Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

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geofftswin
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Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by geofftswin »

So, driving into Reading today along the A3290. When you get to the junction with the A4, there are two lanes on the sliproad (plus the bus lane).

The A4 has 2 lanes going into Reading.

Most of the traffic uses the left lane on the sliproad to turn into the left lane on the A4, whilst most traffic in the right lane turns right and heads up towards Shepherds Hill.

There are some cars however that use the left lane to move into the right lane into Reading and also some cars that turn left into the right lane towards Reading - which invariably means that you get a car in both lanes on the sliproad aiming for the same spot on the A4.

Given there are no lane markings, who is correct?
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jervi
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by jervi »

Presume you are referring to this approach.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.45383 ... 384!8i8192

Follow the basic rules we are all taught. Left lane for 12 o'clock and before, Right lane for after 12 o'clock. Unless a designed lane sign (or sometimes markings on their own) show.

Here there are no designated lane markings or sign, so we have to use the ADS (Advance Directional Sign) provided. It shows the first and second exit at or before 12 o'clock, therefor it would be very unwise to use the right lane to go left as traffic from the left lane could take the second exit. Although the second exit is just re-entering the dual carriageway, so not many people would take that exit. Someone from the left lane could somewhat take a right turn thou, since there are two lanes on the 3rd arm too.

Those taking a left from the right lane IMO would be liable mostly for an incident if they collided with someone in the left lane going ahead.
WHBM
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by WHBM »

That's easy, in the absence of lane markings one defaults back to the Highway Code for a roundabout, which for this shows :

Left lane approach - left and straight on. As nothing goes straight on, it would use the flyover, it's left turn.
Right lane approach similar - right and straight on. Nothing going straight on, so it's right turners.

Get onto the roundabout, if unmarked, one can Weave there. That's what roundabouts are designed to do (spiral lane markers please note). If one is going against the rules above, it's incumbent on you to weave safely with other traffic.
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FosseWay
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by FosseWay »

Basically, what the others said. That, in the absence of direct instructions about which lane goes where, is presumably the designers' intention.

But it's not actively antisocial or illegal to use the right lane on the approach and leave the roundabout at the first exit in the right lane, given that both have two and neither has specific lane instructions, providing as said above you're very aware of traffic going straight on in the left lane.

One thing I would mention is that changing lanes on the roundabout or just after exiting it probably isn't a good idea. You will be doing this while turning (and it's best to do one thing at a time where possible), which means your blind spots will be larger or different from normal. Other people will be more distracted than normal. On the roundabout, you have half the time to do the lane change (90 degrees) than you would for the right-to-left-lane change you'd do if you were turning right, and moreover it's a manoeuvre that other people aren't expecting. Also, how do you signal your intention with enough time to be useful without giving other drivers the false impression that you've changed your mind and are going straight on/right? You can't signal left (to leave the roundabout) and right (to change lanes to overtake) at the same time. Some jurisdictions add solid lines between lanes through and/or just after major intersections (lights and roundabouts) to stop people doing just this.

So: ideally approach and leave in the left lane throughout. But regardless, if you are approaching and leaving in a situation where entry and exit have the same number of lanes and that number is >1, you should exit in the same lane you entered in. Don't do unnecessary lane changes in the middle of intersections. And if you find yourself unable to turn left from the right lane because people are going straight on from the left lane, just do a circuit of the roundabout.
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SussexMan
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by SussexMan »

jervi wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 21:23Follow the basic rules we are all taught. Left lane for 12 o'clock and before, Right lane for after 12 o'clock. Unless a designed lane sign (or sometimes markings on their own) show.
But the wording of the Highway Code doesn't say that:
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.
So the Highway Code gives instructions "select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout".
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trickstat
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by trickstat »

SussexMan wrote: Tue Aug 02, 2022 06:35
jervi wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 21:23Follow the basic rules we are all taught. Left lane for 12 o'clock and before, Right lane for after 12 o'clock. Unless a designed lane sign (or sometimes markings on their own) show.
But the wording of the Highway Code doesn't say that:
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.
So the Highway Code gives instructions "select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout".
I suspect this may be vague to cover those situations where lanes are, because of traffic volumes, marked in a way that doesn't fit the 12 o'clock 'rule'.
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FosseWay
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Re: Question about lanes on roundabout approaches

Post by FosseWay »

SussexMan wrote: Tue Aug 02, 2022 06:35
jervi wrote: Mon Aug 01, 2022 21:23Follow the basic rules we are all taught. Left lane for 12 o'clock and before, Right lane for after 12 o'clock. Unless a designed lane sign (or sometimes markings on their own) show.
But the wording of the Highway Code doesn't say that:
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.
So the Highway Code gives instructions "select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout".
:? Dunno if I'm missing something, but what jervi said and what you've quoted from the HC don't contradict each other, and given the lack of specific lane signage in the case in question, they reinforce what others have said, which is that the best course of action is to approach in L1 and leave in L1 if you're turning left.

The grey area really only applies to roundabouts with more than four exits, or a "straight on" that happens to be beyond 12 o'clock but where there is a further "right" exit. And, as the HC says, any specific signage overrides the generic advice.
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