Guys just wondering what the rules are like in Uk & Europe for Roundabout usage. I always thought that if not marked (on 4 way roundabout) that Left lane was for 1st & 2nd Exit, and Right lane was for 2nd, 3rd & 4th

BUT below is being advertised in Ireland now.

Going straight ahead;

You may follow the course shown in the illustration by the broken red line in situations where:

the left-hand lane is only for turning left or is blocked or closed, or

when directed by a Garda.

Stay in the left-hand lane, but do not indicate "left" until you have passed the first exit. Where conditions dictate otherwise, you may follow the course shown by the broken red line.

From Roundabouts Ireland

The highway code basically says left lane for left and straight on, right lane to turn right unless otherwise directed by signs or road markings. See my next post for the long version!!

Edited 9 November, 200916 yr by Yella

Found it on the Government website:

186

Signals and position.

When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

- signal left and approach in the left-hand lane

- keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

- signal right and approach in the right-hand lane

- keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout

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

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

- select the appropriate 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.

See here: Roundabouts (184-190) : Directgov - Travel and transport

The highway code says left lane for left and straight on, right lane to turn right unless otherwise directed by signs or road markings.

So there is really no need for a 2nd lane coming off a roundabout as it will seldom be used. Must say for the last 12 years I used the (Right Lane for Straight on and never had any issues or tips, apart for a Left Lane). Can anyone give a reason why the rule is like that?

Near where I live Left lane is bus lane but prior to roundabouts opens to all traffic, after roundabout Left Lane is open to all traffic then turns to a bus lane. So which lane should be used to take 2nd exit?

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

- select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout

This doesn't really answer the specific question if you get me as it doesn't mention which lane you "should" be in.

The rest of it says about "When taking the first exit to the left" OR "When taking an exit to the right"

Btw I see the picture above ain't working, check out the Link then look under "Going straight ahead;"

No I know. The highway code can be evasive sometimes.

If there are two lanes coming off the roundabout then sometimes it is acceptable to be in the right hand lane and go straight on if you leave in the outside lane. Most larger roundabouts have road markings saying where you should be anyway.

I think the general concept is that people turning right will be travelling the slowest as they are cornering for longer. People turning left are out of the way quickly so for those travelling straight on it is easier to make progress in the left lane.

No I know. The highway code can be evasive sometimes.

If there are two lanes coming off the roundabout then sometimes it is acceptable to be in the right hand lane and go straight on if you leave in the outside lane. Most larger roundabouts have road markings saying where you should be anyway.

I suppose it's marked on the bigger ones as straight on is probably the most used so best use 2 lanes to serve. But It's the ones without the markings I'd be more concerned about as it's probably more likely to have an accident due to the unknown.

I must have a look at the book at home that I learned to drive with, IIRC it's not as damning of the right lane for straight on as the initial post mentions.

I think the general concept is that people turning right will be travelling the slowest as they are cornering for longer. People turning left are out of the way quickly so for those travelling straight on it is easier to make progress in the left lane.

Thats a good enough reason for me, although taking 3rd exit people will/should have right indicator on so you will expect slowing.

Unless road signs & markings state otherwise... Exits left of 12 o'clock - left lane. Exits right of 12 o'clock, right lane & move into the left lane after passing the exit before your exit.

However in my daily Leeds/Bradford commute, it would seem that those already on a roundabout have to give way to cars entering & if you use your horn, flash your lights & shout "*****", it's ok to use the left lane if the exit you want is at 9 o'clock & the right lane if you're taking the first exit - these rules are subject to change on a minute by minute basis too!

Simbo

You've got an Octy, just press & hold the "mini-cab" button....

(it's on the steering wheel)

it delays your indicators until after any movement.

it folds your mirrors in as you don't need them!

it gives you automatic right of way at all times*

Its the best feature for city driving.

*some bus / van drivers might not respect your priority

When I learned to drive the UK HC was as per the link (with the note that a LH lane traffic queue on a road which has 2 lanes entering and leaving the roundabout would consititute the road being blocked for traffic going ahead). As above it's now rather more vague when going ahead.

Why so many threads on roundabouts lately? Looking at the Highway code rules they are quiet clear to me and have always been the same.

