Magic Roundabout (Spanish driving regs)

[jumar]

Just a little reminder folks..just need to get the other 90% of Drivers to understand this..regulation..
Doesn't apply to Portugal..

 

[Happy Jack]

Does that mean the cars in the inner circle just go round and round forever, just like the magic roundabout ?

 

[zac]

Common sense should prevail but from my experience a lot of Spanish have no clue about this. Same in the UK though to be honest

I think they see roundabouts as a free for all.

 

[jumar]

Common sense should prevail but from my experience a lot of Spanish have no clue about this. Same in the UK though to be honest

Yes...but providing you keep your wits about you the Law is on your side...I generally slow down to let the ones not knowing this rule get ahead of me..they are easily spotted by their approach speed..
Also avoid rush hours...there are 4 every day..Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday..outside these times you should be fine..
Further to this avoid all major cities, cars with lots of dents and scratches, young mothers with kids in cars and anyone wearing an out of fashion hat..anyone wearing a scarf...pull over...they haven't found the heater control, so knowing traffic laws is not going to be a priority..

 

[Happy Jack]

What boils my p**s on our roundabouts here in the UK are cars that drift slightly out of their lane then back in again while going round.
Nearly got side swiped once by a lady doing just that.
Horned her and she looked at me as though I was at fault.
See it on roundabouts regularly.

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[donkey]

Why have two exit lanes if you are only allowed to use one of them?

Geoff

 

[Carpmart]

It’s indicator use that pees me off in Spain; as in they don’t.

Being 9.5m and over 7T I exclusively use the outside lane and apply the left hand indicator until I intend to exit, where the right hand one lets everyone know.

I do the above in France if going straight on or left too, so left hand indicator on as I enter the roundabout and if going straight on, switch to right as soon as past the last right hand exit before mine. The HGV’s use this approach so I just copy them!

 

[Happy Jack]

Why have two exit lanes if you are only allowed to use one of them?

Geoff

Agree, roundabouts are supposed to ease the flow of traffic.

 

[gus-lopez]

It is the complete lack of indicators that does me in.
I even sit & watch driving school cars on roundabouts & you only can guess where they are going as they always sit in the right hand lane even on 2 & 3 lane roundabouts .The indicator only comes on after they have started to exit.
I always want to drag the instructor out & slap them but Jac stops me.

 

[Happy Jack]

It’s indicator use that pees me off in Spain; as in they don’t.

Being 9.5m and over 7T I exclusively use the outside lane and apply the left hand indicator until I intend to exit, where the right hand one lets everyone know.

I do the above in France if going straight on or right too, so left hand indicator on as I enter the roundabout and if going straight on, switch to right as soon as past the last right hand exit before mine. The HGV’s use this approach so I just copy them!

Zero indicator use is oh so common in the UK also.

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[Happy Jack]

Does that mean the cars in the inner circle just go round and round forever, just like the magic roundabout ?

In fact, I'm struggling to see the point of the inner circle ?

 

[Carpmart]

Zero indicator use is oh so common in the UK also.

Don’t drive much in the UK these days so hadn’t really noticed! It’s indicative () of the selfish world we live in!

 

[Guigsy]

In the UK, our roundabouts have spiraled lanes. And larger RABs have arrows on the approach lanes. Although it can still be inconsistent and confusing.

In Spain and Portugal, as far as I can tell, you can stay in the outside lane and go around as many times as you like. As long as you indicate as you leave, it's legal. The inner lanes mean you have to change lane to an outer lane before you exit. If you're in a RHD van, changing lanes on the roundabout isn't easy. So the safest thing to do is just use the outside lane every time.

 

[Orion]

I always want to drag the instructor out & slap them but Jac stops me.

Is the .50 cal M2 Browning out of action at the moment then?

 

[Carpmart]

It is the complete lack of indicators that does me in.
I even sit & watch driving school cars on roundabouts & you only can guess where they are going as they always sit in the right hand lane even on 2 & 3 lane roundabouts .The indicator only comes on after they have started to exit.
I always want to drag the instructor out & slap them but Jac stops me.

No strong opinion then!

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[The Coops]

Classic driving test instruction to candidate going along the Southport coastal road, At the next roundabout go straight ahead..................yes straight over the roundabout island and all,, just be aware of what you tell a learner driver under pressure!

 

[jockaneezer]

I think the "spiral" road markings on the bigger roundabouts are just there to cause more confusion ?
There's a couple near here that are rather congested with different length stripes, cross crossing each other.
I think they should go back to the old concentric markings or have slotted grooves laid into the surface and you drive in them like you would on a Scalextric !

 

[jumar]

In fact, I'm struggling to see the point of the inner circle ?

The traffic laws have been changed but the changing of all road lay out cannot be possible... basically the main rule is you must EXIT from the right lane...what you do before this is a free for all.

