[Closed] Oops! Nearly T-boned a motorcyclist on the way to work

lightman - Member

If you're in the outside lane and you're going to be passing exits but not taking them, why not just put your right indicator on to let people know!

sbob - Member

Because you might get a driver ahead pulling out onto the roundabout to take their next exit, thinking you are going to continue around the roundabout when you're not.
This is extremely bad practise, and I have witnessed it a few times despite never having coming across anywhere this is taught.

I think you're miss reading what I mean and I don't get why you think someone would pull out in front of me if I was doing that! Nobody EVER has.
If I was in the OP's position, I would've been in the inside lane (same as the op), but I would've indicated right to show I wasn't coming off at the first exit, but then when I passed the first exit, I would've indicated left.

I think the main problem here is that its a two lane exit, if it had just been a single lane exit, then nobody could cut in front of anyone to come off.

While it appears by the highway code that you're not advised to, it certainly doesn't hurt to let people know.

Not sure I'm that keen on making up my own Highway Code rules - but I do see your point. The existing HC rules on indication only work properly if everybody follows them, but in reality I'd guess 50% of traffic round this way doesn't indicate at all on roundabouts.

I pulled out because the nearest vehicles were 100m away

I would've indicated right to show I wasn't coming off at the first exit, but then when I passed the first exit, I would've indicated left.

Meanwhile, the chap who is waiting at the first exit, wishing to take the second, pulls out because you've told him you're turning right, not that you intend to take the same exit as him. 💡

Your method is a very bad idea and there are reasons why nobody teaches it.

<<Lightman>>, did I miss the bit where the OP indicated right to show he wasn't going off at the first exit?!
.....
If you're in the outside lane and you're going to be passing exits but not taking them, why not just put your right indicator on to let people know!

Aw bless,
Why not come back and participate in the discussion once you've had your first few driving lessons.

Who's at fault here ~

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although in reality google maps shows this was probably less than 50m, and the bike was probably doing 25mph which is over 11m/second.
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Oh ye of little faith...

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Motorbike is 100 meters from that exit, I'm about 10m (edit: okay 20). I didn't think he has going much faster than me so I [i]thought[/i] I'd be well out of his way by the time our paths crossed.

Helpful diagram OP (I know the junction)
M/C at fault (I am one btw) Inconsiderate riding, esp if he was not signalling left pre exit, gambling on his superior speed/acceleration to 'make it' in front of you. Gives riders a bad name. Anyone with half a brain would be signalling and moving in to the left lane, exiting safely behind you.

I think you're miss reading what I mean and I don't get why you think someone would pull out in front of me if I was doing that! Nobody EVER has.

*big roundabout multilane width but no markings, seen lots of people stick to RHS with right indicator on then indicate left and cross the whole roundabout immediately after the [b]entrance[/b] before their exit, bloody stupid. With single lane roundabouts indicating right is possibly not so much of an issue

seen lots of people stick to RHS with right indicator on then indicate left and cross the whole roundabout immediately after the entrance before their exit,

Did you read what I said!
I NEVER said anywhere that I would be in the RH/inside lane, I said I would be in the outside lane, there is NO empty lane for someone to pull into, I am in it.

What's your opinion on the above video? Apparently, it was the car driver at fault, despite following the "I don't have to indicate if I am not coming off rule!"

Motorbike is [s]100 meters from that exit[/s] [about] 60m from me when I decided to move away from standstill

lightman - Member

Did you read what I said!
I NEVER said anywhere that I would be in the RH/inside lane, I said I would be in the outside lane, there is NO empty lane for someone to pull into, I am in it.

So you wouldn't be indicating right if you were in the centre or right hand lane (for example if the left lane was turn left only)?

What's your opinion on the above video? Apparently, it was the car driver at fault, despite following the "I don't have to indicate rule if I am not coming off rule!"

Hard to tell from that clip but it looks like a spiral roundabout with marked lanes on it - in which case the left lane [i]has[/i] to go off.

Are you saying that if the driver had breached the Highway Code by indicating right then it wouldn't have been his fault?

I would have thought insurers would jump on any breach, especially if they had video evidence.

Its the distance from the other vehicle to your stationary car that's important. By the time you've taken your foot off the clutch it's 10m closer.

I didn't stop. Entered the roundabout doing about 20mph as it was clear on approach. m/c and car rounded the far corner and came into view as I neared the line.

lightman - Member

What's your opinion on the above video? Apparently, it was the car driver at fault, despite following the "I don't have to indicate if I am not coming off rule!"

That's not applicable to the video if the car was in the turn left only lane, in which case it was entirely the car driver's fault, although at the same time entirely avoidable by the lorry driver.

I didn't stop. Entered the roundabout doing about 20mph as it was clear on approach. m/c and car rounded the far corner and came into view as I neared the line.

What's your opinion on the above video? Apparently, it was the car driver at fault, despite following the "I don't have to indicate if I am not coming off rule!"

