9 May 2016

Police name ACT's worst intersections ahead of blitz on traffic controls

| Charlotte
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Susan Ball

ACT Policing will focus its road safety efforts in May on the territory’s worst intersections for collisions and has released a top ten list to assist drivers in preventing such accidents in future.

More than half of all collisions on ACT roads occur at intersections, according to ACT Policing, with many drivers disregarding traffic controls such as stop and give way signs.

The following intersections rank as the top 10 worst for collisions:

• BARTON HWY/WILLIAM SLIM DR/GUNDAROO DR
• ANZAC PDE/PARKES WAY
• CORANDERRK ST/PARKES WAY
• CANBERRA AVE/STURT AVE/WENTWORTH AVE
• HINDMARSH DR/TUGGERANONG PKWY EAST
• ATHLLON DR/DRAKEFORD DR/ISABELLA DR
• BARRY DR/COOYONG ST/NORTHBOURNE AVE
• CANBERRA AVE/HINDMARSH DR/NEWCASTLE ST
• HINDMARSH DR/YAMBA DR
• ASHLEY DR/ISABELLA DR

The Officer in Charge of Traffic Operations, Station Sergeant Susan Ball, said ACT Policing’s focus on traffic controls during the month of May was aimed at not only providing a safer environment for road users but also educating ACT drivers on the risks involved in ignoring traffic controls.

“Time and time again we see collisions caused by the failure of drivers to obey these controls,” she said.

“Ignoring stop or give-way signs, or accelerating through a yellow light can have disastrous consequences”.

“ACT Policing’s Traffic Operations have already issued almost 1000 infringement notices for traffic control offences in 2016, this represents 1000 times that innocent ACT road users have been put at unnecessary risk,” she said.

Fines for traffic control offences can be up to $360 and three demerit points.

Above, Station Sergeant Susan Ball. Photo: Charlotte Harper

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Queanbeyanite said :

When hurtling at full speed through a roundabout with six other cars tailgating you, one day something has to give!
If you venture out to Queanbeyan during the peak half hour, you’ll find something very interesting happening: Local Queanbeyan drivers don’t intimidate other road users by speeding through roundabouts. Many local drivers actually slow right down and crawl through, allowing other drivers to enter the roundabout with the whole team ‘zippering’ around getting through safe and sound. We tend to have more hard working tradies and trucks which are understandably slow to accelerate who really appreciate those considerate drivers who slow right down before they even get to the roundabout to let them get up steam. I’ve certainly seen this behaviour catching on.
Of course this means you’ll take that sip of beer a second or two later than in Canberra but over here you have to stop and chat with so many people between the car park and the pub anyway, you hardly notice it. Give it a go, you’ll get tooted a lot, but you won’t have as many prangs.

I find it comically ironic that a “Queanbeyanite” is providing advice on using round-abouts! While you’re at it, could you be so kind as to tell me what the outer lane is for? No one in Queanbeyan seems to use the outer lane (when proceeding straight ahead ie. taking the second exit), opting instead to share the inside lane with other vehicles, irrespective of which lane they were in prior to entering the round-about. If you enter from the left lane and actually bother to stay in the outer lane, people will generally pull out in front of you because they assume that if you’re using the outer lane you must be turning left (ie. taking the first exit), because anyone going straight ahead (ie. second exit) would be using the inside lane, even if they had entered the round-about from the left lane.

“Blitz” – translation being: “We’ve received a few complaints from important people, so we have to be seen to be doing something in response. But we’re so under-funded and under-resourced we can’t sustain enforcement on a continuous basis (which would actually change driver behaviour on a sustainable basis). So we’ll crack down for a week. But we have to make it clear to everyone that we’re also going to crack down on pedestrians and cyclists, who don’t create any danger or risk whatsoever, because if we don’t, we’ll be flooded by complaints from drivers screaming ‘And what about those dangerous cyclists riding on the road when they don’t pay road tax, hey?’.”

Queanbeyanite5:18 pm 15 May 17

When hurtling at full speed through a roundabout with six other cars tailgating you, one day something has to give!
If you venture out to Queanbeyan during the peak half hour, you’ll find something very interesting happening: Local Queanbeyan drivers don’t intimidate other road users by speeding through roundabouts. Many local drivers actually slow right down and crawl through, allowing other drivers to enter the roundabout with the whole team ‘zippering’ around getting through safe and sound. We tend to have more hard working tradies and trucks which are understandably slow to accelerate who really appreciate those considerate drivers who slow right down before they even get to the roundabout to let them get up steam. I’ve certainly seen this behaviour catching on.
Of course this means you’ll take that sip of beer a second or two later than in Canberra but over here you have to stop and chat with so many people between the car park and the pub anyway, you hardly notice it. Give it a go, you’ll get tooted a lot, but you won’t have as many prangs.

chewy14 said :

churl said :

Actually I think Maya’s issue is that some driver failed to give way to her while she was on the roundabout in the left-hand lane and staying on the roundabout, as she is entitled to do.
What’s more, regardless of whether Maya should have been in the inside lane, the conditions of the driver’s licence require him/her to drive safely.

I doubt any sensible person would suggest a cyclist use the inside lane on that particular roundabout for any purpose whatsoever.

If you want Canberrans to drive sensibly on roundabouts, we will need two things:
1 A blanket speed limit of 25km/h that applies within roundabout lanes
2 Speed cameras on entry to all roundabouts.

That’s basically it. Two cars side by side entering the roundabout from Wentworth Avenue. The arrows point straight ahead. There is no left hand turn arrow here, as at the Canberra Avenue entrance, and even at the Canberra Avenue entrance, only the left hand lane has an arrow to turn left, NOT the right hand lane where this person was. We started off together and then the car on my right wanted to turn sharply into me to exit down Canberra Avenue towards Fyshwick. I don’t know why some people think I was in the wrong and this person entering the roundabout with me on my right had the right to cross my lane and turn left, forcing me to take evasive action down Canberra Avenue to avoid them driving into me.

The slip lane is a straight bit of road! So Canberra Ave is the straight through direction. Hence why two straight arrows, no left but a right!

As mentioned roundabouts have two set of coniditons to meet. What turn and how far around. Yes Sturt Ave is 2nd turn but from Wentworth ave more than half way around meassured on angle. Canberra ave is close to dead straight.

churl said :

Actually I think Maya’s issue is that some driver failed to give way to her while she was on the roundabout in the left-hand lane and staying on the roundabout, as she is entitled to do.
What’s more, regardless of whether Maya should have been in the inside lane, the conditions of the driver’s licence require him/her to drive safely.

I doubt any sensible person would suggest a cyclist use the inside lane on that particular roundabout for any purpose whatsoever.

If you want Canberrans to drive sensibly on roundabouts, we will need two things:
1 A blanket speed limit of 25km/h that applies within roundabout lanes
2 Speed cameras on entry to all roundabouts.

That’s basically it. Two cars side by side entering the roundabout from Wentworth Avenue. The arrows point straight ahead. There is no left hand turn arrow here, as at the Canberra Avenue entrance, and even at the Canberra Avenue entrance, only the left hand lane has an arrow to turn left, NOT the right hand lane where this person was. We started off together and then the car on my right wanted to turn sharply into me to exit down Canberra Avenue towards Fyshwick. I don’t know why some people think I was in the wrong and this person entering the roundabout with me on my right had the right to cross my lane and turn left, forcing me to take evasive action down Canberra Avenue to avoid them driving into me.

Mysteryman said :

Crazed_Loner said :

MarkE said :

rosscoact said :

Aranda63 said :

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn. It is obviously a very quirky roundabout, but I reckon both the line markings and a liberal interpritation of the roundabout rules (especially the half way round rule) says that is the straight through direction.

Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane. A quick look at google earth shows that lane flowing directly towards Canberra Ave without ever going anywhere near the centre lane.

And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka. So regadless of what you consider Canberra Ave, going to Sturt Ave or Canberra Ave (Manuka bound) you should be in the right hand lane on approach and travel around the centre.

