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.
Right lane, then move to the left when it’s your junction to turn off. In the first image your turn is right of the centre, so you stay right until it’s left. :)
I’d stay in the left lane, would be worried about changing lanes in that short stretch. There will always be knuckle heads trying to overtake no matter where you are.
It’s not so short, and you would be blocking people from two entrances.
The right one, of course.
It’s a bit hard to follow what you’re asking, but it seems like the answer is in your question - if you’re taking the A610 stay in the left lane, as marked. If you’re exiting after the A610 use the right lane. What am I missing?
To me it looks like it’s marked “610 Only” just before the bridge, which would mean you stay on the right until after the last exit before the 610, then switch to the 610 Only lane
Don’t think you’re missing anything left lane to get out of the interchange. Right lane to drive in circles.
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I have this issue on a roundabout local to me. Maybe I’ll post a similar thing!
Unless clearly marked where you should be, I personally feel you should be in the right hand lane unless your turning is next.
That way, it’s easy for the people on that entry to judge whether the lane is clear for them to pull out, because the only people in the closest lane are turning off before them.
On my local roundabout there are only three exits (and the one you’re coming from, so four total) if you enter from the south and need to take the west, you should be in the left lane. Easy.
But if you need to go south to north? I go in the right, but it seems like everyone else goes left, and I hate it! Especially if I’m entering from the west, I have no idea if someone’s turning off or carrying on, it makes entering from that direction a nightmare.
Definitely should be the left lane, as per the sign. There should be some cutting in from the right lane, however, as anyone coming off the A38 for the A610 will be in the right lane and they’ll need to merge to the left as it’s a single lane exit. I’m guessing you’re specifically talking about people coming onto the roundabout from the same entry as you though. Nobs.
I reckon I’d go in the left lane approaching the roundabout. Your exit is maybe technically “to the right” of entry but it’s marginal and that’s only a rule of thumb. You have to move to the left lane to come off anyway and you’re not going to be in anyone’s way going round are you?
Yes, you would be in the way of those getting on.
Right lane
Doesn’t the left lane in the roundabout state “ahead only” which would indicate you need to be in the left lane to take that exit.
It also looks like the exit only has one lane, which is another indicating factor. If the exit had two lanes, then either lane would be fine
There’s an added complication that the left lane on the roundabout is for the A610 only:
This is not an “added complication”, it’s literally the answer to your question. You use the right lane to allow the traffic taking the first or second lefts to peel off and you move over after they’ve gone.
There’s an added complication that the left lane on the roundabout is for the A610 only:
The street you’re trying to get to IS the A610, no? So yeah, take the left lane.
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Is the picture that has the sign on it ON the roundabout or on the approach?
As well as my previous answer, I’ve drawn guidelines for each lane of each entry/exit. In an ideal world, you’d use it like this
Whilst drawing, I could actually see why you think the left lane is viable, because most of the entries have an immediate exit with no need to use the lane of the roundabout. But it’s still not correct.
