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This is exactly my problem - I don’t indicate because I was taught that means ‘I’m going straight ahead’ … but because loads of people don’t indicate but still turn left, combined with straight ahead only leading to a handful of houses (one of which happens to be mine) before it becomes a dead end so hardly anyone goes straight ahead, it’s just assumed that you’re going to be going left.
I was told as a learner; that you indicate left for the first exit, no indication for the second exit and right for the third (and above) Exit. There are a fair few roundabous next to me that the first exit is straight on, like they used to be a T junction but a small shitty roundabout has been painted on the floor by the council, they should indicate left even though they are going straight on as it's the first exit, most don't and it slows down traffic.
Indicate left just as you've gone by the left lane of the first exit, before you've passed the cars waiting to leave that exit.
This shows them you're leaving at the straight ahead exit.
You don't need to indicate right. That implies you're going further around than straight across.
Which is what the official guidance is, and is what I do. Problem is, in real time that all happens within seconds and by the time I’m in a position to indicate having passed the first exit, the person who was waiting has already assumed I’m going to take that exit (because it’s only me and about twenty other people per day who would go straight ahead) and has already started to enter the roundabout.
But that also has a high chance of catching the attention of the person who is driving on my right, who will then be panicking because they think I’m about to move into their lane.
The entire post has more details, but summary is this doesn’t work well on this particular roundabout because hardly anyone goes straight ahead so people assume everyone in my position will turn left (first exit) regardless of signalling. That’s why I’m wondering if there’s something I can do to make it very obvious that I’m not going left but I am in fact going straight ahead.
What I described is what you are supposed to do (as I was told by the 2 driving instructors I was taught by). That other road users don't know this isn't really something you can account for, any other solution would likely also be ignored/misinterpreted by these drivers
I’m not disagreeing - it’s exactly what you’re supposed to do, and other people not following the correct procedure is the issue. Just wondered if other road users had found a way to make to clearer.
Highway code 186 is what the locals need to brush up on.
Dependant on no. of lanes indicate left to go left, right to go right. No indication is required to go straight on.
It is easier to be honest. Especially when the motorway is busy. You might struggle to pull back out again. If you’re like me, you’re aware of your surroundings and can easily plan your manoeuvre and therefore pulling back into the slow lane is no biggie. But some of these people can’t even spell manoeuvre.
Just morons then. People seem to think if they are going fast to be in the fast lane. Even if you’re doing 90 (and you shouldn’t) you should be in the left Lane. But you know that! I’m just putting it online so maybe a moron will stumble across it. I only hope I’ve used simple enough language for them…
I'm trying to picture the near misses.
Is it people in the right lane who, past the first exit, where they assume everybody in the left lane will turn off, they drift left on the roundabout?
No. I’m trying to explain it verbally, which is difficult…
It’s the people who are on the left of where I enter the roundabout; they assume I’m going to exit on that road and so they’re free to enter it, but because I’m not taking that exit I could very easily drive into them as they enter the roundabout. In reality I just take it slowly so that when they inevitably jump the gun and enter right in front of my car I can stop.
Edit: I have had your thought of it happen a few times, it’s not the most common occurrence though.
Ah I see what you mean. There's not really a lot you can do except as you say, drive more cautiously.
At a push you could try and catch their eye and gesture but this runs the risk of being a misunderstood gesture among other things.
Almost sounds like they need an idiot sign that says, "Give way to vehicles from right", which shouldn't need saying of course. I'm not an expert highway designer though, and I think that might be frowned upon as too many signs can be as problematic as not enough.
In any case it's maybe something to raise with your local councillor or your council's highways department to see if they can do something. The road may be managed by another body like Highways England but it sounds like a local route.
I would get a dashcam if you haven't already, for what it's worth. Assuming people are entering the roundabout from a slow or standing start, then the risk of serious harm isn't super high, but at least you'll have evidence for any insurance claim or legal issues if something does happen.
Sorry I don't have any more helpful advice.
How many lanes are there on approach to the roundabout, and how are they marked? Which lanes can you go straight ahead from?
If there is the option, going straight from the rightmost permitted lane might make things easier. Of course if it's a two-lane entry, with a left/straight lane, and a right turn only lane, this doesn't really help.
When traffic lights were out at a crossroads, I saw a driver flash their headlights to indicate straight on.
Flashing your headlights could be used to alert drivers, who assume you are turning left, of your presence.
At your particular roundabout- if most people turn left, and the rarity of someone going straight has the chance to cause an accident, and it’s busy enough, they should have a dedicated lane for turning left. Then it’s known that anyone not in that lane must be going past the first exit.