I do wonder however if the ambiguity comes about because circa 25 years ago Sturt Ave was the route to get to Jerrabomberra Ave and the Monaro Highway. So in the past had most of the traffic flow, but now days the bulk of the traffic is Wentworth to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound). My memory of that kind of detail doesn’t stretch that far back unfortunatly.

Sorry, but you seem to be making two different interpretations here. I am unsure where you are going with this.
“Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn.”
“And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka.”

“Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane.”
Both the right and the left lanes do if the car goes straight ahead. That makes no different what lane you are in.

OK gets back to what is straight through? I say Canberra Ave is straight through in which case you never cross a line inside the roundabout. (except the dashed line at the hold point). You do cross it if you are left lane going to Sturt Ave, but that is right.

And I base that on the fact that the angle from Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave is very close to 180 degrees or straight through it isn’t funny. Indeed look at the slip lane you call the left turn. It is pretty much dead straight ahead. So even inside the roundabout it is straight! So the halfway round rule rather than 2nd exit rule comes into play.

What does make the roundabout quirky is the angle of approach as Wentworth Ave and Canberra Ave are both skimming the top of the roundabout rather than being at 9 and 3 on a clock for example.

I am a Rabbit™ said :

Crazed_Loner said :

MarkE said :

rosscoact said :

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn. It is obviously a very quirky roundabout, but I reckon both the line markings and a liberal interpritation of the roundabout rules (especially the half way round rule) says that is the straight through direction.

Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane. A quick look at google earth shows that lane flowing directly towards Canberra Ave without ever going anywhere near the centre lane.

And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka. So regadless of what you consider Canberra Ave, going to Sturt Ave or Canberra Ave (Manuka bound) you should be in the right hand lane on approach and travel around the centre.

I do wonder however if the ambiguity comes about because circa 25 years ago Sturt Ave was the route to get to Jerrabomberra Ave and the Monaro Highway. So in the past had most of the traffic flow, but now days the bulk of the traffic is Wentworth to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound). My memory of that kind of detail doesn’t stretch that far back unfortunatly.

It’s a standard roundabout with four entry points and four exit points, and irrespective of layout, by entering from Wentworth and exiting on Canberra Ave (Fyshwick), the driver in the right lane was taking the first exit and was exiting less than halfway around it.

Had they collided with Maya they would’ve been at fault.

Going to Sturt is taking the second exit, or going straight ,and you can enter in either lane. You would indicate left on exiting. Proceeding onto Canberra Ave towards Manuka is the third exit and you indicate right in the right lane then indicate left on exiting.

To quote: “If the driver is to leave the roundabout less than halfway around it, the driver must enter the roundabout from the left marked lane or left line of traffic…When approaching a multi-lane roundabout with the intention of turning left; approach in the left hand lane, operate the left hand indicator before entering the roundabout and continue to indicate throughout the turn.”

See, knew there would be disagreement, but again stand firm that Sturt Ave although the 2nd exit is more than half way around, so a right hand turn. So Maya should have been in the left hand lane.

And whilst kind of academic I still think that Canberra Ave is close enough to being half way around that it is the straight ahead path.

We could argue endlessly and don’t think there is any clear answer to be honest. The rules, like most road rules are not as black and white as some may think nor can be applied black and white to all situations.

Firstly what exactly does half way around actually mean? Is it talking distance or is it talking angle. I think the spirit of it means angle. So on angle if you come off Wentworth going to Canberra Ave you are going pretty much straight ahead and I beleive the road markings, both arrows and the lane markers are indicating that too. Likewise on angle Sturt Ave is more than half way around, more like 240 degrees from where Wentworth Ave enters the roundabout.

I actually think that the Canberra Ave roundabout looks a lot like the 5 way roundabout on page 103 of the road rules attached below. Just that it is missing the first exit. I am looking at that picture thinking Wentworth Ave is the bottom left, Canberra Ave towards Fyshwick at the top, Sturt Ave top right and Canberra Ave Manuka bound bottom right.

http://www.legislation.act.gov.au/ni/db_37271/current/pdf/db_37271.pdf

Actually I think Maya’s issue is that some driver failed to give way to her while she was on the roundabout in the left-hand lane and staying on the roundabout, as she is entitled to do.
What’s more, regardless of whether Maya should have been in the inside lane, the conditions of the driver’s licence require him/her to drive safely.

