What Roundabout Lane

[St3v3]

It should be on the sign as you approach the roundabout

See my Google maps post above. There isn't one.

 

[jopparocks]

Practical bus driver test - on the day

Get help on the practical test for bus drivers. Watch the DVSA video and see the structure of the test and what happens if you pass or fail.

www.safedrivingforlife.info

Thanks Nanniemate - have read and passed all the stuff on the site

 

[Tea Bag]

Hi.
Beware in Portugal. Car in front coming to an island ( 4 Exits signed as 12. 00 noon . 03.00. 06.00 and 09.00 hrs " We are coming from 06.00 to leave at Noon exit . Car Signals " Left turn " wait for it.... when level with 03.00 exit. signals RIGHT TURN and carries on to go off at noon exit. I .."Mentioned " this to someone who cares... ( ) and was told this is how they are now being instructed........." Leaning on " in the clinches does not have the same effect in the Ducato PVC as it used to in a Dirty.Red,Rusty Tipper. .
Tea Bag.
PS. Did you know that Rust is the same colour clean or dirty. SAVE WATER...Avoid a hose pipe ban in your area.

 

[gus-lopez]

I was taught you don't drive past exit lanes in the outer lane of a roundabout,

don't come to spain then as they are taught that the outer lane is for every exit even though the police say it isn't . & the inner lane is only for going back where you have come from. No one instructing has any idea when the roundabout has more than 3 lanes.

 

[L' Hobo]

I was taught left lane for first 2 exits but that was fifty years ago. These days it seems a case of who dares wins

Known as the Arc de Triomphe defence!

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[PaulW2]

Hi.
Beware in Portugal. Car in front coming to an island ( 4 Exits signed as 12. 00 noon . 03.00. 06.00 and 09.00 hrs " We are coming from 06.00 to leave at Noon exit . Car Signals " Left turn " wait for it.... when level with 03.00 exit. signals RIGHT TURN and carries on to go off at noon exit. I .."Mentioned " this to someone who cares... ( ) and was told this is how they are now being instructed........." Leaning on " in the clinches does not have the same effect in the Ducato PVC as it used to in a Dirty.Red,Rusty Tipper. .
Tea Bag.
PS. Did you know that Rust is the same colour clean or dirty. SAVE WATER...Avoid a hose pipe ban in your area.

Portugal roundabout behaviour is a complete random nightmare! They do give way to cars already in the roundabout/coming from the left, but that’s about it. Few bother indicating at all, and when they do it often doesn’t mean what you think it does.

 

[L' Hobo]

Hi.
Beware in Portugal. Car in front coming to an island ( 4 Exits signed as 12. 00 noon . 03.00. 06.00 and 09.00 hrs " We are coming from 06.00 to leave at Noon exit . Car Signals " Left turn " wait for it.... when level with 03.00 exit. signals RIGHT TURN and carries on to go off at noon exit. I .."Mentioned " this to someone who cares... ( ) and was told this is how they are now being instructed........." Leaning on " in the clinches does not have the same effect in the Ducato PVC as it used to in a Dirty.Red,Rusty Tipper. .
Tea Bag.
PS. Did you know that Rust is the same colour clean or dirty. SAVE WATER...Avoid a hose pipe ban in your area.

When I was last in Portugal (or was it Spain?) in the mid 2010's, the year after the National rules on roundabouts had changed, the Police were sitting at most exits,both entering and leaving,
A. To record the accidents and,
B. To fine the drivers not obeying the new rules!

 

[Larrynwin]

The left hand lane in addition to the right hand lane is frequently marked for exits beyond straight ahead .
Every roundabout needs to be treated individually.

 

[Nigel P]

I was on a bus a few weeks ago travelling into Taunton from Wellington.
The driver was under instruction and the above is exactly what she was being taught.

Quite agree; there is a significant difference between driving a coach and a truck. Nothing to do with weight or width but the position of the steering wheels. For anything other than a large roundabout, with clearly defined lanes that allow travel wholly within a lane without 'cutting in' on the curves, the safe position is to dominate the road space to allow for the front sweep both on entry and exit. With something like a 14m tri-axle the front sweep and rear steer require very specific positioning to avoid kerbs and other infrastructure. Making left turns at crossroads often requires straddling both approach lanes to make the turn.

