Fly Away

LOL Ast, as a fellow Midlander, I get told off here in Wales for saying 'island' instead of 'roundabout'. Must be an accent thing. I get really puzzled looks when I try and give directions to people.

rabsody

Oh thank goodness I'm not the only one.

saveme

From what I remember about Aussie roundabouts if you don't give way to any vehicle coming from your right who is within a mile of the said roundabout you will be abused and tailgated for the rest of your journey.

Mind you, some drivers in UK treat roundabouts like a bend in the road and go round so fast they're on two wheels.

Come to think of it, could someone confirm whether or not you are supposed to signal as you enter and leave a roundabout? Is it acceptable to signal right all the way round and as you go left or are you supposed to signal right then left?

aus2be_OH

Signal right on entering (if going past first exit). Once past the exit before yours, then signal left.

renth

What about if you are going straight over? Some people indicate right then left, most don't indicate, some indicate left just before they exit.

aus2be_OH

Here you go. A direct link to the UK highway code section on using roundabouts. Could be different for Oz. Click HERE.

Quote:
---------
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

• select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
• you should not normally need to signal on approach
• stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
• signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

----------

Roundabouts (islands) are the one thing that really bugs me when driving. It's not that hard for other drivers to lift their fingers to use the indicators. Is it?

Darren

aus2be_OH

Just found this link to the online version of the highway code.

Quote:
------------------
When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise

• select the appropriate lane on approach to the roundabout
• you should not normally need to signal on approach
• stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
• signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want

------------------

Darren

saveme

Thanks, that's what I thought and that's what I do. 99 per cent of drivers just signal right and 99 per cent of them are heading up the road I'm coming out of so it's safe for me to proceed. But what about the 1 per cent who are actually continuing around the roundabout? If it's a busy RAB you can't stop and give way to every vehicle 'just in case' they are coming around? Sorry that sounds SO confusing.

rockpeblar

Don't worry they're going to put another one in, just down the road by the petrol station and Kalamunda club. Double the fun!!!

JackTheLad

You see, instructors here teach people the wrong rules. At those silly little bubble roundabouts, new drivers are still taught to indicate right as they are going over it, and then just as they are exiting it (about 1 second later) indicate left.

Mrs JTL only learnt to drive recently, and she still does that, and she gives me grief when I just go sailing straight through with no indicators. I've tried telling her, I'm not turning, why indicate.

But no I'm wrong, indicate right, and then left really quickly, just to give your indicators a workout. Alternatively, stick your hazard lights on for 2 seconds. Same effect

JTL

Dtox

Hmm...

Can anyone imagine an Aussie trying to negotiate this... http://www.joe-ks.com/archives_sep2003/Roundabout1.jpg

Muzza04

nah, F1 chicanes!

Pommy Dan

i didn;t think they installed indicators (or mirrors for that matter) on Aussie cars.

certainly doesn;t seem to be the case in Melbourne

the standard of driving here is, frankly, shocking. Undertaking, overtaking, failing to indicate, crossing solid white lines.. the list is endless...

steve99

Except at random times when they'll decide to indicate right when actually going straight on, often when the only place they could end up if they actually went right was back the direction they came from...

Oops, guess I should read on before posting....

mooncat

OMG me too. I have a 9 minute drive from work to pick the kids up from school and I go through 15 ( yes FIFTEEN!!!!!!) roundabouts.:curse::curse: