Roundabout ways

I saw your explanation of indicator etiquette at roundabouts, but felt that it was rather vague and didn’t really answer the question as to which approach lane you should be in. My interest stems from the growing practice of people intending to 'cross the roundabout', whereby they indicate right and move to the right hand lane on approaching the roundabout, then hug the centre of the roundabout before suddenly changing from right hand indicator to left hand indicator and veering across the front of vehicles that have actually traversed the roundabout correctly. The rules are:
WHEN TAKING THE FIRST EXIT:
* signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
* keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave.
WHEN TAKING ANY INTERMEDIATE EXIT:
* do not signal on the approach to the roundabout
* approach in the left-hand lane or centre lane on a three-lane road (on a two-lane road you may approach in the right-hand lane if the left-hand lane is blocked)
* 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 TAKING THE LAST EXIST OR GOING FULL CIRCLE:
* 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.

Asked on 7 August 2010 by AM, Chippenham

Answered by Honest John

Thank you. These rules are pretty much what I wrote, though, of course, my editors did not have room for all of it. Unfortunately, your 2nd exit rule does allow for vehicles to use the right lane for the 2nd exit then cut across vehicles that have used the left lane for the 2nd exit, which is what you complain of. The rule should be that if coming off a multi-lane road, but leaving via a single lane 2nd exit you take the left lane. But if you are unfamiliar with the road you may not know that the 2nd exit is single lane. As always, common sense beats a rulebook, and if someone cuts across you to take the 2nd exit, be prepared for it and let him. Then no metal gets bent and no one gets angry.

Tags: roundabouts driving driving techniques

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