I would have said that the car was in the wrong lane to be going right round the roundabout compounded by the fact that they appear to be committed to going off at that exit before changing their mind*. It would have been more sensible for the lorry that hits them to be in the left hand lane given the traffic situation. If I had been in the car I would have indicated right [i]in that particular instance[/i] beacuse everything else points to him turning off.
*(or at the very least being in an awfully strange position to be continuing, they seem to be in the mouth of the exit before continuing round.)

To return to the OP. It is impossible to tell from the desciption whether you misjudged it or the m/c tries something outrageous at speed. I would only say that IMHO the onus is still on you to assess the speed of any vehicle when entering the roundabout. However, that does not allow the biker to be a prat.

SMIDSY?

I thought the OP estimated the bike to be doing about 25mph, did I imagine that?

I NEVER said anywhere that I would be in the RH/inside lane,

It is impossible to tell from the desciption whether you misjudged it or the m/c tries something outrageous at speed.

That probably reflects the fact that I don't know myself.

I would only say that IMHO the onus is still on you to assess the speed of any vehicle when entering the roundabout.

Agreed.

I suspect the most likely explanation is that I'm used to the speed that cars come round that RAB at (I use it every day that I drive to work) so seeing those two come round the corner as I neared the line I [i]knew[/i] from previous experience I'd have plenty of time without properly considering that one was a bike and could accelerate a lot faster* off the corner than the cars do.

In other words, instead of looking properly at his speed and considering his vehicle, I took the subconscious shortcut of going "they are only on the top corner I have loads of time".

(* FWIW I wasn't aware of hard revving and I don't [i]think[/i] he was going too fast. And regardless it is still up to me to avoid hitting him)

Seems to me (having skipped most of the thread):

1) bike would never have indicated left from the point at which Graham saw it - if it had been indicating the assumption would be that it was coming off at the exit before Graham and just overtaking the other car on the exit

2) In hindsight, Graham wouldn't have pulled out, as he now knows how hard the bike was psuhing (either just accelerated hard or maybe had been pushing hard as it came round - I suppose the lean of the bike might have given a hint there

3) six of one and, err, three of the other IMO - Graham "shouldn't" have pulled out but also the biker must've been shifting

A related thing happens to me very often on my way home. I turn right (3rd) at a 2-lane roundabout a bit smaller than that. Very often a couple of cars will pull out from the LH lane of the 1st entrance as I approach (obviously I'm not intimidating enough in my people carrier).

If they're going off at their 1st exit then they're out of my way but they often take their 2nd (my) exit which forces me to stay in the outside lane, rag the arse off my mowtah and pass 'em before the single lane exit. I wonder if some of them're thinking what Graham's thinking, except they're wrong and I'm not coming off to their left

You might suggest I slow and pull in behind them but there's generally another car or two who've followed them out preventing me from doing so - and I wouldn't be able to give 'em the bird as I go by on my 2 wheels 😉
I'm beginning to wonder if I should NOT indicate right as I enter the roundabout so that they stay where they are

I've had similar happen on a spiral roundabout with 3 lanes

Plenty of spirals round this way, with traffic lights on them, and almost every day I see someone sweep across the clearly marked lanes as if they didn't exist. 🙁

In hindsight, Graham wouldn't have pulled out, as he now knows how hard the bike was psuhing..

Yep - I think that's the main lesson for me today.

Next time I see a m/c on a RAB I'll be aware I have less knowledge of them and be more cautious about assessing their speed.

'Roundabouts with traffic lights' aren't roundabouts, they're a series of light controlled junctions. You are supposed to treat each one individually and move across left as appropriate ...
Problem is, not everyone is singing from the same hymn sheet ... 😉

Bad motorcyclist - no clear indication of intent and too much reliance on power and acceleration to get him clear. Busy roundabouts are not really the place to be pulling a fast one, as other drivers have multiple vehicles to assess, so there's more chance they'll misinterpret.

OP should probably 'expect the unexpected' though, especially where mbikes are concerned.

LH lane is fine for second exit on a five exit roundabout, and if I saw anyone indicating right from the LH lane on that roundabout, I'd assume they were either 80 or an idiot and give them extra room accordingly.

I will just back up molgrips on how hideous the Gabalfa interchange is

When looking at those Streetview pictures, they are taken on two different days. On one, the sign for Roath pointing down Whitchurch Road is there, on the other it's been replaced by a temporary sign.. told you it was always getting knocked over!

PS have any of you lot ever driven on the Peripherique in Paris?

molgrips - Member

PS have any of you lot ever driven on the Peripherique in Paris?

No.
How do you like your eggs in the morning; with a kiss?

PS have any of you lot ever driven on the Peripherique in Paris?

Mols, you should take your caravan round there

molgrips - Member

PS have any of you lot ever driven on the Peripherique in Paris?

Yes, although it was quite tame in comparison with some places on other continents....

Aristotle - Member

Yes, although it was quite tame in comparison with some places on other continents....

Mopedding in India is great fun. 8)