 

[Guigsy]

I think the "spiral" road markings on the bigger roundabouts are just there to cause more confusion ?
There's a couple near here that are rather congested with different length stripes, cross crossing each other.
I think they should go back to the old concentric markings or have slotted grooves laid into the surface and you drive in them like you would on a Scalextric !

The problem is that although the markings were concentric (and only then, just between the arms), the highway code implied that the way you drove was to treat the lanes like they were spirals. It didn't say you were changing lanes when you made the right turn, the assumption is that you make the move when you get past the previous arm... All of which becomes confusing when roundabouts get bigger than the Fisher Price 4-arm, 2-lane entry RABs in the highway code.

 

[Emmit]

When I am 'Sur la Continent's in the van I use my indicator slightly different to here in the UK.

Didn't do this the first time but noticed a remarkable decrease in my stress levels when 'over there'.

My now default signalling regime is, on the approach to a roundabout, I note the road I am leaving on.

If there is a junction BEFORE the one I wish to leave, even if mine is 'straight on' I put on my LEFT Indicator on.

That stays on until I have passed the junction before the one I wish to leave when I change the indicator to RIGHT and then leave the roundabout.

What I have observed is that by indicating that I am staying and continuing on the roundabout, there is less of a tendency by drivers approaching to throw themselves in front of me.

I know that there is a general absence of indication but from a recent visit, the French are getting better. The Spanish not so much.

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[Lenny HB]

I thought in Spain the inside lane was only if you are exiting on the road you came in on otherwise you use the outside lane.

I know in France over 3,5t you must use the outside lane.
What bugs me in France is the amount of drivers that come from the inside lane straight across the front of your bonnet within inches to the exit.

 

[rb62]

Is the .50 cal M2 Browning out of action at the moment then?

It's a good job they didn't let us keep the Lee Enfield Mk3 .303s we used to use at school in the late 60's early 70's best thing I ever did at school,down on the range at Otmoor and the century range at Bisley in 1970.

 

[Puddleduck]

It’s indicator use that pees me off in Spain; as in they don’t.

They weren't born with them so don't use them .... also they know where they are going.

Not only the Spanish btw

 

[nicholsong]

In Italy about one car in a hundred indicates when they are exiting a roundabout so one has to sit there and assume they are all continuing round, but then exits, by which time there is another not signaling.

 

[zac]

Yes...but providing you keep your wits about you the Law is on your side...I generally slow down to let the ones not knowing this rule get ahead of me..they are easily spotted by their approach speed..
Also avoid rush hours...there are 4 every day..Monday to Friday and all day Saturday and Sunday..outside these times you should be fine..
Further to this avoid all major cities, cars with lots of dents and scratches, young mothers with kids in cars and anyone wearing an out of fashion hat..anyone wearing a scarf...pull over...they haven't found the heater control, so knowing traffic laws is not going to be a priority..

One thing I do notice when in Spain is just how many cars do have dents and scratches on them even newer ones, i know why it is, of course

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[Guigsy]

One thing I do notice when in Spain is just how many cars do have dents and scratches on them even newer ones, i know why it is, of course

Or in Italy, why so many people walk with a limp...

 

[gus-lopez]

In fact, I'm struggling to see the point of the inner circle ?

The driving schools here teach that it is only to go back where you came from Then you watch them use the outer lane to go all the way round & back the same way.

There is also no point to the 2 or more lane exits for the same reason that legally,according to the dgt, you have to exit in the right lane so you can't be exiting in to a second or third lane so why build them?

Me, on most roundabouts here which are 2 lane on & off I indicate before & move into the the left ,inner lane, leaving the indicator on,enter the roundabout & as soon as I pass the first straight on exit I swop indicator from left to right & move straight in to the right hand lane.It isn't necessary as you can exit in both lanes but as they are the rules I do it,unlike when in France or the Uk where you can exit using the 2nd ,3rd ,etc,lane,legally.
Another point worth mentioning is that on most roundabouts ,especially in the suburbs or dula carriageways the roundabout will have service roads down the side .all of these are classed as exits also.

If there is a junction BEFORE the one I wish to leave, even if mine is 'straight on' I put on my LEFT Indicator on.

That stays on until I have passed the junction before the one I wish to leave when I change the indicator to RIGHT and then leave the roundabout.

This is how it was taught & should be done by everyone.

I thought in Spain the inside lane was only if you are exiting on the road you came in on otherwise you use the outside lane.

Yes that is what they teach yet fail to follow it .You need to see the driving school cars on a 5 lane roundabout with 6 or 7 exits..Even the other spaniards set about them

 

[Larby]

I know you won't believe me, but in France last year I saw a BMW use the indicator to leave the roundabout.
My wife and I reckoned it was accidental. Driver was then thinking what's that clicking sound and light flashing

 

[Peavy]

wait... what's an indicator?

 

[jumar]

wait... what's an indicator?

OMG... A Spanish drivers reply.

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