Wrong Lane

wreckedit · 12 Dec 2010

I was told by a copper that the road around a roundabout is the same as the road itself.

So, drivers who pull over to the right on a clear road to go straight on at a roundabout only to go to the left again afterwards are plonkettes. No wonder they are confused when I stay in the left lane.

^woody^ · 12 Dec 2010

How is going all the way around the roundabout and then coming off at the required exit wrong? It is merely exiting the roundabout

You are thinking of using the right lane to approach the roundabout and then cutting into the left lane on the roundabout to go straight on

crockett · 12 Dec 2010

^woody^ said:
How is going all the way around the roundabout and then coming off at the required exit wrong? It is merely exiting the roundabout

You are thinking of using the right lane to approach the roundabout and then cutting into the left lane on the roundabout to go straight on

I don't think it is an offence is it? As long as you are on the roundabout you have right of way I would have thought. If I was in a hurry I'd do it too.

Daz66 · 12 Dec 2010

Bahco said:
Remember.............. there is no mercy from the police and they will book you without a second thought if you have commited an offence!

No, your wrong there I'm afraid. I have been stopped on two occasions for speeding and in both cases was let off with a warning.

The first was late at night where I exceeded the national speed limit by some way on a dual carriageway and was followed into a petrol station by a marked traffic car, after a few questions and a chat they said to be carefull and moved off.

The second was for doing 38mph in a 30moh zone, I expalined that I was chatting with my son who was excited after a swimming lesson and wasn't paiying attention to the speed I was doing but concentrating more on the road. My details were taken and told if I was caught again in the next six months that I would probably be fined!

Police officers do use their discresion on many occasions but only if you approach them correctly and own up to the mistake

Bahco · 12 Dec 2010

Daz66 said:
Police officers do use their discretion on many occasions but only if you approach them correctly and own up to the mistake

Anyone else been let off with a warning?

I watch a lot of Police documentary programmes and they always book them. Traffic Police are known as Black Rats as they will book their own fellow Police Officers too.

You must have a lucky face Daz!

wreckedit · 12 Dec 2010

^woody^ said:
How is going all the way around the roundabout and then coming off at the required exit wrong? It is merely exiting the roundabout

No problem with that.

^woody^ said:
You are thinking of using the right lane to approach the roundabout and then cutting into the left lane on the roundabout to go straight on

The problem with that is if I believe them to be turning right and stay in the left lane. But they are really attempting to go straight on because for some reason that's the way they believe to be the correct way to go across a roundabout in to a single lane exit.I see this going on quite a lot and make allowances for it because the driver I believe to be a plonkette.

A lot of roundabouts have 2 lanes on and 1 off and I believe the right hand one is for turning right under normal circumstances. That leaves the left one to go in lane around to the exit opposite. Sort of straight on .

skitzee2k · 12 Dec 2010

Unless marked otherwise at a round about with two lanes going on, the left lane is for going left or straight on. Right is for right. If there are two lanes coming off straight, left lane is left or straight, right lane is straight or right...and so on the more lanes added.

I also occasionally go right around a roundabout to turn left..only when absolutely necessary though

PrenticeBoyofDerry · 12 Dec 2010

Bahco said:
Anyone else been let off with a warning?

I remember being let off once, only because the copper was talking bollux though. Still had to produce docs!

nickso · 12 Dec 2010

there is nothing stopping you using the right hand approach lane to go straight on at a roundabout.

it is bad form IMO to do so as it just confuses plebs.

Daz66 · 12 Dec 2010

Bahco said:
I watch a lot of Police documentary programmes and they always book them. Traffic Police are known as Black Rats as they will book their own fellow Police Officers too.

You must have a lucky face Daz!

It wouldn't make much of a documentary if they were shown letting people off, most of the people they video play up to the camera and that's what gets them into trouble

As far as I can remember, the code for roundabouts is that the left hand lane is for turning left and going straight on and the right is for going straight on and turning right.......... it really grinds my gears when idiots go all the way around the roundabout from the left hand lane and block people trying to get off........ I've been side swiped by someone turning left from the right hand lane when I was going straight on

AndrewSchofield · 13 Dec 2010

The highway code states if you leaving at the first exit you should use the left hand lane, if you are turning right, or going right around a roundabout you sould use the right hand lane and for intermediate exit(s) you should determine for yourself which is the most appropriate lane to use. Obviously this is all over-ruled by any road markings/signs which tell you otherwise for that particular roundabout.

You should also indicate left as soon as you pass the exit before the exit you intend to leave at - very few people do this!

I must admit that when I was taught to drive my instructor told me its LH lane for any exit straight-on or before and RH lane for any exits 'beyond' straight-on. Maybe that was his thoughts on the safest lane to use, or maybe the highway code has been changed in the last decade?

securespark · 14 Dec 2010

crockett said:
The other old favourite is when there is a queue of traffic at a roundabout wanting to go straight on, but no one in the right turning lane. So drivers will go along the right hand lane, and go all the way around said roundabout in order to go straight on. Fair play, and perfectly legal I think

I do a variation on that at the end of the A555.

HUGE queue at the end waiting to turn left into my village, so I go right round the roundabout and come off the turning fo my village!

RedHerring2 · 14 Dec 2010

securespark said:
HUGE queue at the end waiting to turn left into my village, so I go right round the roundabout and come off the turning fo my village!

And further impeding the flow of traffic in the 'Left Turn' lane.

So while it's perfectly legal, is it socially acceptable? What happens when more and more drivers carry out similar manoeuvres? The 'Left Turn' lane will be increasingly impeded until it becomes common practice for all to carry out such manoeuvres! Before long the left lane is empty and we're all queueing in the right hand lane.

Is society a sum of all its members or does society create its members?
When can doing good be wrong and doing bad be right?
(Rhetorical, ethical, philosophical questions)

I, for one, hope that I contribute to society rather than being moulded by society. Although I recognise that I cannot be entirely unaffected.

I think participants of and in society have a responsibility to contribute positvely.

crockett · 14 Dec 2010

RedHerring2 said:
And further impeding the flow of traffic in the 'Left Turn' lane..........

So while it's perfectly legal, is it socially acceptable? ............ Before long the left lane is empty and we're all queueing in the right hand lane...............

I, for one, hope that I contribute to society rather than being moulded by society. Although I recognise that I cannot be entirely unaffected.

I think participants of and in society have a responsibility to contribute positvely.

I have merely observed this, and yes, many people follow suit, which, as you quite rightly stated, creates the same delays. The last statement you made would be ideal in the real world........... Look at the news, that is our society.

scatmanjohn · 14 Dec 2010

Why can't people just wait their turn?

Queue jumping is just plain ignorant.

I will never let anyone in who comes flying up the right hand lane.

The going around the round about brigade are just as bad.

If there was a queue in a shop i doubt the same people would have the balls to walk straight to the front.

Its easy to be Mr Big when in a car.

rant over.

Wrong Lane

RedHerring2

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