Colm You know that roundabouts are a free for all in Ireland dont ya!!! ?

K:)

Some RB's abroad those on it must give way to those joining.

Spain and Portugal do this IIRC.

Just to complicate things. What about this one.

:eek:

It's Swindon's Magic Roundabout. Pic from the BBC. According to Wikipedia there are three other like that in the UK.

/\ - Dead easy in principle; treat as 5 separate minis.

Just to complicate things. What about this one.

:eek:

It's Swindon's Magic Roundabout. Pic from the BBC. According to Wikipedia there are three other like that in the UK.

I have one of the others 1/2mile from me, http://blogs.fayobserver.com/faytoz/files/2009/03/sadlers-farm.JPG the good thing about it traffic can move around it in two different directions depending how busy it is and if an accident occurs at any point you can always take the other route. The bad thing is the County Council are getting rid of it in the next couple of years and substituting the ring junction for a conventional roundabout and an underpass.

Some RB's abroad those on it must give way to those joining.

Spain and Portugal do this IIRC.

Yes, that has always confused me, everyone can get onto the roundabout but no one can get off , must be a big heap of cars in the middle.

Did you know the, 30 years ago the UK were the only country in Europe to have roundabouts, its only recently they have been built, probably the the only export from here for years. I do however remember just 1 roundabout existed, in the 60's just outside Calais docks and my dad was a bit confused as you had to drive the wrong way around it, his words.

Some RB's abroad those on it must give way to those joining.

Spain and Portugal do this IIRC.

So does NL, which once led to a situation where I was in a traffic jam consisting of 6 cars and one bus (which I was a passenger on).

There is a local roundabout that annoys me.

The second exit is actually over to the right, but the sign prior to the roundabout shows the second exit as being straight ahead.

Most people stay in the left hand lane & go all the way round. However, I don't. I move to the right lane, indicate right & go around in the right lane.

Which do you think is correct?

There is a local roundabout that annoys me.

The second exit is actually over to the right, but the sign prior to the roundabout shows the second exit as being straight ahead.

Most people stay in the left hand lane & go all the way round. However, I don't. I move to the right lane, indicate right & go around in the right lane.

Which do you think is correct?

You're ok, because what you're doing doesn't actually place you in conflict with a local convention. OTOH I was taught that the second exit was "straight on", irrespective of where it was relative to a diameter drawn through your approach road.

OTOH I've regularly used one with 3 exits, placed at 3, 6 and 12 o'clock. If you were approaching from 6 (2 lane approach) and leaving at 3, local convention was to treat the manoevre as a right turn

There is a local roundabout that annoys me.

The second exit is actually over to the right, but the sign prior to the roundabout shows the second exit as being straight ahead.

Most people stay in the left hand lane & go all the way round. However, I don't. I move to the right lane, indicate right & go around in the right lane.

Which do you think is correct?

This is a perfect example of knowledge being a dangerous thing. If the sign shows it as being straight on then it should be treated as straight on. You need to remember that some drivers may be approaching the roundabout for the first time. Without prior knowledge all they have to go on is the signs.

Your actions would be correct if there were no signs or road markings as the exit is to the right of 12 o'clock, however if there was an accident the highway code is used to establish liability. Therefore those behaving as the signs indicate that they should, would be classed as being in the right. You may have an argument that the signage is incorrect therefore the council should be held somewhat liable but I wouldn't like to try and argue that one at court.

I've done the RB in Tampa bay shortly after it was introduced.

Fricking hilarious watching locals try to figure it out. So many crashes they put lights on it now I think.

Why so many threads on roundabouts lately? Looking at the Highway code rules they are quiet clear to me and have always been the same.

As mentioned above in Post 5, the rules in the UK leave the Straight on part a bit vague "- select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout "...so where does it mention the appropiate one.

In Ireland it's now being less vague, Going straight ahead; You may follow the course shown in the illustration by the broken red line in situations where: the left-hand lane is only for turning left or is blocked or closed.

I still think it would be best Left lane was for 1st & 2nd Exit, and Right lane was for 2nd, 3rd & 4th. At the end of the day if Roundabouts Marked with 2 straight on arrows work with it then why not just make it the standard.