There is a roundabout nearby that I regularly use and there seems to be confusion over which lane to approach in. Coming from the west road, and exiting to the exit on the east but the 2nd lane. I reckon that this is the 3rd exit and as such I always take the right lane for the approach and indicate left when appropriate, but I have had times where cars approach from the same road as me but take the left lane for the exit. Any ideas?

Google maps of the roundabout: http://g.co/maps/j269t

Always the right hand lane if past 12 oclock if it was a clock face.

If there are 2 lanes on the exit then you can take either lane or lanes 2 and 3 if it is a 3 lane junction.

Unmarked lanes and your going straight on, doesnt the highway code say unless marked use the left hand lane to go straight over?

:think:

Slightly OT but how do I link to a specific picture on maps? Ta

Unmarked lanes and your going straight on, doesnt the highway code say unless marked use the left hand lane to go straight over?

:think:

Slightly OT but how do I link to a specific picture on maps? Ta

Ah Mis-read.... some coming from a334 continuing on a334.....That is 2nd exit not 3rd so left hand lane but technically can use either as there are 2 lanes off the island.

Slightly OT but how do I link to a specific picture on maps? Ta

on the left hand side next to the print button there is a little chainlink. Click this and you can create a link like the shortened one above.

Try these ones around Worcester - has always had me perplexed!

When approaching from the east (Hams Way to Grove Way) the road markings split the left lane in to two (http://g.co/maps/nentx) and the exit is pretty much opposite the entrance but at the next roundabout along the ring road (http://g.co/maps/cmvms) Grove Way goes to the A44 Bromyard Road (at about 11 O'Clock - so not opposite) but it splits the right lane in to two!

What would be the 'correct' lane to approach these roundabouts and why the conflicting road markings?

Both roundabouts have three exits (as well as the entrance) and are similar layouts...

What to do?

on the left hand side next to the print button there is a little chainlink. Click this and you can create a link like the shortened one above.

Thank you, dunno how I missed that lol

Try these ones around Worcester - has always had me perplexed!

When approaching from the east (Hams Way to Grove Way) the road markings split the left lane in to two (http://g.co/maps/nentx) and the exit is pretty much opposite the entrance but at the next roundabout along the ring road (http://g.co/maps/cmvms) Grove Way goes to the A44 Bromyard Road (at about 11 O'Clock - so not opposite) but it splits the right lane in to two!

What would be the 'correct' lane to approach these roundabouts and why the conflicting road markings?

Both roundabouts have three exits (as well as the entrance) and are similar layouts...

What to do?

If I were travelling east to west i`d just use the middle lane on both entrances. 3 Exits, 3 lanes. I`v got one that will have you all stumped in a min lol

I tend to use the middle lane, but so many people don't know which lane splits at which roundabout and get caught out due to the inconsistency (and quite a few just not knowing how to drive aware of other road users).

There was the time I nearly beeped an unmarked police car at the second (western) roundabout while traveling east to west who was in the left lane taking the second exit. Had I not seen the camera on the rear parcel shelf and the extra little lights on the rear, I would have done as I feel that the left lane should be for the first exit only.

Three exits and three lanes!

But is this correct?

I personally would use that rule, because none of the exits are duel either, all single carriageway. Looking at street view, the left hand lane is clearly only to take the first exit, i`d have beeped the old bill lol.

Differing approach signs, poor lane markings on approach, narrow lane exits from roundabouts, roundabout road lane directions all contribute to problems.

Add a confused driver, speedsters and correctly driven vehicle throw's in more chaos.

All I can say do what you think is the safest route to enter and exit a roundabout, and be aware of everything around your vehicle.

Assuming two lane approach and exits, (I was told as others know), the left lane for lanes up to twelve o'clock, at twelve o'clock use of both lanes, after twelve o'clock the right lane thereafter, and enter into outside lane, on exit.

Confusing init. LOL

There are so many strange lane markings and indications on UK roads that it would be interesting to know how many civil engineers actually drive the routes they plan. The number of lanes that have straight ahead arrows on them which become turn only lanes as you get to a junction a few metres down the road is incredible.

