20/05/09

[sobrique]

There is a heated debate going on in our office at the moment. The scenario is this:
There is a roundabout near work. A dual carriageway leads up to it. The rush hour traffic is pretty much all turning left, and queuing in the left lane.
Is overtaking in the right lane, and going all the way around the roundabout to skip the traffic queue innovative and efficient, or is it being rude and annoying?

Comments

[mister-jack.livejournal.com]

It's what you're supposed to do according to the rules of the road, read the highway code.

Oh wait, reading fail.

[ash1977law.livejournal.com]

innovative and efficient, or rude and annoying?
Can't it be both?

[siryel.livejournal.com]

I'd agree. I do it, I feel guilty because I'm being a twat

[queex.livejournal.com]

It's to be avoided in general- but there are circumstances where it can be excused.

If you've become trapped in the right-hand lane, it's probably less disruptive than trying to merge into the left lane (depends how brutal drivers are in that area at that time).

If you're meant to be travelling in convoy, it can be a good way of catching up to the vehicle you're trying to follow.

If there is a Genuine Emergency (of the life and limb variety- work-related emergencies do not count) if may also be acceptable.

I find it hard to get worked up over it, mind, because while it may be discourteous it lacks the general contempt for rules and safety that a lot of other 'short-cuts' entail.

[serpentstar.livejournal.com]

Rude and annoying, all the way. To do it is basically to say "Fuck off, other drivers; I don't care how important any of your business is, but I can guarantee that mine is more important than all of yours put together."

[erjholton.livejournal.com]

Based on my driving experience on both sides of the Atlantic, I would peg this as being the attitude shared by around 75% of drivers anyway.

[lostdreamer666.livejournal.com]

multiple lanes are there to be used. however in this case I think there is only 1 left turn lane.

that said, overtaking and then turning right at a roundabout is probably a legal manover.

isn't there something in the highway code about not blocking junctions/parking on roundabouts? (you will be stopping on the roundabout because you have stated the whole reason for doing it is because your exit isn't clear...)

[dj-rws.livejournal.com]

Well I think it's legal seeing as you can park yourself on a roundabout if trying to leave since by blocking other entrances you free the flow of traffic in a different direction which is what roundabouts are there for - non-traffic light filtering. If, in this case, traffic flow is primarily in one direction then I'd guess that if the work-men noticed everyone going all the way round the roundabout then they may well setup temp traffic lights to the right to stop people from doing that, if enough people do it that is.

[lostdreamer666.livejournal.com]

"you can park yourself on a roundabout if trying to leave since by blocking other entrances you free the flow of traffic in a different direction"

I respectfully disagree (tho if someone can point me to relevant parts of the Highway Code one way or another, that would be good.)

If you pull onto a roundabout and block traffic flow, then not only can you not get off the roundabout, nobody else can either. This is how gridlock happens. Same thing stopping in the middle of crossroads/T-junctions.

[sobrique.livejournal.com]

It's noticable on this roundabout - the traffic turning left into a single lane would flow relatively freely (albeit slowly), if it weren't for people 'playing silly buggers' and looping round the roundabout.

[darkgodfred.livejournal.com]

I don't think it's illegal, technically.

And it's no worse than people filtering in from... Canley? direction if I'm thinking of the right roundabout.

On the otherhand if it's actually impacting the flow of traffic then you're causing widespread problems for your own immediate benefit and you're merely encouraging everyone else to do it.

And if that happens the entire roundabout will break, not just for traffic turning left.

So you shouldn't do it and the council should do something to make it flow better.

[darkgodfred.livejournal.com]

I'm pretty certain I was advised that you should not enter a roundabout unless you are sure your exit is clear as part of my driving lessons.

Whether it's a matter of common courtesy or actually a restriction I'm less certain.

[malal.livejournal.com]

I believe that it's actually illegal to stop on a roundabout, pretty much full stop.