There’s a roundabout I use semi-regularly which I feel has ambiguous lanes.
The roundabout is the junction between the A38 and the A610 in Ripley, Derbyshire, UK.
There’s no signs or roadmarkings which tell you which lane to use, so which would you use when travelling in the A610 Ambergate direction from the A610 Ripley?
This is the roundabout in question, with the entry and exit marked:
Here’s the entry, with the lanes in question marked:
Between the entry and exits in question on this roundabout, there are two other exits - a minor B6441 to Ripley, and the A38 to Derby.
There’s an added complication that the left lane on the roundabout is for the A610 only:
If I use the left lane, I frequently have people overtake in the right lane, then cut in to the left to exit. To me, it feels more natural to take the left lane and follow it round to exit in the correct lane.
This diagram possibly explains what I mean a bit clearer:
I’ve had disagreements with people over this - some say use the right lane as you’re going past two other exits and the exit is “to the right of the entry”. Some say they use the left lane as it feels more natural, which I agree with.
I have understood roundabout lane discipline to be as follows:
Left lane for turning left and straight on, right for turning right only, unless signposted or marked otherwise. This entry/exit combination to me seems like a “straight-on” situation, hence why I’d choose to use the left lane.
So I put it to you, what lane would you choose and why?
EDIT: I wasn’t clear when asking, I apologise. I’m asking which lane on approach to the roundabout - not which lane on the roundabout.
It depends on how busy the roundabout is.
If it’s really busy and there is a possibility of traffic backing up on either of the the two exits before the one you want to take then I’d be in the righthand lane on approach and move to the lefthand lane as soon as I’m past the second exit, getting in the lane marked A610 going under the bridge. This way you avoid possibly getting caught in slow moving traffic and adding to the back up.
If the roundabout isn’t that busy then using the lefthand lane on approach would be fine and just staying in the lefthand lane all the way.
Roundabouts need to be as free flowing as possible, so use whichever lane is going to keep the traffic moving best.
I use a roundabout everyday that crosses a motorway and the traffic joining the motorway always backs up the slip road on to the roundabout at rush hour. Often people wanting to go “straight” over the roundabout get in the lefthand lane on approach and then get stuck in the backed up traffic which just adds to the congestion. I tend to approach in the righthand lane and move to the left once past the motorway exit. I’ve noticed that people tend to leave a gap for the traffic in the righthand lane to go through but will block the lefthand lane just in case someone sneaks in front of them!! LOL