I doubt any sensible person would suggest a cyclist use the inside lane on that particular roundabout for any purpose whatsoever.

If you want Canberrans to drive sensibly on roundabouts, we will need two things:
1 A blanket speed limit of 25km/h that applies within roundabout lanes
2 Speed cameras on entry to all roundabouts.

Crazed_Loner said :

MarkE said :

rosscoact said :

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn. It is obviously a very quirky roundabout, but I reckon both the line markings and a liberal interpritation of the roundabout rules (especially the half way round rule) says that is the straight through direction.

Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane. A quick look at google earth shows that lane flowing directly towards Canberra Ave without ever going anywhere near the centre lane.

And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka. So regadless of what you consider Canberra Ave, going to Sturt Ave or Canberra Ave (Manuka bound) you should be in the right hand lane on approach and travel around the centre.

I do wonder however if the ambiguity comes about because circa 25 years ago Sturt Ave was the route to get to Jerrabomberra Ave and the Monaro Highway. So in the past had most of the traffic flow, but now days the bulk of the traffic is Wentworth to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound). My memory of that kind of detail doesn’t stretch that far back unfortunatly.

It’s a standard roundabout with four entry points and four exit points, and irrespective of layout, by entering from Wentworth and exiting on Canberra Ave (Fyshwick), the driver in the right lane was taking the first exit and was exiting less than halfway around it.

Had they collided with Maya they would’ve been at fault.

Going to Sturt is taking the second exit, or going straight ,and you can enter in either lane. You would indicate left on exiting. Proceeding onto Canberra Ave towards Manuka is the third exit and you indicate right in the right lane then indicate left on exiting.

To quote: “If the driver is to leave the roundabout less than halfway around it, the driver must enter the roundabout from the left marked lane or left line of traffic…When approaching a multi-lane roundabout with the intention of turning left; approach in the left hand lane, operate the left hand indicator before entering the roundabout and continue to indicate throughout the turn.”

Crazed_Loner said :

MarkE said :

rosscoact said :

Aranda63 said :

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn. It is obviously a very quirky roundabout, but I reckon both the line markings and a liberal interpritation of the roundabout rules (especially the half way round rule) says that is the straight through direction.

Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane. A quick look at google earth shows that lane flowing directly towards Canberra Ave without ever going anywhere near the centre lane.

And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka. So regadless of what you consider Canberra Ave, going to Sturt Ave or Canberra Ave (Manuka bound) you should be in the right hand lane on approach and travel around the centre.

I do wonder however if the ambiguity comes about because circa 25 years ago Sturt Ave was the route to get to Jerrabomberra Ave and the Monaro Highway. So in the past had most of the traffic flow, but now days the bulk of the traffic is Wentworth to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound). My memory of that kind of detail doesn’t stretch that far back unfortunatly.

Sorry, but you seem to be making two different interpretations here. I am unsure where you are going with this.
“Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn.”
“And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka.”

“Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane.”
Both the right and the left lanes do if the car goes straight ahead. That makes no different what lane you are in.

How about the top ten for injuries(and death)? Fender bending is one thing but those high speed collisions are the ones I don’t want to be in.
While I’m here, how about the police opinion on why these black spots stay black. And just this once don’t just blame it on drivers. We’re only human and I can’t see that changing soon.

MarkE said :

rosscoact said :

Aranda63 said :

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Maya think the problem comes down to your assummption that Wentworth Ave to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick) is a left turn. It is obviously a very quirky roundabout, but I reckon both the line markings and a liberal interpritation of the roundabout rules (especially the half way round rule) says that is the straight through direction.

Also cannot see how you can say the left hand lane on the Wentworth Ave approach crosses the centre lane. A quick look at google earth shows that lane flowing directly towards Canberra Ave without ever going anywhere near the centre lane.

