Dodgems

Please can you explain to me where I am going wrong? Yesterday, whilst driving around a roundabout, a car came from my off side, (I was travelling around on the left hand lane) and attempted to access an exit road on my left. Needless to say he collided with the front offside of my car. The driver then proceeded to lecture me that he was in the right to 'dive across the roundabout to his exit lane'. I have noticed this phenomenon regularly over the last couple of years, but, it now seems to be the norm. Is it a new system of negotiating roundabouts, or, am I out of touch with modern driving techniques.? I've held a licence since 1959 and never been involved in a serious incident before. I feel that the driving standards now are leading to many more dangerous incidents on our roads, or am I being just a Grumbling Wrinkly.

Asked on 5 June 2010 by MH, Old Harlow

Answered by Honest John

The general rule for a 3 exit roundabout is left hand lane for 1st and 2nd exits. Right hand lane for 2nd and 3rd exits. I almost always use the left hand lane if taking the 2nd exit, but remain aware of pushy drivers in the right hand lane going for the same exit and watch out for them.
If you intended taking the 3rd exit, then the left hand lane was wrong and would have confused other drivers. Your defence against this would be to signal right until you reached the exit you wanted to take, then signal left to show anyone coming out of that road where you wanted to go.

Tags: highway code roundabouts driving driving techniques

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