 

[Nigel P]

Just retired last August and got pretty bored so decided to become a tour bus guide/driver and the company I have joined is putting me through getting my bus licence. Passed everything so far but sat my test last Friday and failed. One of the mistakes was wrong positioning on roundabout. I understand the left lane is for going left and going straight ahead, and the right lane is for going right. But what about roundabouts where there is a left exit at 9 o'clock but the next exit is at 1 or 2 o'clock and not strictly straight ahead.
Is this considered straight ahead and therefore I keep to the left lane or is considered turning right and so I should be in the right lane?
My judgement is that I should be in the left lane as its to all intents and purpose "straight" ahead.
Of course this is totally relevant to me as a motorhome driver as well.

Best keep clear of this one then!

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[vkr15s]

View attachment 868841


Best keep clear of this one then!

Looks horrendous but actually works so long as the locals , I am one , allow for the fact that people who are not used to it may need to be given a little bit more consideration.

 

[Nigel P]

Looks horrendous but actually works so long as the locals , I am one , allow for the fact that people who are not used to it may need to be given a little bit more consideration.

Not quite so accommodating in a 45 ft coach where you can be on two roundabouts at the same time!

 

[PaddyM]

Passed everything so far but sat my test last Friday and failed.

Failure is just deferred success

 

[Lenny HB]

don't come to spain then as they are taught that the outer lane is for every exit even though the police say it isn't . & the inner lane is only for going back where you have come from. No one instructing has any idea when the roundabout has more than 3 lanes.

And in France over 3500kg you only use the outside lane.

 

[Brains]

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[meanders]

Around here it varies by roundabout as to which lane should be used especially on the roundabouts over/ under the junctions of the A12 and A14 main roads. Some of these change each time they make 'improvements' to the roundabout.
Trouble is that the signs indicating which lanes to use are often so close to the roundabout, by the time the driver can see them if going straight over, they are already in a queue and in the wrong lane. I know all of them, but still occasionally get caught out. What it's like for visitors especially in long vehicles, one can only guess. Plus of course all the foreign HGV on the way too or from Felixstowe.

 

[carolyn]

In Yeovil, the Hospital roundabout and the Police roundabout both tell you to stay in the either lane when turning right (heading West). For those of us who’ve been driving here all our adult lives the change still feels wrong! They may have fancier names than that but that’s what they’re known as. They didn’t change the paint signs on the roads until a couple of years after which caused confusion. Different budget I expect!

I don’t think it’s reduced the number of accidents on the Hospital roundabout or improved traffic flow.

 

[Dall]

Me too

And me....

 

[dunnah01]

Left lane for 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock unless you're going to the services when it might be right lane for 2 o'clock or back where you came from?? If the traffic is queuing on the A17 approach and covering the road surface markings and you don't grasp which road number you're wanting to follow the exit for then anything goes - which is the reality.

 

[Pausim]

The roundabout signs only give an approximation of the exit positions but can not be relied on. Road markings are often the only clue you get but sometimes you have already committed to a lane before discovering that it has become a left or right hand only lane. One road I came across even had signs saying get in lane for half a mile before a junction, unfortunately they didn’t tell you which was the lane you needed.

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[Dall]

Left lane for 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock unless you're going to the services when it might be right lane for 2 o'clock or back where you came from?? If the traffic is queuing on the A17 approach and covering the road surface markings and you don't grasp which road number you're wanting to follow the exit for then anything goes - which is the reality.View attachment 868889View attachment 868883

There are many roundabouts like this where the highways people have decided which lane the traffic should use. You do not have to make a decision on where the exit sits in relation to its clock position- just get in the required lane. But my experience is that you will often find some driver (other words are available) who for what ever reason is in the wrong lane who makes a dodgy cross lane manoeuvre to exit.....

 

[dunnah01]

There are many roundabouts like this where the highways people have decided which lane the traffic should use. You do not have to make a decision on where the exit sits in relation to its clock position- just get in the required lane. But my experience is that you will often find some driver (other words are available) who for what ever reason is in the wrong lane who makes a dodgy cross lane manoeuvre to exit.....