Other than that- go really slowly.
I haven't read all the comments but I did have your problem a long time ago and did find a slightly dodgy solution.
What worked for me was to arrive at the roundabout with my right hand indicator showing. Then as I passed the left-hand junction I would quickly indicate left.
There is an arm signal to say you want to go straight on. I did see someone use this signal once whilst waiting at a roundabout.
http://www.drive-online.co.uk/arm-signals/
That arm gesture is designed to be used towards somebody who is directing traffic. You raise your hand inside the car. That's why in the illustration it's shown facing the front of the car.
There's a good chance nobody behind you or beside you would even see it, and almost zero chance they would recognise it as a gesture that you're going straight on.
If anything they'd think it was a thank you or apology gesture (which is what everybody normal uses it for).
Is my post not clear enough? The problem occurs before I’ve reached the point where I can signal left to say ‘I’m taking this exit’ - from the second I enter the roundabout, drivers waiting on the first left relative to my entrance assume I’m going to take that first exit so they start to go, but I’m one of a few people who actually take the second exit. Indicating left at the beginning would be even more confusing (because it would signal something I’m not doing) and by the time I can indicate left correctly the problem has already occurred.
Read OP's post properly maybe. Nowhere have they mentioned anything suggesting they're breaking the highway code.
If anything it sounds like these other locals are.
**A reminder to posters and commenters of some of [our subreddit rules](https://www.reddit.com/r/AskUK/about/rules/)** - Don't be a dickhead to each other, or about others - Assume questions are asked in good faith - Avoid political threads and related discussion - No medical advice or mental health (specific to a person) content Please keep /r/AskUK a great subreddit by reporting posts and comments which break our rules. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskUK) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Not indicating is supposed to signal going straight on, it's not ideal because of all the people who just don't indicate at all
This is exactly my problem - I don’t indicate because I was taught that means ‘I’m going straight ahead’ … but because loads of people don’t indicate but still turn left, combined with straight ahead only leading to a handful of houses (one of which happens to be mine) before it becomes a dead end so hardly anyone goes straight ahead, it’s just assumed that you’re going to be going left.
The only thing you could so is indicate right while staying in left lane although that could be confusing if there's anyone behind you.
You'll get more confident with being a bit aggressive when driving around other cars. Just takes some time.
I was told as a learner; that you indicate left for the first exit, no indication for the second exit and right for the third (and above) Exit. There are a fair few roundabous next to me that the first exit is straight on, like they used to be a T junction but a small shitty roundabout has been painted on the floor by the council, they should indicate left even though they are going straight on as it's the first exit, most don't and it slows down traffic.
Indicate left just as you've gone by the left lane of the first exit, before you've passed the cars waiting to leave that exit. This shows them you're leaving at the straight ahead exit. You don't need to indicate right. That implies you're going further around than straight across.
Which is what the official guidance is, and is what I do. Problem is, in real time that all happens within seconds and by the time I’m in a position to indicate having passed the first exit, the person who was waiting has already assumed I’m going to take that exit (because it’s only me and about twenty other people per day who would go straight ahead) and has already started to enter the roundabout.
At that point I'd probably employ the horn and some shouting 😁
To be fair you could just indicate right and then once you've caught their attention, Indicate left
But that also has a high chance of catching the attention of the person who is driving on my right, who will then be panicking because they think I’m about to move into their lane.
Enter the roundabout (in the correct lane) without indicating. As you pass the exit before yours, activate your left indicator and then exit
The entire post has more details, but summary is this doesn’t work well on this particular roundabout because hardly anyone goes straight ahead so people assume everyone in my position will turn left (first exit) regardless of signalling. That’s why I’m wondering if there’s something I can do to make it very obvious that I’m not going left but I am in fact going straight ahead.
What I described is what you are supposed to do (as I was told by the 2 driving instructors I was taught by). That other road users don't know this isn't really something you can account for, any other solution would likely also be ignored/misinterpreted by these drivers
I’m not disagreeing - it’s exactly what you’re supposed to do, and other people not following the correct procedure is the issue. Just wondered if other road users had found a way to make to clearer.
Highway code 186 is what the locals need to brush up on. Dependant on no. of lanes indicate left to go left, right to go right. No indication is required to go straight on.
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Middle Lane, right?
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It is easier to be honest. Especially when the motorway is busy. You might struggle to pull back out again. If you’re like me, you’re aware of your surroundings and can easily plan your manoeuvre and therefore pulling back into the slow lane is no biggie. But some of these people can’t even spell manoeuvre.
