Roundabouts Hazard !

[airbrake]

I've been cycling regularly since the mid-'90s, but over the last couple of years I've noticed a big increase in near-misses on roundabouts. What happens is that I am on the roundabout and a vehicle will approach from the left and pull straight out.

Sometimes the vehicle cuts straight across in front of me which is scary enough... but the real terrors are the ones who pull onto the roundabout when I'm directly in front of them. Two incidents etched into my memory were a Volvo packed with people that came along a dual carriageway and entered the roundabout. I was about to be mown down, so I yanked the bike hard 90 degrees to the right and thankfully the car emergency stopped just behind me.

The other occasion was exactly the same scenario, with a car approaching fast from the left and this time the driver's head was turned facing the passenger. I knew what was going to happen - sure enough he made no attempt to check to his right, and pulled straight out. I braked and dived for the central island to avoid him. I remember the frowning expression on his face as he turned to look at me - what are you doing there...?

Unfortunately, despite my best evasive manoeuvres, I was hit by a Volvo on Monday night. It was the same situation. I was aware of the car being very close - headlights/ engine noise, so I put a huge effort into trying to get clear - but it wasn't enough and I felt contact through the rear wheel. A split-second later I was in the air and was thrown around 10 feet. I landed really hard on my right side, in the same place where I broke my hip 2 years ago. I somehow broke the fall to some extent by getting both hands to the floor to stop my head hitting the road.

My bright lights were still flashing away, but clearly they had been ineffective - the driver for whatever reason had not seen me... I moved slightly expecting a wave of pain, but there was none - just a stiffness and aching. I stood up and was amazed that my hip felt normal (I had been told that another impact on my repaired hip would mean a hip replacement). I can only put this down to the armoured undershorts I had decided to put on earlier - they had soaked up the full force

Pain did slowly arrive in my left wrist which I think I've fractured - a preliminary X ray was inconclusive, but apparently the next X ray in a couple of days will show for certain. I wouldn't want anyone to go through this experience, so please be extra vigilant at all junctions / roundabouts. Fit more / better lights, and I would say definitely look into padded shorts - they needn't be heavy (mine are very light).

I don't know what the answer is for drivers who don't pay attention - maybe the swift introduction of compulsory automatic braking systems that sense impending collisions.

Safe riding everyone.

 

[400bhp]

Glad you're relatively OK. @Fossyant will be along soon to tell you what you should be doing claim wise

In my opinion, roundabouts are perhaps the single most dangerous road obstacle for cyclists. I think the powers that be should look at the distribution of collisions involving cyclists at roundabouts and then look at ways to mitigate the risk. I do try and avoid roundabouts as much as I can but clearly that is not always possible.

 

[Sandra6]

Glad you're ok -ish. Hope the wrist heals quickly.
I had a near miss on a RAB recently, and have far too many close passes and almost incidents in the same spot. If I could avoid it I would. It's almost as if a high percentage of drivers don't recognise roundabouts at all.
Last night I had a car get way too close as I was trying to get in position at the RAB - I'd come from a side street so was in front of them as they approached on the road I turned onto. They clearly thought they could pass me, I very nearly kicked their headlights to prove the point of how much too close they were but decided just to shout at them instead.
They then decided to hug my wheel as I waited for the two cars in front to drive over the RAB.
Out of sheer pig headedness I was a little slower cycling over when it was clear to do so, but I still don't think they needed to pass me on the right as I did. Idiots!
I don't think it matters how visible you make yourself, there are always going to be idiot drivers who don't look, or don't care.

 

[sidevalve]

There is no answer to idiots, and you can't legislate for fools or [occasionally] genuine mistakes. As we have considered in another thread more and more "safety" devices simply give the driver a feeling of "if I cock it up the car will sort it out", which is sadly not quite true. I admit freely that now I often just give up and walk round the big junctions. A bit slower, and yes it is "chickening" out but it is sooo much less stressfull. Having been nearly side on-ed when on the bike, the m/cycle [which is much bigger] and the works car [which was white with red / yellow chevrons and reflectors] I don't think there is much you can do. I did notice however that some years ago when I had a m/cycle with a white fairing and a yelow stripe [oddly just like a police bike] the cars sort of seemed to notice me much better. Perhaps the answer is a few bicycle cops wondering around just to make 'em think [and look] twice.

