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My earlier comment (which you seem to have taken slightly out of context) was intended to convey that because the vast majority of traffic goes right it is a very regular occurrence for both lanes to be used for that purpose (virtually nothing goes straight on because that goes back onto the motorway that people would have just left) and as noted above traffic volumes for Romsey vs central Southampton are clearly biased one way.
Bearing in mind that left from lane 2 goes across the straight ahead option and right from lane 1 goes across the straight ahead option they are arguably both not appropriate unless there are lane markings to the contrary (to be clear I wouldn't choose our advocate lane 1 to go right personally but many do).
The default position is that lane 1 is left and straight ahead unless marked to the contrary. There are not turn left markings on lane 2 there and there's no rational reason for there to be.
Technically - IIRC - if there are no road markings the left hand lane is for left AND straight ahead, and the right hand lane for turning right. But this is generally ignored.
^this.
Mrs_oab had a Porsche make a left from 2nd lane as she was going straight on in lane 1. Both lanes were clearly marked with arrows in this case as well.
Mr Porsche still argued the toss with his insrance company mind...
Aracer, the collision happened just after the point of no return if memory serves. The point at which the two marked lanes of the m271 start.
To be clear I am not suggesting you - chojin - are at fault here for the impact. I am however trying to answer your lane choice question in the op based on first hand knowledge of the junction in question.
Two lanes coming off, so I think it would be ok to be in lane 2 and go left onto the M271.
And what happens when someone in lane 1 wants to go straight on?
There isn't a "left" exit as such, yes it's the first exit (11oclock) but it's more of a continuation of the road (motorway to motorway).
It is most definitely left on the sign (9-o-clock), which is what dictates the lane you use, unless otherwise marked.
Linky to the streetview which shows that - because I looked and couldn't see any
Sorry - I didn't look properly, there don't appear to be any road markings.
garage-dweller +1
I hope people have actually looked at the link to street view before posting their answers and tried to understand the context.
I have and also know the junction.
[quote=chojin ]Aracer, the collision happened just after the point of no return if memory serves. The point at which the two marked lanes of the m271 start.
About [url= https://goo.gl/maps/SNKtr ]here[/url]? In which case the roundabout is irrelevant and the van changed lanes on the motorway.
About here? In which case the roundabout is irrelevant and the van changed lanes on the motorway.
Yes, there.
His defence was that I was in the wrong on the roundabout, I suppose you're right though!
About here? In which case the roundabout is irrelevant and the van changed lanes on the motorway.
Not even changing lanes really, as any traffic off the roundabout from lane 1 merges into either lane 1 or 2 of the M271. You're not changing anything. You're choosing a lane from the start.
I disagree - the default from lane 1 is lane 1 - if you choose lane 2 then you have to change lanes. If chojin is at the point I linked to then it's irrelevant how he got there, hence the whole question about lane on entry is irrelevant.
I wouldn't like to guarantee anything regarding insurance, but it's quite clear to me where the fault lies given the latest bit of info. Of course in reality the van driver could also lie.
Choosing a lane that is already occupied by another vehicle?
Highway code says to stay left if taking the first exit but the exit has two lanes so you could debate which lane(s) are correct if taking the first exit. Personally I would stay left but would think its acceptable for someone to be in the right hand lane and take the first exit.
I think the van drivers actions are wrong. Again it is debatable whether the van driver was in the correct lane too but you are supposed to give way to vehicles on the right, which he failed to do.
If I was the van driver to help remove ambiguity regarding which exit I was taking I would also be signalling right to help warn anyone in the right hand lane taking the first exit that I intended to carry on round the roundabout.
Close by on the map is an organisation called Rent A Nerd .......... Is this a contributory factor ?
Jairaj -signalling is generally less effective to people already ahead of you 😉
EDIT: Paulm - yes. Yes it is.
EDIT2: I'm going to bed but appreciate all the comments so far, cheers peeps.
thats why I always check mirrors and check over my shoulder before taking an exit if I'm not in the left most lane
Choosing a lane that is already occupied by another vehicle?
The problem is it shouldn't be occupied, and you wouldn't expect it to be.
Giving that he came from behind though, in that case you'd expect him to see you!
Not sure there's any winners in this one.
I've just realised the answer to this is contained in a different thread on here. This is an example of where the OP needed a car with more power.
Regardless of traffic density, turning right (third exit) whilst in the left lane is just stupidity, and even I know that!
Hmmm
At that (and many others) junctions, the vast majority of flow is round to the right and very often both lanes go that way. Doesn't make it right, but I don't see a real distinction between "right from lane 1" and "left from lane 2" in that either is a potential collision. (The slip coming off the M27 the other way specifically allows lane 2 to go left, but then it also prohibits lane 1 from going straight over)
Sensibly, left should go left and right should go right IMO. Better flow is achieved if rules at a particular junction can vary to suit local traffic but then you always get people who don't look at the signs and slower flow is better than all stopped after yet another crash
[url= https://www.google.co.uk/maps/ @50.9550586,-1.4723942,523m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en]This is the next roundabout you'd have arrived at[/url] You'd have arrived bottom left. Every day I arrive there from bottom right and take 3rd exit. About 50% of the time I see cars going to the 3rd exit from the left lane. DICKS !
I hope to god you're not one of this lot, though:
[url= https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/M275,+Portsmouth/ @50.8057676,-1.087808,261m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x48745d3ee7357acf:0xe2133b5b2e23b9b3?hl=en]This is one of my favourite accidents waiting to happen[/url] leaving Portsmouth, 2 lanes of cars come up from bottom left to take 1st exit (left-pointing arrows on the 2 lanes). You'll see there's a special cocks-only priority boarding lane, though, offset to the right as we enter the roundabout. That one's marked straight ahead rather than left but is routinely misused by loads of ****s as a way of jumping the queue by, oooh, about 4 car lengths. Pretty much every day that I go through there I see somebody jamming on the brakes to avoid an ultimate driving machine of one sort or another. MOAR DICKS ! (better signage - "right" arrow rather than "straight", plus maybe an actual sign would sort this shit out. Well, that and a copper at the junction now & again !)
No excusing the VIPs, but the road layout there could be a lot better and help prevent the issue. There does seem to be a general problem with using roundabouts properly, which is I guess why some countries don't. A favourite trick at one roundabout local to me is to take the right lane and totally circumnavigate the roundabout to turn left as the left turn lane is always jammed.