ROUNDABOUT DISCIPLINE
Posted: Mon Feb 20, 2012 9:53 pm
Hi
This is my first post on this forum, so go easy on me please. I'm interested to know other advanced drivers views on roundabout discipline (or lack of), in particular on what appears to be a growing trend on some roundabouts about the choice of lane some drivers are making when making a right turn exit (not an intermediate one).
There's a four junction roundabout I know locally (Hedge End in Southampton) where each junction is 90 degrees to each other and with the exception of my 12 o'clock opposite exit, all the others have two lanes approaching and exiting, as part of the 40 mph dual carriage way system. I regularly approach this roundabout to make a 90 degree right turn to exit along the dual carriage way and approach the roundabout in the right hand lane naturally).However on numerous occasions I have encountered other vehicles approaching in the left hand lane only to go around the roundabout to the right and exit the same junction as myself. In doing so I am forced to use the outside exit lane of the dual carriage way when exiting the roundabout and are thus prevented from 'filtering across' to the nearside lane as I pass the exit before mine.
There are no lane markings on approach to this roundabout from any direction, or on the roundabout itself and whilst some approach lanes are busier than others there are no signs to indicate both lanes to be used when turning right (as some roundabouts do).
A few years ago when I was an 'Observer / Demo driver' for our local I.A.M group I would regularly use this area to highlight lane discipline as well as getting associates to 'make progress', when using opposite junctions on roundabouts but would never advocate making a '90 degree right turn' exit on a roundabout by using the left hand approach lane.
Have I missed something here regarding lane discipline, or could it be that some drivers are 'making progress' by using the quieter left hand lane and thereby 'jumping the queue' ? If they get to the right hand exit before me, have they 'undertaken' me, by passing me on my nearside? If they remained in my nearside 'blind sector' around the roundabout and I 'filtered' over into the nearside lane across their path, who's to blame?
Your thoughts please.
This is my first post on this forum, so go easy on me please. I'm interested to know other advanced drivers views on roundabout discipline (or lack of), in particular on what appears to be a growing trend on some roundabouts about the choice of lane some drivers are making when making a right turn exit (not an intermediate one).
There's a four junction roundabout I know locally (Hedge End in Southampton) where each junction is 90 degrees to each other and with the exception of my 12 o'clock opposite exit, all the others have two lanes approaching and exiting, as part of the 40 mph dual carriage way system. I regularly approach this roundabout to make a 90 degree right turn to exit along the dual carriage way and approach the roundabout in the right hand lane naturally).However on numerous occasions I have encountered other vehicles approaching in the left hand lane only to go around the roundabout to the right and exit the same junction as myself. In doing so I am forced to use the outside exit lane of the dual carriage way when exiting the roundabout and are thus prevented from 'filtering across' to the nearside lane as I pass the exit before mine.
There are no lane markings on approach to this roundabout from any direction, or on the roundabout itself and whilst some approach lanes are busier than others there are no signs to indicate both lanes to be used when turning right (as some roundabouts do).
A few years ago when I was an 'Observer / Demo driver' for our local I.A.M group I would regularly use this area to highlight lane discipline as well as getting associates to 'make progress', when using opposite junctions on roundabouts but would never advocate making a '90 degree right turn' exit on a roundabout by using the left hand approach lane.
Have I missed something here regarding lane discipline, or could it be that some drivers are 'making progress' by using the quieter left hand lane and thereby 'jumping the queue' ? If they get to the right hand exit before me, have they 'undertaken' me, by passing me on my nearside? If they remained in my nearside 'blind sector' around the roundabout and I 'filtered' over into the nearside lane across their path, who's to blame?
Your thoughts please.