Roundabout Question

[Mobius1]

Since moving home, I regularly traverse a large roundabout on my daily travels. I have a question regarding lane etiquette on approach. The road leading to the roundabout from my approach is a dual carriageway. At the roundabout there are three lanes. For the purposes of my journey, I wish to go "straight ahead" which is technically the third exit, this requires the middle lane. However, the middle lane is positioned between both lanes of the dual carriageway, so on approach, who has right of way to enter the middle lane? Cars on the left or those on the right?

I ask, because quite often there appears to be much confusion from all involved. Some people slip into from the right, others from the left - both usually aggravated by the other.

Here is a link to a GoogleEarth image of the lane I'm talking about: http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/Syphade us/GoogleRoundabout.jpg

Notice the red road section at the pedestrian crossing. The dual-carriageway effectively becomes three lanes. In the image, a green car from the right lane is entering the middle lane.

[vulcan]

the highway code isn't particularly useful on this subject, it just states "use the appropriate lane".
here in Northern Ireland we also have two lanes becoming three at roundabouts but unlike the photograph,the roads here are marked differently.
we stay in the left lane and move across to the middle Iane if that's the exit we want.If third exit is required approach is made in the second lane. It seems to work ok.

[derekpara]

Probably not the definitive answer but courtesy, consideration and a little give and take should prevent mishaps in these uncertain situations.

However, I would approach in the left lane indicating right until lined up with the new centre lane, when I would cancel my signal, proceed in this lane until passing the second exit then signal left to take exit three. All this time I would keep checking all mirrors and maintain a very moderate speed.

I don't thing anyone can claim the right of way in the situation you describe, so treat every other driver as a raving lunatic and expect the unexpected.

Good luck !

[Buenchico]

Unless there are clear road markings there are no fixed rules.

However, looking at your photograph, the green car in the right hand lane of the dual carriage way is already clearly positioned to take the centre lane at the roundabout. Whereas the red car, in the left hand lane of the dual carriageway, clearly needs to move across one lane to access the centre lane of the roundabout.

So I would expect regular users of the road to move into the right hand lane of the dual carriageway in order to go straight on (since that automatically feeds them into the lane they want), while watching their mirrors carefully for drivers in the left hand lane of the dual carriageway who're also seeking to go straight on.

Chris

(PS: If you think that roundabout is fun, you should come to Ipswich. We've got a roundabout where traffic taking the first exit to the left has to use the right hand lane on the approach!).

[cassa333]

With out seeing the whole of the roundabout layout I can only see that each lane comeing onto the roundabout should stay in the same lane.

However the markings may be different out of shot?

[Mobius1]

DerekPara: I always expect other road users to drive like maniacs, after all, it is the only way to maintain enough vigilance to stay alive on the roads sometimes!

It seems the issue is pretty confused really although I do appreciate the answers. I think what makes it worse is that when you're actually approaching the lanes in a car, it line-up of the lanes doesn't look clear-cut like it does on an aerial photo!

Here is a picture of the whole island from the same angle:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v325/Syphade us/GoogleRoundaboutFull.jpg

[cassa333]

Is there adequate signage?

The layout from the air is pretty conclusive (for me that is).
Left lane for 1st and 2nd exit, middle lane for 2nd exit and onward and right lane for 3rd and onward exits.

The people in the outside lane cutting in are either just stupid or lazy or are in such a hurry they want to overtake the cue of traffic.

[pink-kittens]

ok, if you are taking the 3rd exit then the green car can take either the middle or right hand lane - once past the 2nd exit move over to the lane marked left hand only (3rd exit) or stay in the, what will then be, the middle lane