 

[BSRU]

I have seen someone on a RAB pull out in front of a police care with it's lights and siren on, so it is a case of people not looking or not looking properly or often distracted by something "more" important.

 

[fossyant]

Glad you're relatively OK. @Fossyant will be along soon to tell you what you should be doing claim wise

In my opinion, roundabouts are perhaps the single most dangerous road obstacle for cyclists.

Ho hum.

I would agree that roundabouts are dodgy at best, and worse if you have to curcumnavigate them for more than a couple of junctions. This happened to me 4 years ago and I'm only just 'right' again this year. I was hit side on at about 30 mph, full reflectives, 10 lights about bike and rucksack, so you never can be sure. I do not however ride that roundabout in the same direction any more - I had to ride round it 270 degrees - now I'll come from a different direction and just ride 90 degrees or 1 junction if at all possible. The design of the road on the junction was that two dual carriageway lanes entered a small roundabout, supposed to be 30 mph, but the cars have mostly recently come off the motorway, and lets say when I ride down it at 30 on the bike, I'm passed at at least 50 mph.

A&E First (guess this has been done) - Also book GP appointment

Write down the details of the accident now - MS word etc. is useful. You will forget, and it's usefull some years later when you may have to refer to it to a medical professional on your case. Photograph damage to both you (bruises etc) and bike/clothing/equipment - you are entitled to replacements even if just scuffed up (e.g. I got bar ends, saddle, Quick Release skewers, XT pedals and a helmet replaced just because of scratches).

Contact Solicitor for Personal Injury - CTC and BC membership useful, but Russel Walker Jones (CTC), Leigh Day (BC) and Alison French are the main cycling solicitors.

Keep a log of injuries and visits to medical appointments.

Take bike to Bike Shop for assessment - you'll need a written quote even if you source the kit yourself.

Good Luck and take it easy.

 

[airbrake]

Interesting to read the replies, which tally with my own experiences. We are safe taking the first exit, but obviously the risk increases with every junction we pass. There seems to be so many more roundabouts these days, and admittedly they can work well (provided everyone drives correctly), but we always come off worst when things go wrong. As Sandra mentions, some drivers don't recognise them as junctions where they are obliged to give way - they are seen as an opportunity to 'make up time'. I remember when I was almost knocked off by a 4X4 being driven aggressively - when I caught up the driver she said "I am so sorry, but I am late" !

Roundabouts are actually a 'low cost / maintenance' solution, but they need to be re-thought - how about an intelligent sensor that can recognise the slim profile of an approaching cyclist or motor-cyclist. This would trigger extra lights on the island / road signs to flash. Thinking of sensors, it could be a strip across the road that identifies a bike's short wheelbase using the small interval as it passes. A speeding car would then also trip the same warning....

Thanks fossyant for your good advice - I hadn't contacted my doctor, but did so straight away. That's terrible being hit at 30 mph side-on. I would say the speed of the car that hit me was around 10 mph, and that was bad enough. It really has made me think about trying to avoid these places, and I can understand all who are doing the same. We deserve something better than this !

 

[Tim Hall]

A year ago today I had what I presume was a similar experience. Trouble is I'm missing a good two hours memory, despite not losing consciousness, with my first recollection being in A&E with a nice blonde nurse holding my hand. But, yes, details were similar, 2nd exit on a (poorly laid out) roundabout, hit from the side/rear by a motorist rushing from Tesco's. Police and ambulance in attendance, claret all over the place. Bike totalled. Driver wasn't prosecuted.

Were the police called to your incident? They should have been. CTC member? Get onto them and their solicitors Russell Jones and Walker. Get compensation for your injuries and damage to your bike.

Oh, get well soon too.

 

[lulubel]

Sorry to hear about your crash, and I hope you make a full recovery soon.

Mine was in February this year, when I was taking the second exit and a small van pulled onto the roundabout in front of me - the driver didn't even attempt to look - and I couldn't avoid it. Since then, I won't cross in front of a vehicle waiting to join until I've made eye contact with the driver, which is surprisingly difficult when so many of them aren't actually looking. There are a lot of roundabouts here, so they're impossible to avoid.

 

[summerdays]

I prefer roundabouts to slip roads. I have to cross a couple on my commute, one I've taken to coming off at and doing the roundabout instead. This morning as I was going to pass the joining slip road I could see this little old lady looking straight ahead towards where she about to go onto the dual carriageway rather than to her right where I was. So I slowed down and looked at the next person who did make eye contact and slow down.