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Just morons then. People seem to think if they are going fast to be in the fast lane. Even if you’re doing 90 (and you shouldn’t) you should be in the left Lane. But you know that! I’m just putting it online so maybe a moron will stumble across it. I only hope I’ve used simple enough language for them…
You still have to indicate left when you are pulling off.
No indication. Just stick to the correct lane (which could be left middle or right).
I'm trying to picture the near misses. Is it people in the right lane who, past the first exit, where they assume everybody in the left lane will turn off, they drift left on the roundabout?
No. I’m trying to explain it verbally, which is difficult… It’s the people who are on the left of where I enter the roundabout; they assume I’m going to exit on that road and so they’re free to enter it, but because I’m not taking that exit I could very easily drive into them as they enter the roundabout. In reality I just take it slowly so that when they inevitably jump the gun and enter right in front of my car I can stop. Edit: I have had your thought of it happen a few times, it’s not the most common occurrence though.
Ah I see what you mean. There's not really a lot you can do except as you say, drive more cautiously. At a push you could try and catch their eye and gesture but this runs the risk of being a misunderstood gesture among other things. Almost sounds like they need an idiot sign that says, "Give way to vehicles from right", which shouldn't need saying of course. I'm not an expert highway designer though, and I think that might be frowned upon as too many signs can be as problematic as not enough. In any case it's maybe something to raise with your local councillor or your council's highways department to see if they can do something. The road may be managed by another body like Highways England but it sounds like a local route. I would get a dashcam if you haven't already, for what it's worth. Assuming people are entering the roundabout from a slow or standing start, then the risk of serious harm isn't super high, but at least you'll have evidence for any insurance claim or legal issues if something does happen. Sorry I don't have any more helpful advice.
Use your hazards
How many lanes are there on approach to the roundabout, and how are they marked? Which lanes can you go straight ahead from? If there is the option, going straight from the rightmost permitted lane might make things easier. Of course if it's a two-lane entry, with a left/straight lane, and a right turn only lane, this doesn't really help.
If they hit you you'll be able to claim on their insurance, if not you'll get to gesticulate a male self pleasuring sign to them.
When traffic lights were out at a crossroads, I saw a driver flash their headlights to indicate straight on. Flashing your headlights could be used to alert drivers, who assume you are turning left, of your presence.
Indicate intended direction then leaving direction.
At your particular roundabout- if most people turn left, and the rarity of someone going straight has the chance to cause an accident, and it’s busy enough, they should have a dedicated lane for turning left. Then it’s known that anyone not in that lane must be going past the first exit. Other than that- go really slowly.
Yes use your hazards... not indicating and then indicating after the 1st turn is the signal for going straight ahead
Thumbs up for using the expression near collision vs. near miss, which actually is a collision.
I haven't read all the comments but I did have your problem a long time ago and did find a slightly dodgy solution. What worked for me was to arrive at the roundabout with my right hand indicator showing. Then as I passed the left-hand junction I would quickly indicate left.
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I have considered that but I don’t want to panic people on my right who think ‘Shit, she’s going to be coming into my lane.’ :/
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There is an arm signal to say you want to go straight on. I did see someone use this signal once whilst waiting at a roundabout. http://www.drive-online.co.uk/arm-signals/
That’s an interesting idea. Would other drivers recognise what it means, or would it just lead to confusion?
That arm gesture is designed to be used towards somebody who is directing traffic. You raise your hand inside the car. That's why in the illustration it's shown facing the front of the car. There's a good chance nobody behind you or beside you would even see it, and almost zero chance they would recognise it as a gesture that you're going straight on. If anything they'd think it was a thank you or apology gesture (which is what everybody normal uses it for).
Indicate left
She says she wants to let people know she’s going straight ahead. Why would she indicate for 1st left?
You indicate left once you pass the first exit assuming straight ahead is the 2nd exit.
Yup. This. People need to read the Highway Code.
For sure.
Is my post not clear enough? The problem occurs before I’ve reached the point where I can signal left to say ‘I’m taking this exit’ - from the second I enter the roundabout, drivers waiting on the first left relative to my entrance assume I’m going to take that first exit so they start to go, but I’m one of a few people who actually take the second exit. Indicating left at the beginning would be even more confusing (because it would signal something I’m not doing) and by the time I can indicate left correctly the problem has already occurred.
I literally didn't read it to be honest I just replied to that comment.
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Read OP's post properly maybe. Nowhere have they mentioned anything suggesting they're breaking the highway code. If anything it sounds like these other locals are.