Mini roundabouts and idiots.

[gambatte]

Most ‘incidents’ I’ve seen at RABs aren’t on RABs, they’re just before. Second driver thinks first driver’s going for it......
Although the most misses I’ve seen are at the A road approach to J1 of the M18. Drivers (avoiding the queuing traffic in the LH lane) drive up to the RAB in the right. Then stick on their left indicator and try to force their way into the first exit!

 

[confusedcyclist]

Why should a cyclist have to take a driving test?

While I don't agree it should be compulsory in the slightest, a theory test of the highway code might make people think twice about jumping red lights, mounting the pavement and generally aid in the understanding of the signage and markings of the road...

Perhaps this could even be taught in schools at 16?

 

[PedalCat]

... or every car stops and then none of them have the confidence to set off.

I had (almost) exactly this on Sunday; i was the driver who broke the ice by not stopping. I was amused to the point of laughter as 3 drivers sat and looked. And looked..

 

[Deleted member 1258]

I had (almost) exactly this on Sunday; i was the driver who broke the ice by not stopping. I was amused to the point of laughter as 3 drivers sat and looked. And looked..

I get this quite often on the mini roundabout on my commute at the top of Donnithorne Avenue, it would be amusing if it wasn't dangerous..

 

[mustang1]

Many thanks ears ago I was told the following about mini roundabouts by two separate driving instructors:

A. You can cross into the mini roundabout when turning (so you dontmhave to go round it).
B. You're not allowed to go back into the road you just entered from (meaning that a mini roundabout cannot be used as a place to do a u turn).

Idk if these things are true, or if they were at one time true but are no longer, but that's what I was told

 

[mustang1]

Anyone seen the mini roundabouts at Heathrow outside Barton cross station? Like 5 or so kinda joined together. Freaky.

 

[mustang1]

I know some in my local area that have been removed because of this - safer left as a T-Junction.

The other case that seems to lead to confusion is a mini rbt with only a blob of paint in the middle with 4 approach roads - all at 90 deg to each other and equally spaced

The issue I have with this is that you are supposed to give way to the traffic approaching from the right as on any normal rbt. However if traffic is at opposing sides of the mini rbt and both vehicles want to effectively turn right - both of you are to each other right by the same amount - who has right of way?

I also don't like turning right at one of these with a vehicle coming in exactly the opposite direction is going straight on. I'm never sure that they will stop.

The one with the bigger vehicle. In order: tractor/trailer lorry, bus, SUV, car,bike.
Exceptions: cement mixer trucks, skip trucks.

 

[Profpointy]

While I don't agree it should be compulsory in the slightest, a theory test of the highway code might make people think twice about jumping red lights, mounting the pavement and generally aid in the understanding of the signage and markings of the road...

Perhaps this could even be taught in schools at 16?

well I would hazard a guess that at least 99.99% of rlj-ers know full well they're not supposed to. And I dare say a good majority of pavement cyclist know they're not supposed to as well so not quite sure what a test'll achieve.

 

[confusedcyclist]

well I would hazard a guess that at least 99.99% of rlj-ers know full well they're not supposed to. And I dare say a good majority of pavement cyclist know they're not supposed to as well so not quite sure what a test'll achieve.

Hopefully that they are traffic offences that can result in a PCN, oh and they are putting little old ladies (and themselves) in harms way!

 

[benb]

Many thanks ears ago I was told the following about mini roundabouts by two separate driving instructors:

A. You can cross into the mini roundabout when turning (so you dontmhave to go round it).
B. You're not allowed to go back into the road you just entered from (meaning that a mini roundabout cannot be used as a place to do a u turn).

Idk if these things are true, or if they were at one time true but are no longer, but that's what I was told

Neither of those are true, with the caveat that you can only double back if you can make it round in one go - otherwise you'll be having to do a 3-point turn on a roundabout.

As far as I am aware they have never been true, but I may be wrong about that.

 

[jagman.2003]

Some drivers treat mini-roundabouts as 'right of way' junctions to cross in as direct a line to their exit as possible and get really aggressive, either that or every car stops and then none of them have the confidence to set off.

You must have been to Stroud then. Mini-roundabouts everywhere & no-one knows how to use them.

 

[marknotgeorge]

I know some in my local area that have been removed because of this - safer left as a T-Junction.

The other case that seems to lead to confusion is a mini rbt with only a blob of paint in the middle with 4 approach roads - all at 90 deg to each other and equally spaced

The issue I have with this is that you are supposed to give way to the traffic approaching from the right as on any normal rbt. However if traffic is at opposing sides of the mini rbt and both vehicles want to effectively turn right - both of you are to each other right by the same amount - who has right of way?

I also don't like turning right at one of these with a vehicle coming in exactly the opposite direction is going straight on. I'm never sure that they will stop.

Bit in bold:
The one that gets on the roundabout first. 'Give way to traffic from the right' means the traffic on the roundabout, not traffic on an approach road.

 

[wajc]

Bit in bold:
The one that gets on the roundabout first. 'Give way to traffic from the right' means the traffic on the roundabout, not traffic on an approach road.

I'm not sure if that is what is explicitly meant by 'Give way to traffic from the right'

'Give way to traffic approaching from the right' is the actual wording from the Highway Code'

For example

You wouldn't approach a rbt and look right to see a car approaching the same rbt from a road to your right but not actually on it. Then not take in to account their approach speed and the fact that the rbt is clear to their right and just pull on to the rbt anyway because they weren't actually on the rbt.

Surely you have just pulled out in front of them and if an accident had occurred where they had run in to the back/side of you I think you're on dodgy ground

 

[marknotgeorge]

I'm not sure if that is what is explicitly meant by 'Give way to traffic from the right'

'Give way to traffic approaching from the right' is the actual wording from the Highway Code'

For example

You wouldn't approach a rbt and look right to see a car approaching the same rbt from a road to your right but not actually on it. Then not take in to account their approach speed and the fact that the rbt is clear to their right and just pull on to the rbt anyway because they weren't actually on the rbt.

Surely you have just pulled out in front of them and if an accident had occurred where they had run in to the back/side of you I think you're on dodgy ground

Surely if they've hit the back or side of your vehicle, they were already on the roundabout by the time you crossed the give way line? It's all part of reading the road - anticipation and initiative.

 

[wajc]

Surely if they've hit the back or side of your vehicle, they were already on the roundabout by the time you crossed the give way line? It's all part of reading the road - anticipation and initiative.

Not necessarily, it would depend on the size of the rbt and the speeds involved.

With a mini rbt it will be more likely that you will give way to a car approaching the rbt from your right and not yet on the rbt as the distances involved between vehicles are much smaller.

This is exactly what happened as I negotiated a mini rbt this morning. I was to the other drivers right but not yet on the rbt, yet he still correctly gave way to me .

If he had not done this and pulled on to the rbt and took his exit (distance no more than a cars length and same exit as mine) with the incorrect view that as I wasn't technically yet on the rbt, he didn't need to give way, then he would have forced me to brake sharply at the very least. If he was on a driving test I would expect him to fail.