UK Drivers Only?

Question

When approaching a roundabout that goes into two lanes and you want to go straight ahead which lane do you get into, the right or the left?
And why do so many people get it wrong?

Actually the high way code says to go into the left hand lane.

Exactly how pianowez described.

Answer 1

It's the left hand lane because turning left is easy due to cars not using the island much so they dont take much time to exit. It therefore makes sense to use the left for 1 of the harder ways and the right for right only. People get it wrong because before May 1999 the test was very very easy to pass. Anyone who passed before this should really be retested as they will be far below standard usually. All drivers will soon be retested every few years anyway so this should sort it!

Answer 2

General rule is left. But if you are in the right lane, you can go ahead too.

Also, it depends on how many lanes there are on the exit as well. If it goes into two lanes, then the car on the right can go straight on if he exits in the right lane.

There is no right answer really. I work as a claims negotiator in a large motor insurer and we get accidents like this all the time.

When we do deal with them, they usually go 50/50 meaning that both parties agree to take 50% of the blame.

Although the Highway Code does show that left lane is ahead, the problem we insurers have is that it DOESN'T say you CAN'T use the right lane.

Speaking personally, it's common bloody sense to use the left lane and I find those using the right lane are usually impatient queue jumpers!!

Answer 3

Depends if I'm in my car I would be in the left hand lane but if I was on my motor bike I would be in the right hand lane and the reason for that is because I can out accelerate most cars in a straight line where if I was in the left hand lane I would have to lean and ride around the corner, saying that as said, some roundabouts you have to stay in your lane

Answer 4

Alison is right - unless the island approach lanes are specifically designated otherwise, of course!
However, I tend to choose the LH lane since, if you take the RH lane you'll often get a LH lane vehicle pull out to overtake just as both of you enter the ahead road, increasing the danger of collision. Better 'safe than sorry' is the best approach!

Answer 5

Left unless the lanes are marked otherwise. It used to be either but this was changed some time ago. Keep up with the changes and make sure you get the latest Highway Code.

Answer 6

the left hand lane. i drove a truck for a living and this was the most annoying traffic mistake that i saw. people just don't know that you should be in the correct lane approaching a roundabout. read the highway code.

Answer 7

There has also been quite a discussion about this recently on the uk.rec.driving Google discussion group.

For most normal circumstances, in the absence of any other markings on the carriageway, left. If the exit is a dual carriageway, then you can argue a case for entering and exitting in the right-hand lane.

However, if you don't know which exit you want (quite easy if you are on unfamiliar territory and with overgrown signs) then it is actually best to use the right hand one, go past the first and second exits to check the signs, and, if you really did need one of them, go right around the roundabout and take it as usual.

Answer 8

Left hand lane unless markings on the road state differently

Answer 9

According to the Highway Code, if you're going straight ahead you can approach the roundabout in either lane. The problem is that whichever lane you approach in, there's always someone complaining that so many people get it wrong.

Answer 10

The left hand lane unless arrows on the road surface suggest otherwise. Personally I would use the lane that had the least traffic in it! lol