Just one example a new roundabout near the RIcoh Arena in Coventry, within one month of it being in place there were so many complaints from drivers (and driving instructors) that the Council had to redo the road markings.

There's one near me which can be quite dangerous in heavy traffic, I actually emailed the council about it once and they decided not to do anything about it. I might take a snapshot of it off Google Maps and see if people here agree with me or with the majority of people...

edit - http://imgur.com/a/5vPR0#0 is the one in question. 99% of people go from the middle lane on the approaching junction to the middle lane on the island, cutting across the white lines without using indicators. Whereas as I see it, the left lane on the approach is straight onto the M1 (it's the only lane that's marked, and it's only marked "M1(N)") so can be ignored, the central lane could also be used for getting onto the M1 in the second lane, and should go into the left lane on the island, and the right hand lane on the approach goes to the right hand lane to the island which also then splits off into the central lane. I'm curious now as to how other sensible drivers read it.

Edited 12 March, 201214 yr by gac

If you think they are bad... Search 'Magic Roundabout Swindon' in google...

On the roundabouts near me it is very common to have people take the left lane to turn right and the right lane to turn left!! Also have sat behind people waiting at the entry to a roundabout with all entrys waiting for someone else to go first with no one actually on the roundabout.

I have had numerous near misses with people cutting me up or shooting out onto the roundabout while I am on it. Have learnt to be extremely cautious at all times now. Really need to get an old battered Land Rover and do what I want as I'm sure all the idiots in their nice cars will think twice about challenging a battle scarred vehicle!

We're East-bound on the A334 yes? On this presumption, I'd only take the Lh lane on approach if I wanted to go down the sliproad to Botley Road (Mayflower Park industrial  estate?).

Either lane, do not signal on entry, but signal left after passing exit 1 (Botley Road WNW past the Codfather).

If you think they are bad... Search 'Magic Roundabout Swindon' in google...

Pah, piece of cake..

I'll point out, as I did on another forum when this discussion surfaced, that there is no "correct" lane for going straight ahead at a roundabout. HC rule 186 says:

When taking any intermediate exit' date=' unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

•select the [b']appropriate[/b] (my bold) lane on approach to the roundabout

•you should not normally need to signal on approach

•stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout

•signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it.

Nowhere does it say "The appropriate lane when leaving the roundabout at an exit before / after 12 o'clock is the left / right lane". You are meant to exercise your own judgement. The "safer" choice *for an exit at 12 o'clock* is the left hand lane, but there is no "right" or "wrong". Any such "rules of thumb" are just that, local custom, rules of thumb, folklore, call them what you will.

*Edited for clarity

You are meant to exercise your own judgement. The "safer" choice is the left hand lane, but there is no "right" or "wrong". Any such "rules of thumb" are just that, local custom, rules of thumb, folklore, call them what you will.

Thanks for the official line on this - perhaps it should be down to the local councils to mark their roads consistently and clearly so that the ambiguity does not exist, even if local 'rules of thumb' differ from region to region otherwise foreigners (read that as being any people outside of the local area) will not know what the 'local customs' are!

Don't thank me - thank the DfT. I think the issue is that people are taught in a particular way by others who have been taught the same thing in the past. ADIs are presumably mainly responsible. Whether they have some official "guidebook" that suggests they teach by this rule of thumb, I don't know.

I meant to edit that post a little before releasing it but the forum software wouldn't let me last night - when originally used it was in response to a question about an exit directly ahead at 12 o'clock, hence my suggestion that maybe left was a safer choice. For 1 o'clock, it may be that right is better, or still left, depending on the positions and sizes of the other exits.

One roundabout locally signed on the way down to it straight on and left in the left hand lane and turn right on the motorway in the right hand lane.

What a lot of people round here do is to go into the left lane to turn right onto the motorway instead a waiting for a few seconds.

To the OP

No legal issue in using lane 2 to lane 2 BUT as the exit lanes lead to seperate destinations then anyone in lane 1 could also legally go from lane 1 to lanes 1 or 2 and therefore it could cause conflict