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Chippy_Tea

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I am guilty of driving over mini roundabouts (totally level ones) when no one else is waiting to enter.



Highway Code: Drivers risk £50 fine over roundabout mistake

A Compare the Market study found six million drivers were risking a £50 fine every time they encountered a roundabout

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For new drivers, and some experienced ones, mastering roundabouts can be tricky, and experts are warning that millions of us are still making a simple mistake that is putting us at risk of a fine.

One in six drivers believe roundabouts make their journeys more stressful, according to a study from Compare the Market.

And experts at the insurance firm warn that almost six million of us are not following roundabout rules correctly, putting them in danger of getting a £50 fine.

Compare the Market’s study found some drivers failed to give way to the right at roundabout junctions.

Rule 185 of the Highway Code states: “Always give priority to the traffic coming from the right, unless you have been directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights.”

Furthermore, over half of UK licence holders (55%) could be at risk of the same fine due to driving over mini-roundabouts. Nearly half (48%) admit to driving over a raised roundabout and almost two-thirds (62%) to driving over a flat one.

Rules 188 to 190 of the Highway Code reveal that when it comes to mini-roundabouts the regulations are no different from regular roundabouts - “It is important to remember that all vehicles must pass round the central markings, unless they are too large to do so. You will find that when driving around mini-roundabouts there is less room to manoeuvre and less time to signal, so take extra care.”

Julie Daniels from the car insurance team at Compare the Market says: “Although you can take the same precautions at a roundabout as you would at any other junction, using a roundabout is considered a complex manoeuvre - it’s eye opening to find out how many drivers are unaware of the correct signals and manoeuvres, or simply ignore the rules put in place to keep themselves and other road users safe.

“We encourage drivers to refresh their knowledge of proper procedures when using a roundabout junction to prevent fines and avoid any potential accidents.

“In addition to learning - and doing - the correct manoeuvres, make sure you always slow your speed and give yourself enough time to react, watch out for pedestrian crossings, cyclists and drivers crossing the roundabout in the wrong lane and remember to use the mirror-signal-manoeuvre process, which involves checking your mirrors and signalling, before making your move.”
 
I'm particularly concerned about people who have no idea that you should give priority to the right on both a normal or mini roundabout.

However, having driven from Derbyshire to the bottom of Hampshire this evening and seeing some of the standard of driving...... including yesterday someone pulling out from a parking bay without looking on a dual carriageway. I was really fortunate that the car on the outside lane spotted what was happening and broke hard so that I could swerve out.
 
There are a couple of mini roundabouts round here where it's almost impossible not to clip the centre of them if you are entering from the minor joining road unless you drive something with the wheelbase or a smart car.

I exect most of you have several of these in the towns near you too.
 
There are a couple of mini roundabouts round here where it's almost impossible not to clip the centre of them if you are entering from the minor joining road unless you drive something with the wheelbase or a smart car.

I exect most of you have several of these in the towns near you too.
It does say in the article that you can run over them if you have no choice, I drive a wagon and I clip most with the rear offside wheel.
 
I have noticed a lot of people not knowing how to operate roundabouts correctly - mainly the painted on mini's
 
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I'm particularly concerned about people who have no idea that you should give priority to the right on both a normal or mini roundabout.

However, having driven from Derbyshire to the bottom of Hampshire this evening and seeing some of the standard of driving...... including yesterday someone pulling out from a parking bay without looking on a dual carriageway. I was really fortunate that the car on the outside lane spotted what was happening and broke hard so that I could swerve out.
When we got the first influx of EU people coming across I was told by a Polish Mechanic of mine that some of the EU countries give priority to vehicles entering a roundabout the opposite to us-if that was true
 
When we got the first influx of EU people coming across I was told by a Polish Mechanic of mine that some of the EU countries give priority to vehicles entering a roundabout the opposite to us-if that was true
Well theoretically, that's true. Those who drive on the right give way to the left.
But it's not hard to learn - I mean, I've driven loads on the continent and I always remember to give way to the left.

I'm a simple fella too!
 
Well theoretically, that's true. Those who drive on the right give way to the left.
But it's not hard to learn - I mean, I've driven loads on the continent and I always remember to give way to the left.

I'm a simple fella too!
I don't think that's what he meant. In France, priorites are the mirror image of the UK because we drive on the other side of the road, BUT the traditional priority is from the right, so drivers entering a major road from a minor road on the right have priority unless explicitly told otherwise. Many drivers take this to apply to roundabouts, too. France should either rescind this convention or make it universal as the situation at present is a nightmare. It's not entirely random: priority for entry to a major road from a minor is marked by a warning sign with X on it. I wonder how many foreign drivers know what that means.
 
My biggest bug-bear is with full size, twin lane roundabouts. There are loads where I am and at least 90% of local drivers have no clue which lane to be in for a given exit and I regularly get cut up by idiots jumping from the inner lane to the outer to get off.
 
There’s a double mini roundabout near me. If you think a single one causes confusion you should stand a watch this one for an hour 🙄.

I’ve posted the layout below from google maps but it’s quite hard to see the second one as at the time this photo was taken, yes you guessed it, a car was driving over the top of it 🤣

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We used to have what was known locally as the magic roundabout, alas it is now a normal junction with lights, there used to be at least 4 crashes a week due to idiots who can't drive and understand how roundabouts work
 
Has anyone used the magic roundabout in Hemel Hempstead it’s a central roundabout with satellite roundabouts totally confusing. Might have changed I’m talking late 80’s. But the worst is the giant roundabout around the Arc de Triomphe but luckily I was the passenger and that was scary.
 
When they say to give way to the right, do they mean vehicles:

1. Already on the roundabout
2. Waiting at an entry to the right
3. Approaching an entry

?

My understanding was that it was #1, but that sounds like it's #2?

Many people seem to think it's #3 and just charge on to a roundabout blindly.
 

We had one of these in Benfleet too until a few years ago when they removed the mini roundabouts and replaced them with traffic lights. The only two box junctions are on the road leading to Canvey island so at all of the other junctions traffic gets stuck at red lights on the roundabout and blocking it leading to only one or two cars moving at each traffic light change in the rush hour.
PS. The picture below must have been taken during lockdown because I’ve never seen it like this!

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OK don't mock the roundabouts.
This is a junction to a fast and busy A road.

This is not a roundabout but I thought it appropriate if we are doing show & tell 🤣
 

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