And any interpriattion to me says Wentworth to Sturt is a right hand turn, along with the Canberra Ave exit towards Manuka. So regadless of what you consider Canberra Ave, going to Sturt Ave or Canberra Ave (Manuka bound) you should be in the right hand lane on approach and travel around the centre.

I do wonder however if the ambiguity comes about because circa 25 years ago Sturt Ave was the route to get to Jerrabomberra Ave and the Monaro Highway. So in the past had most of the traffic flow, but now days the bulk of the traffic is Wentworth to Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound). My memory of that kind of detail doesn’t stretch that far back unfortunatly.

switch said :

What’s with this widespread attitude that people have that if they are approaching a roundabout at speed they have right of way over a stationary vehicle waiting to enter the roundabout? It is totally wrong.

Think it gets back to the give way to the right mentality that many (wrongly) have.

What’s with this widespread attitude that people have that if they are approaching a roundabout at speed they have right of way over a stationary vehicle waiting to enter the roundabout? It is totally wrong.

rosscoact said :

Aranda63 said :

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

I agree that cars coming from Wentworth Av and wanting to turn left into Canberra Av can ignore the safer slip lane and turn after entering the roundabout, but for safety they should do it from the left lane. If you want to drive around the roundabout, both lanes have to cross the roundabout central lane here. I have been examining the road markings on the roundabout and they are rather ambiguous. Just check the ones coming from Canberra Av into the roundabout for a good example of this. Personally I think for safety reasons (mentioned above when I gave the example of attempting to cross this on a bike) when there is a left slip lane there should be no left turn allowed immediately after entering the roundabout. My experience is that many of these cars will come up from behind a person on a bike and pretend you are not there and starting off to ride across what is otherwise a clear road and go to turn left through you. They are coming from behind and can see you, while it is harder to see the cars behind which have driven past the slip lane and then turned deliberately in front, or worse, drive at you while you are attempting to cross the roundabout. This in years past happened numerous times to me.
Notice that while the entry road from Canberra Av has a left arrow indicating the turn into Wentworth Av, there is no such arrow on the Wentworth entry to the roundabout; only straight ahead arrows and a right hand arrow. The roundabout needs its markings re-examined.

Aranda63 said :

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

Maya123, cars don’t HAVE to use the slip lane, then can if they so choose still use the roundabout.

Also in the situation you describe I think you are very much in the wrong. If you travel more than half way around the roundabout on a multilane roundabout you need to enter from the right lane and travel around the inside lane, even if the exit you are taking is the 2nd exit as is the case you describe.

I also think your interpretation of the line markings is wrong too. Coming off Wentworth Ave straight through is Canberra Ave. Now whilst not the 2nd exit, nor is it really half way round, when you factor in the approach and departure angles, plus read the line markings better I say it tend to direct vehicles towards Canberra Ave as the straight through path.

But as mentioned even if there is some grey around if the Canberra Ave (Fyshwick bound) is the straight through direction, it doesn’t change the fact Stuart Ave is without doubt greater than halfway round (measured as an angle not distance), so you need to treat it and Canberra Ave as a right hand turn and be in the right hand lane and travel around the inside of the roundabout.

What makes this roundabout so bad and where I have no doubt some people will say I am wrong is the fact the roads don’t approach and enter the roundabout at 90’s and at the normal 90, 180, 270, 360 marks. Instead the approach is at an angle and the exists all over the place. But apply the basic rules of roundabouts in particular the more than half way round rule (rule 111.3 of the ACT version of the national road rules BTW) and some common sense and it should be ok.

At least coming back the other way it is clearer. Sturt Ave is first exit, so left lane. Canberra Ave is 2nd exit under half way around so either lane and Wentworth Ave is 3rd exit so right hand lane. Though of course as mentioned above many do get this wrong for what ever silly reason. The other way I can understand some ambiguity, but not ‘City bound’

Another comment about the roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
Coming from Sturt Avenue there is also a left hand separate turn from Sturt Avenue into Canberra Avenue, which cars are meant to take. There is likely nothing illegal for cars to ignore this, turn left into the roundabout and then into Canberra Avenue. However, I have on several occasions almost been hit by those cars as I attempted to cycle across the roundabout from Sturt Avenue. The roundabout is clear, and any cars from that direction turning into the roundabout and not exiting at Canberra Avenue are not a problem. I do glance behind me, but how can I know they are going to turn left across me when they are not indicating this? They ignored the left hand turn and now they ignore any person on a bike, who has waited patiently for cars, to cross. (Now I am older and slower I take the long way around and don’t cycle this way.) There are ways to make roundabouts safer for cyclists, which some other countries do, but not here.

