in Watnall, Notts (in fact it is a very, very small proper roundabout with a raised kerb and a large chevron sign in the middle but about the same size a mini rab) that is surrounded by an area of sunken red bricks. They are level with the road surface. This makes it look much bigger than it really is. I believe that these are purely decorative, as there are no other markings.

So many people go round the outside of the red brick area, but it is much easier to cut across them. It's a strange design, but they must have had their reasons

[Big Err]

A mini roundabout must conform to the diagram in the Traffic Sign Regs, if it doesn't it technically not a mini roundabout therefore making the various mini roundabout offences void...........

Numerous designers who have installed mini roundabouts put in their own little variations without realising the legal implications.

Eric

[vonhosen]

There is a 'mini' roundabout in Watnall, Notts (in fact it is a very, very small proper roundabout with a raised kerb and a large chevron sign in the middle but about the same size a mini rab) that is surrounded by an area of sunken red bricks. They are level with the road surface. This makes it look much bigger than it really is. I believe that these are purely decorative, as there are no other markings.

So many people go round the outside of the red brick area, but it is much easier to cut across them. It's a strange design, but they must have had their reasons

The red brick area is seperate from the normal road surface. It's part of the roundabout.