 

[compo]

I'm a coward. There are some roundabouts that mostly I wont ride round but get off and walk round. This is because I lack the speed to pull onto a roundabout in a really positive manner. If I can approach the roundabout and see it is fairly clear and can join it without stopping then I will but otherwise I get off the bike. The crazy thing is when crossing a dual carraigeway at a RB, and waiting in the central refuge, people often stop and wave me across but can't wait when passing the road on the roundabout.

 

[Matthew_T]

I used to have to negotiate three large roundabouts on my old training route.

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...d=Y_FeklwHlcKI9PgQypFPng&cbp=12,343.3,,0,9.41
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...=JcrRXuL4Ajs4uNGApD257g&cbp=12,327.86,,0,3.56
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...=UFy_JyndaMezm2NYYqO44Q&cbp=12,339.83,,0,0.18

I have now changed and use the coast a lot more. So I now have to negotiate these:

https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...=2MxPwTu4qFeGfqKXA4VJ1A&cbp=12,334.57,,0,0.18
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=rh...d=NgzI4lxhwOyksoV06jX2FQ&cbp=12,59.29,,0,2.01

The main reason I changed my route was that I was having loads of near misses on roundabouts. Most of these people negotiate at anout 40mph. The smaller ones mean that I am less vulnerable.

 

[Big boy]

Hi Airbrake hope you get better quickly, but.
How come you are involved in so many crashes near misses etc, where are you riding??
We all know riding anything on 2 wheels is dangerous , but if i had that many incidents i would park the bike up for good.

 

[airbrake]

Tim, it was exactly the same with me - side / rear impact. I take it you must have had a blow to the head to lose a couple of hours, and I hope you recovered well.

I'm not sure I did the right thing - the driver and his wife did everything to help me, and he was clearly upset and bitterly regretted his actions. He said that he would make good all losses and offered to take me to hospital. I know there are uninsured drivers out there, so I asked if he was insured and he froze... he was insured, but wanted to 'come to an arrangement'.

His wife said 'I think we need to call the Police'. The pain from my wrist was kicking in and I said I think I've fractured it.I knew the Police should attend, but at the end of the day they couldn't undo what had happened. I said alright, and again the man froze. He said we'll take you and the bike home and you can call the Police, or we'll take you to Hospital. We went to my relatives about half a mile away and got he bike out. Again, his wife said the Police should be called. He wanted to take a picture of the bike, and I remembered my camera was in my backpack - I took it out and it was broken. Again, he said he would settle everything.

I'm sure everyone here will be thinking his wife was the only person with any sense... but I thought if I can avoid all the hassle of paperwork and get the compensation I am due to, then I will do so. All his ID and details were genuine, and he seems sincere in putting everything right. At present, he has agreed to pay for the damage (nothing received yet), but compensation for my injury has yet to be discussed. The way I look at it is that if I am not happy with the offer, I will pursue a claim on his insurance. Tomorrow I will have the second X ray which should reveal what has happened.

The driver actually contacted the Police the day after the incident, and they said they would not act unless the cyclist had been injured. Obviously he didn't tell them the full picture. He also contacted his insurance company, informed them of the accident and asked if he could settle with me. They said his premium would not be affected if he settled it this way.

At present, I feel if i get a decent offer I will accept and hopefully everything can be cleared up pretty quickly.

 

[airbrake]

Sorry to hear about your crash, and I hope you make a full recovery soon.

Mine was in February this year, when I was taking the second exit and a small van pulled onto the roundabout in front of me - the driver didn't even attempt to look - and I couldn't avoid it. Since then, I won't cross in front of a vehicle waiting to join until I've made eye contact with the driver, which is surprisingly difficult when so many of them aren't actually looking. There are a lot of roundabouts here, so they're impossible to avoid.

lulubel, sad to hear of another similar incident, I hope you made a full recovery. I do the same regarding eye contact, but sometimes if there is a vehicle following me onto the roundabout, I am worried about slowing down and being hit from behind. We have to take in so much information from these situations (my dad refers to RAB 'dodgems'). I've noticed the worst for 'tailgating' on roundabouts are lorries followed by buses - and I know for sure that if I brake hard, these vehicles wouldn't be able to stop in time. But yes, I do think it's best to make eye contact.