Traffic Islands
 

Can anyone explain why when travelling along a dual carriageway the two lanes entering a roundabout become three lanes for the last 25 mtrs or so before entering roundabouts that are clearly marked with only two lanes around them ??

Re: Traffic Islands
 

spain.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

for parking???

From what I've seen the Spanish have never really embraced the idea of round abouts and there isnt really a clear cut or difinitive way of using them correctly (British correctly that is!!) here

Jo xxx

Re: Traffic Islands
 

?

I've seen this at some roundabouts in the UK too. I assumed they were designed to soak up extra traffic at busy times rather than have a long queue, but I could be misstaken.

What concerns me when I've driven at roundabouts in Spain has been the lane discipline (or rather, the lack of it).

Re: Traffic Islands
 

It's bloody dangerous isn't it? On our part of the N340 (Estepona southwards) every roundabout's like that.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Yes. Just the other day I was intending to go straight on when someone in the right hand lane went right round the outside and affectively did a U'ee without indicating. I missed her by millimetres and had to go right round the roundabout which is quite difficult with one hand on the horn while simultaneously shouting obscenities.:frown:

I have since been told that she may have been in the right but I can't believe that!

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I cannot see that she was in the right if she failed to indicate

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I just put a google search in to see if I could find a rule. It found loads of forum entries, comments and articles on just this (including, strangely, one from me that I had forgotten about).

She was wrong - she should have signalled and she was in the wrong lane.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Jimenato you have probably followed learner drivers in La Linea where they are taught to signal right when entering a roundabout regardless of which exit they are taking. However 15 K away in Algeciras they are taught to signal left for the same manoeuvre

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Well the incident was certainly approaching La Linea - near the refinery entrance.

What on earth is the point of indicating right when entering a roundabout? Madness surely!!:eek:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

:rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I personally rate that island as the most dangerous piece of road in the Campo area :thumbdown:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

the most correct answer of all these is the first one .. "spain".

according to the law in spain... you dont need to indicate on roundabouts, ever. that came from a spanish loacal police man that has a column in the euro weekly news.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

The outside lane always has priorty here :rofl::rofl: I cant figure out why either:rofl::rofl: Ive seen many Brits get the finger for assuming its the same as on a UK roundabout:rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I was told by an other EU national (a Belgian) that this is also correct in their Highway code, i.e. priority in the outside lane.

Has anyone here tried to find out what it says in the Highway code in Spain?

Re: Traffic Islands
 

There doesnt seem much point in having an inside lane then???

Jo xxx

Re: Traffic Islands
 

None at all , but by now you know to leave any logic in the UK as it wont work here!!!:rofl::rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Yes the highway code in Spain says you should always use the outside lane, but indicate left if you are taking the last exit.

I'm been beeped at for using the inside lane, not sure what that is for though!

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Thats why its loco, there is no last exit on a roundabout:rofl::rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Naturally its the last one before the one you entered on.
A lot to be said for staying in the outside lane especially if you don't know the roads so well.
When in doubt I have been known to do a couple of full circuits before finally deciding on an exit to suit my requirements.:rofl:
Often had a few strange looks in the process,but generally it's served me well.
My only hairy moment to date was in Porto,when a big white van shot across my bows as I was passing the nth exit during my second circuit.:blink:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Anybody know the answer to the original question :o:o:o

Re: Traffic Islands
 

have just perused the spanish highway code,all two pages of it. it states,quite clearly,that the outside lane is the priority lane except in the circumstance that the inside lane is.
the outer lane is lower priority,except in the instance that the inside lane is in-operative. the outer lane then assumes middle priority. subparagraph two,line three clearly states "in the event of an accident,it is assumed that the spanish driver is in the right no matter what".
check it out, it is there in black and white.
p.s.
my s type jag is parked in the front drive of my lads house in the uk. foolish i may be,stupid definitely not.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Thanks a lot, that makes it very clear to me at least .........:eek::rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

sigh. right. to clarify as simply as i can make it...you are in the middle lane approaching a roundabout. you look to your right and a little old spanish man is level with you, you look to the left and a little old spanish woman is level with you....now what do you do??? come on.....
right, you stop suddenly. leave the car where it is,hail a passing taxi,tell the driver to take you to the nearest airport,catch a plane to azbekistan and relocate. why? 'cos they don't have bloody roundabouts in azbekistan,do they??? simples.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

what i said ;)

Re: Traffic Islands
 

well you're OK


you're Spanish:p

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Yes, but I learnt to drive in the UK, so I also have good manners on the road, I have to or the wife would string me up.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

ah but I meant this bit :rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

wouldn't be allowed in azbekistan. women there occupy the back seat in everything. and rightly so. for my wifes' 60th birthday i got her a new,padded,halter which makes it a lot easier and more comfortable for her to pull the plough. did she appreciate it? no she didn't!!! whinge whinge whinge, she wanted ANOTHER pair of wellies...we will never learn. too soft us men.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

So what happens when you approach the roundabout and the approach is 4 lanes, but then turns into 5 on the roundabout:eek: I'm thinking of the big roundabout on the approach to Ikea Murcia here. Its a diabolical roundabout to negotiate.

It doesn't matter which lane you attempt, somebody is going to carve across you. The only safe way I have found is to go early morning and avoid as much traffic as possible:thumbsup:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I bet she has not seen this post, has she? :rofl::rofl:

If she does you will be in trouble.:) I have met your type before.............

in fact I am one myself.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

God, I hope you're joking!! Otherwise you shouldn't be allowed behind a wheel.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I was told by the police that the outside lane has priority, and if you are in the inside and want to get out, but you are blocked by someone going around the outside, it would be your fault (on the inside lane) if there was an accident.
As a UK driver is seembed so stupid, but that was the officers take on the matter.

BTW he said that if you cant get out of the inside lane then you have to go round again and wait for the chance, without interfereing with drivers on the ourside

In Spain do as the Spaniards do......

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Always like to keep my options open.
Quite a lot to be said for it.
I do occasionally use my indicators of course,...or if I need a bit extra time and space the hazards always come in handy.;)

Well surely you must have seen my namesake in the Whacky Races.

Re: Traffic Islands
 

Sit in the shade and drink red wine ?

Re: Traffic Islands
 

ha ha ha..women on this site...hahaha. you are joking of course. when do they have the time to look on here? with the washing and the cleaning and the ploughing and the general fixing(plastering,rendering,renovating etc) surely there isn't any time for them to surf also???
i am from azbekistan,not bezikstan. can't pull woolsack over my eyes.....;)

Re: Traffic Islands
 

You are going to be in deep brown stuff when she reads this, enjoy it while you can............:blink::blink:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I can see you two ending up with a major slapping. :rofl:

Re: Traffic Islands
 

what slapper??? i am happily married...

Re: Traffic Islands
 

I wouldn't be too embarrassed about it..........Jaguar have built worse cars!:rofl:

I asked a guy I work with last night about all this, he also works as a driving instructor, and it's true........the outside lane is priority and you don't have to signal:eek: I tried to argue the difference between Spain and UK way of using a roundabout and he wouldn't have it that the Spanish way is potentialy dangerous in fact he got a little narked by it all. They only build the bloody things because it's a nice easy way to cream some of the tax payers money anyway lol:D