Tell that to those entering the roundabout from the A16 at 10 o'clock who regularly crash into those obeying the signage by continuing round past the busy A16 exit to the 2 o'clock A17 exit

 

[L' Hobo]

There are many roundabouts like this where the highways people have decided which lane the traffic should use. You do not have to make a decision on where the exit sits in relation to its clock position- just get in the required lane. But my experience is that you will often find some driver (other words are available) who for what ever reason is in the wrong lane who makes a dodgy cross lane manoeuvre to exit.....

I still think, signage could be better!
A few weeks ago, I was approaching a, strange to me, very busy roundabout on a 2 lane approach road.
My satnav said nothing about getting in lane but, there was a queue of stationary traffic in the right hand lane.
Thinking there must be some holdup just in that lane, I travelled on, slowly in traffic, in the nearside lane.

About 50metres from roundabout, road signs signified the inner lane I was in, was left turn only! I wanted another exit!

What does one do?

No-one in the right hand lane would let me in (why would/could they) so, as I didn't want to break the law, I had to turn left, travel down the road until I could make a U turn, and come back to the roundabout.
I say, "make a U turn", it wasn't as easy as that because the smaller road I was on, was also packed with queuing traffic.
I had to go down a side road, reverse into another road and return to the road leading to the roundabout!

I just thanked my lucky stars that I wasn't driving an Artic or a Coachload of passengers!

 

[gus-lopez]

Trouble is that the signs indicating which lanes to use are often so close to the roundabout, by the time the driver can see them if going straight over, they are already in a queue and in the wrong lane.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^

What does one do?

^go straight on from the left turn lane

 

[L' Hobo]

This^^^^^^^^^^^^

^go straight on from the left turn lane

Saving a few minutes and a little hassle, is not worth risking my clean licence, a lot of minutes had I had an accident with a frustrated driver from the right hand lane, and a lot of paperwork!

Thinking might have been different if I had been driving my Artic and working!

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[ctc]

Looks horrendous but actually works so long as the locals , I am one , allow for the fact that people who are not used to it may need to be given a little bit more consideration.

I drive German vehicles therefore I don't have to consider anyone.

 

[tonyidle]

Left lane for 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock unless you're going to the services when it might be right lane for 2 o'clock or back where you came from?? If the traffic is queuing on the A17 approach and covering the road surface markings and you don't grasp which road number you're wanting to follow the exit for then anything goes - which is the reality.View attachment 868889View attachment 868883

I find that's a problem with any busy roundabout: approach using the 'normal' lanes because the signs are obscured by large vehicles also covering the road markings then realise once onto it the lane markings appear and I'm in the wrong one.

 

[dunnah01]

I find that's a problem with any busy roundabout: approach using the 'normal' lanes because the signs are obscured by large vehicles also covering the road markings then realise once onto it the lane markings appear and I'm in the wrong one.

And the approach signs aren't visible due to shrub growth / poor maintenance

 

[Tea Bag]

When I was last in Portugal (or was it Spain?) in the mid 2010's, the year after the National rules on roundabouts had changed, the Police were sitting at most exits,both entering and leaving,
A. To record the accidents and,
B. To fine the drivers not obeying the new rules!

When I was last in Portugal (or was it Spain?) in the mid 2010's, the year after the National rules on roundabouts had changed, the Police were sitting at most exits,both entering and leaving,
A. To record the accidents and,
B. To fine the drivers not obeying the new rules!

Hi L'Hobo.
We came over here in 2009. Cannot remember how many times i was told off ( WRONG LANE ) going to visit Government offices in Viseu. The GNR on the roundabouts and then the computors in the office Crashing over a 5 or 6 week period ( " I know nothing...I from Barcelona. " ) Still we survived that. (( On another matter you referred to . " Use your weight/ Kummin' Threw ? " ))
Tea Bag.
PS. Imagine having had a very busy shift driving an Ambulance-Fire engine or Police car... You clock off and head home.... Bet sometimes they just for a fraction of a second,wonder why no one is giving way...........
PPS. YES i know they have advanced driver training and can switch off............. BUT...... Just a thought.

 

[Speve]

View attachment 868841


Best keep clear of this one then!

No that one’s easy just keep going straight and head for the exit you require I had to negotiate that one most days two or three timesif you drive like you know what you are doing everyone gives way to you especially if you drive something large

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