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[Stuart30]

Much to my surprise it seems giving way on Roundabouts its completely optional..and it would appear even when you have decided you don't feel like Giving way and slam into another car at 30mph its perfectly acceptable.

In fact failing to give way...causing an accident (Not called Accidents now days...Now called Collisions) and then driving off Is just fine,as long as you return to the scene of the accident (no one seems to know what a reasonable time limit is) and give your details,you can then leave again before Police arrive and you have nothing to worry about.

Slight sarcasum...My wife was driving my Galaxy (Shame wasn't the Saab93) on way to work,enterd a roundabout (small one and you can see all entry/exits) with the intention of leaving on the third exit.

Sadly the bloke entering the roundabout didn't feel like giving way and slammed into wife as she was just passing the second exit...result was she bounced off the Roundabout and ended up past the third exit.

Other car drove off...wife hit the Horn and flashed her lights (Happened at 2045hrs) and matey came back after about 5 mins,by which time people had come to have a good old nosey.

The first thing he said to her was "Didn't you see me." my wife in a state of shock said yes she had,its then he said "Well why didn't you stop...! " followed by "I hope you have insurance".

Wifes phoned me and ive flew down to the collision and took his details and asked what happened,to say I was gobsmacked by his attitude is a major understatement.

He fully blames the wife...and states she should have given way to him...wouldn't except he has to give way to the right (Obviously assuming the other party is already on the roundabout).

Now this is the bit I find hard to accept...Police officer arrived just after the other drive left,asked if anyone was injured to which I said no and sent the wife home with neighbour who had taken myself and kids down,ive asked him will the other driver be getting a vist regards failing to give way and driving off.

Answer was a deffinate No...as he had returned (all be it some time after) and gave details and no one was injured it wasn't a Police matter,so failing to give way and driving off isnt a big deal then.?

Ive been down to report thye other driver yesterday as wife has (Genuine) whip lash type injures,Police said that now makes it serious enough for them to make an accident record,but they cant prosecute the other driver (or look into doing so) unless the insurance company instructs them to do so...

Insurance company basicly laughed and said WTF...so its an odd situation,wifes been rammed by some silly middle class duffer who states drivers give way to the left...Police say they cant act unless insurance company tells them to go after him and unless he admits liability the claim will be settled by my bloody insurance and Im liable for the excess.

The really scary thing is...what if that had been a Biker or god forbid a pushbike,id say the latter would have been a fatality,and this guy is driving around without a care in the world.

Bloody boiling...yes just a bit.

[Andy B]

Hope your wide is OK

Coincidently I had some knob decide that he was going to enter a roundabout that I was already on. I blasted the horn, but I assume he thought the same as knob that hit your wife because he blasted his horn too ............ regardless of him being the being in the wrong! Nobody hit anyone though.

[Stuart30]

Hope your wide is OK

Coincidently I had some knob decide that he was going to enter a roundabout that I was already on. I blasted the horn, but I assume he thought the same as knob that hit your wife because he blasted his horn too ............ regardless of him being the being in the wrong! Nobody hit anyone though.

Thank you Andy,she is fine just a little shook up and tender.

It beggars belief that people can past a driving test yet have no idea of how the highway code works.

[the alarming man]

perhaps an email (as you cannot use the phone to contact these people) to your crime commissioner (if that's what they are called) that would change there reluctance to make a visit and discuss this tossers bad driving

hope your wife is okay

[aaronjb]

Your post reminded me of hearing about this, today: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29053978

Victims of crime are being "encouraged" to investigate offences themselves, an inspection of police forces in England and Wales has found.

HM Inspectorate of Constabulary said criminal damage and car crime were "on the verge of being decriminalised" because forces had "almost given up".

In some cases victims were asked to check for CCTV or fingerprints.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I can see why dashcams are becoming more popular........essential even.

Glad to hear that your wife is okay.

[The Sheriff]

What a coincidence. I had exactly the same thing happen this morning at a mini roundabout. No collision but when I got behind him and honked my horn, he slowed right down and started acting like an idiot by slowing down and speeding up. I expected to see a young lad in the drivers seat when I went past him to turn right. It was a bloke in his sixties with one of these Bluetooth things in his ear.
It's getting worse out there.

[Rog]

I can see why dashcams are becoming more popular........essential even.

Glad to hear that your wife is okay.

Absolutely. Otherwise, without independant witnesses it is always one persons word against another, and of course the "other driver" is always in the wrong.

But I don't actually know how valid dashcam evidence is. But if the other driver knows that there is video, they may just have a different attitude . . . . .  or beat you up to steal the camera and the video evidence 

[Rog]

What a coincidence. I had exactly the same thing happen this morning at a mini roundabout. No collision but when I got behind him and honked my horn, he slowed right down and started acting like an idiot by slowing down and speeding up. I expected to see a young lad in the drivers seat when I went past him to turn right. It was a bloke in his sixties with one of these Bluetooth things in his ear.
It's getting worse out there.

I have a question. How does honking your horn put things right or in any way undo or correct what has been done ?

 

[Lizzie_Zoom]

My sympathies are with your wife, and I hope she feels better soon.

As for the police reaction, without them witnessing the collision (they decide later if it was an "accident" or not) it is treated as relatively minor if no one is seriously hurt and one to be finally settled by the insurance companies. With your wife now having whiplash the collision becomes a little more serious, but without independent witnesses, once more it is still just a matter for the insurance companies as they will deal with any claims for damages and personal injury.  If there was a CCTV system covering the collision area then perhaps proof about who was at fault can be ascertained by both the insurance company and police. Certainly you have done the right thing by reporting it to the police, but as the other driver did return to the accident within a "reasonable" time, the police can do little more.  It is now a civil, not criminal, matter and that is why the police will not be involved unless other matters arise, i.e. like the other driver has no insurance, no licence, etc, etc.

[Varche]

Shocking.

Roundabouts in Spain are even worse. Drivers are still taught on multi lane roundabouts to drive on the nearside lane and indicate only when about to leave the roundabout. You have to assume that every driver is going round the roundabout.

I think these sorts of accidents will just become more common as the traffic density(sheer numbers of vehicles) plus stress levels due to time pressures build up. Oh and the use of mobiles and Ipads, smart phones etc on the move ramps up and up.

[Kevin Wood]

Roundabouts in Spain are even worse. Drivers are still taught on multi lane roundabouts to drive on the nearside lane and indicate only when about to leave the roundabout. You have to assume that every driver is going round the roundabout.

Same here, because very few drivers can be @rsed to signal when they are coming off at the next exit. Why would they? It only benefits someone else?

[The Sheriff]

What a coincidence. I had exactly the same thing happen this morning at a mini roundabout. No collision but when I got behind him and honked my horn, he slowed right down and started acting like an idiot by slowing down and speeding up. I expected to see a young lad in the drivers seat when I went past him to turn right. It was a bloke in his sixties with one of these Bluetooth things in his ear.
It's getting worse out there.

I have a question. How does honking your horn put things right or in any way undo or correct what has been done ?

It doesn't, it just vents my frustration (slightly) and let's him know what he's just done. I'm not absolutely sure he even realised.

[Andy B]

Hope your wide is OK

 .....

Ooops!  Sorry!

[Gaffers]

Try being a vulnerable road user (ie 2 wheels) around these idiots