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[dippydave]

anyone have any knowledge of the laws of driving on and leaving a roundabout?

I had a very small accident in april and my insurance company are being spectacularly rubbish about it. not only have they not even inspected my car to start fixing it but also they are saying it's totally my fault. i think it's her fault and unless it can be proven would accept half and half.

Ideally I want to know the 'rules of the road' viewpoint before discussing it more with them.

In summary (I hope this makes sense) - I was on a dual lane roundabout near High Wycombe/M40 in the inside/right lane. I entered on the north side and was due to exit at the third exit on the west side. This exit has two lanes as well. The exits I passed on the south side were very close together and I didn't see anyone join the roundabout from them. I indicated left to come off the roundabout and went across the outside/left lane of the roundabout headed for the right of the two exit lanes.... into a car that was trying to undertake me. she had entered the roundabout on the exit after me, claims I wasn't indicating, that she's seen lots of near misses at that location and that accelerating is the way to avoid them!

btw even though she had a clit, my car ended up worse off

any info much appreciated!

ps i have some pics which I'll try and post when i've signed up to that site!

[Gaffers]

The only rule I see applied on roundabouts is that it is compulsary to try and kill any cyclist on them, as happened to me twice today.

[Chris_H]

Tough one I would say.

Presumably she was continuing on round?

You changed lane so were obliged to check that there was no-one there?

Not what you wanted to hear and not 'The Law' but is Highway Code IMHO.

[dippydave]

thanks chris, i just want to hear the law/code and will take it. even the bad stuff. :-/

I did check, but obviously not well enough. yeah she was continuing on round. apparently it should be 'reasonable' that she would expect me to be doing the same despite a left indication! hmm...

[Lizzie_Zoom]

This is the official explanation of how to use roundabouts:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338

It is amazing how often drivers ignore these rules

[Gaffers]

You could argue that by joining the roundabout into your blind spot she was not giving way to vehicles from the right  :-/

[Andy B]

....
 I was on a dual lane roundabout near High Wycombe/M40 in the inside/right lane. I entered on the north side and was due to exit at the third exit on the west side. This exit has two lanes as well.  .....

So, you'd be the green car. Acceptable acording to the 'rules' 

[karlus 693]

I thought that was the correct way of using a roundabout re Dave's graphic. but it may have changed. just lately coming into bournemouth cars have been using the left lane and going round the outside to turn right! it gets interesting when i am using the inside lane to go straight on. other interesting fact is these cars have a big L on the top. so is the law changing?

[Plomien]

I thought that was the correct way of using a roundabout re Dave's graphic. but it may have changed. just lately coming into bournemouth cars have been using the left lane and going round the outside to turn right! it gets interesting when i am using the inside lane to go straight on. other interesting fact is these cars have a big L on the top. so is the law changing?

It also depends on road markings, we have some roundabouts that say right hand lane for straight across

[dippydave]

This is the official explanation of how to use roundabouts:

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_070338

It is amazing how often drivers ignore these rules

I'd just googled and 'discovered' this page myself before returning here! thanks you guys! I'm a gonna ring me insurance back tomorrow and tell em what for! Yes I'd have been the green car!

I also note that the other driver should've taken account of

185

watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all


and

187

In all cases watch out for and give plenty of room to

    * pedestrians who may be crossing the approach and exit roads
    * traffic crossing in front of you on the roundabout, especially vehicles intending to leave by the next exit


especially as she'd been driving less than two years and the highway code is much fresher in her mind!

ps if you're being really nosey, here's a link to the actual accident site http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=high+wycombe&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=13.127023,33.881836&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=High+Wycombe,+Buckinghamshire,+United+Kingdom&ll=51.605278,-0.693319&spn=0.00673,0.024719&z=16&pw=2

[Lizzie_Zoom]

We had a retired USAF Colonel as a friend when he was living in our English town whilst carrying out USA government business on the then F111 fighter jet fleet.

His approach at roundabouts had to be seen to be believed.  As an American he was not used to them, and his policy seemed to be to aim his imported large Lincoln at speed towards the roundabout and somehow reach the other side!   How he never had an accident we never could fathom.   He drove his car like he was still flying a B52!

[karlus 693]

I reckon he has an excuse though. they dont have roundabouts over there or is that Canada? Just traffic lights i think.

[dippydave]

i wish i'd just flown home that day rather than going on a fruitless hunt for LPG!!

I've made a photo album if anyone wants to look: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=27541&id=100000126303347&l=cb761286bc

i'll even see if i can link direct to the pics!




nope. i can't. bugger! lol. anyone know how to embed facebook pics on here? or do i need photobucket!?

[Lizzie_Zoom]

I reckon he has an excuse though. they dont have roundabouts over there or is that Canada? Just traffic lights i think.

No the USA seem not to have any roundabouts that I have seen in thousands of miles of driving there.  They just have so much space to build full interchanges, traffic light controlled junctions, and 'U' turn lanes 8-) 8-) 8-) 8-)

Never been to Canada though, so cannot say

[Entwood]

America and Canada don't have roundabouts ... they have 4-way crossings instead ... you MUST stop at these even if no-one else is within 400 miles ( smokey will be hiding and watching somewhere ) .... and if two, or more, cars approach at the same time .. the rules are simple .. you proceed in turn on time of getting there .. so if you see a 4-way .. and another car appoaching .. the race starts .... 

Dangerous things IMHO aas they are totally random everytime .. it is down to the "opinion" of who ever thinks they got there first !!

Both countries also allow you to cross a Red light legally ... on most junctions .. if you are turning right (would be our left) you can "filter" even on a red ...unless specifically prohibited by a very small sign usually !!!

Good fun driving across the pond .. once you get used to it ..