007Steve

On my journey from Tavira to VRSA today there were three sets of well prepared traffic police whole sole concern was the inability of both domestic & non-PT drivers to adhere to the Rules about lane usage at roundabouts.
See the schematic below and save yourself the grief & money involved.
Yes, Yes! I KNOW that 90% of the time it doesn't work like this but that's the RULE - OK?

Shanorme

They are often at the roundabout just before the bridge going toward the Tavira Municipal market.

Loafing Along

Today on both the roundabouts coming into town, by the "Sail" roundabout from the motorway and the Mini-Preco one up from Gran Plaza

chislenko

Sorry, rather confused, is it the white car we should be following?

RichardHenshall

You follow the path of the red car if leaving at the first exit.

You follow the path of the yellow car if leaving at the second exit.

You follow the path of the white car if leaving at the third or subsequent exit.

You should never pass an exit/entrance in the rightmost lane of the roundabout (if there's more than one lane).

Unfortunately the illustration doesn't show where and which indicators should be used but Portuguese cars don't seem to have them fitted.

BillBullock

And then there's the problem which is not in the roundabout that is illustrated: 2 lanes approaching the roundabout with no arrow markings on the tarmac! As usual, simple illustrations do not clarify rules of the road.

riv

So have I understood this : you keep the indicator on LEFT ~even if your intention is to proceed straight ahead ~ ie 180 degrees - usually the second exit ??? How does this let the driver who has just entered the roundabout ( from your first exit which you didn't take because you wanted the second exit ) know that you wish to go straight ahead ~ sort of cutting across his path ?

RichardHenshall

It's a ROUNDabout. You never go straight ahead, you always go round.

You start indicating left before you enter the roundabout (to demonstrate that you're not leaving at the first exit). You are indicating left as you move across the rightmost lane on entry to the roundabout and then, in anticipation of moving to the rightmost lane prior to exiting the roundabout (from the rightmost lane), you switch from indicating left to indicating right and then continue indicating right as you change lanes and exit.

If you're indicating properly there shouldn't be anybody to cut across because that person at the previous exit should be waiting until you've passed. Only one person should be exiting a particular exit at a time because you exit from the rightmost lane only.

Simples. So long as everyone else does the same.

BillBullock

[QUOTE=RichardHenshall;12501589]It's a ROUNDabout. You never go straight ahead, you always go round.

If you're indicating properly there shouldn't be anybody to cut across because that person at the previous exit should be waiting until you've passed.

QUOTE]

Except that there are often several separate lanes around roundabouts and it is possible to get another car joining the roundabout. Also some people indicate left because they are going all the way round the roundabout or off at 9 o'clock. My main concern is where there are often 2 lanes approaching roundabouts. None of the drawings I have seen so far give guidance on this kind of roundabout.

chislenko

I think I'll just turn right at every one!!

liveaboard

When the roundabout rue first came out I obeyed it [when possible to do so without crashing into someone].
But after a while, it just got tedious; weave out, weave in, when no one else is bothering. Frankly, I find the system stressful.

If I think 30% of other drivers are trying to make it work, I will too.

BillBullock

The roundabouts through Olhão on the EN125 are all different in layout, especially the number of lanes entering and leaving on the various exits. You just have to expect the worst from other drivers, especially if they are using their indicators.

riv

If you are not, in fact, in reality, truthfully, actually intending to turn left - why would you ever switch on your left indicator ?

Shouldn't you just have NO indicators at all as you approach the roundabout, continue with NO indicator past the first right exit, and then indicate right if you wish to take the second exit ?

Ingles

Last year in the PT Government Budget it was shown they expected to collect 81 Million €'s in traffic fines ,the final figure collected was short off this.
Seems orders may have been received by the Police Authorities to get there act into gear !

DiDAN

Can you please clarify... In case you enter a roundabout on a road with two lanes and have intention to exit on 2nd+ exit you must enter from the left lane only or you can enter from the right lane but to inner circle?