A bit of trivial: I was patiently waiting in the afore mentioned place, when a car came around the roundabout and two hubcaps flew off. One of them almost hit me. I only just managed to move my bike in time. Fortunately I saw the fast moving object in time.

Mordd said :

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behaviour of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

“turning left from the inside lane” – reminds me:
The roundabout at Canberra Avenue, Wentworth Avenue and Sturt Avenue.
I entered this from Wentworth Avenue intending to exit at Sturt Avenue. The drivers turning left into Canberra Avenue are meant to use the designated separate left turn lane and not the two that enter the roundabout. Both those lanes have arrows pointing forward to indicate this. The left arrow directs one to the outside land and the right arrow to the inside lane of the roundabout. I was in the left lane and there was a car in the right lane. As I went into the roundabout intending, as is normal practice for cars here and how the arrows indicate, to continue around the roundabout, the driver on my right, in the right hand land blasted me on my horn because he intended to turn left into Canberra Avenue crossing the left hand lane to do so (having not taken the separate left hand turn lane, or even used the left lane, but got into the right lane). I had to take evasive action and was forced down Canberra Avenue. There are some bad ignorant drivers out there, and it left me feeling annoyed.

• CANBERRA AVE/STURT AVE/WENTWORTH AVE

This one could be improved if people didn’t, for some unknown reason, think that it’s okay to make a right-hand turn from the left (outer) lane – I’ve seen so many people turn right onto Wentworth Ave (from Canberra Ave westbound) using the left (outer) lane, despite the road markings (and common sense) making it quite clear that it shouldn’t be attempted.

From my observations, this is not a problem with the road/intersection, but with certain drivers.

wildturkeycanoe7:29 am 12 May 16

So is the point of naming these areas to let people know where the police will be waiting for unaware prey in the next month? Letting us know where the black spots are won’t make any impact, but modifying the behavior of the drivers who cause accidents will.Perhaps getting everybody who has a license to go through a test to determine their knowledge of roundabouts might be a better strategy.
I guarantee you that entering a roundabout into the path of a car already on it is the number one cause of accidents, with turning right from the outside lane or turning left from the inside lane running a close second. Apart from that, you cannot really go wrong, they are pretty straight forward. I saw yesterday a totally clueless git stop half way around a roundabout to give way to a car approaching it from a few hundred meters away. Absolutely flabbergasted at their lack of knowledge of the road rules. Lucky nobody else was around.

I notice that the majority of those listed are high traffic area roundabouts…

At a guess a number of issues are caused by impatience, timing, and visibility issues rather than failure to obey signage… I know that for example on the Parkes Way roundabouts going straight ahead in an easterly direction there are some visilbility issues in knowing when someone is turning right versus straight ahead. Personally I think that these roundabouts and the Gundaroo Dr/Barton Highway roundabouts should be traffic lights instead allowing a better control of traffic and clearer instructions. I can’t comment on some of the other roundabouts…

dungfungus said :

They didn’t put in Ginninderra Drive, Tillyard Drive, where there is a prang almost on a daily basis?

Your point might be valid if ACT Policing’s PR included, “10 intersections we have randomly thought of and made a list of”.
In fact, the PR is specifically about “intersections rank as the top 10 worst for collisions”.
The inescapable conclusion is that Ginninderra/Tillyard Drives intersection isn’t in the top10, and therefore ACT Policing didn’t have it on their list.

wildturkeycanoe6:14 am 11 May 16

They didn’t put in Ginninderra Drive, Tillyard Drive, where there is a prang almost on a daily basis? The installation of the new emergency services hub nearby didn’t do anything to slow the rate of crashes, but perhaps improves response times substantially.

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