17 March 2009

Round and round and round she goes....

| weeziepops
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If I enter a roundabout in the right hand lane and have my right indicator flashing, can I then go straight through the roundabout (opting, perhaps, to indicate left as I exit the other side)?

I thought I could, but the consistent failure of fellow drivers to consider that I may be going straight through instead of turning right has caused me to wonder…

[ED – most people will take a right hand indicator as an… err… indication you wish to turn right. But I leave it up to the road rules nerds to clear this up]

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astrojax said :

be nice, and practice good habits – wouldn’t the road be a nice place if everyone did this?

Indeed so, much better than “my instructor told me not to in 1976” or “the rules don’t say you have to”.

Actually, “be nice, and practice good habits” would help quite a lot of things in the world… oops, sorry, just dreaming there.

all excellent reasons for indicating, hax, bravo – at least i don’t feel isolated in adopting deckard’s philosophy – which is exactly what my dad always used to say: ‘it’s nice to be nice”…

so, from the number of times you’re likely to be wanting to indicate in this situation, one moves smoothly into the ‘always indicate’ mindset to practice pretty well non-consciously what you’d want to happen in pretty well most circumstances (kinda like trying not to run over white lines if you can help on a m/cyle as, in the wet, this default mindset will help you make faster decisions about where to steer your vehicle)

doesn’t one?

be nice, and practice good habits – wouldn’t the road be a nice place if everyone did this?

Deckard said :

I guess the nice thing to do would be to indicate.

For a form one lane..
If there’s a car in front of me, I indicate to say “I’m not going to put my foot down at the last second and try and get in front of you”
If there’s a car behind me, I indicate to say “Don’t put your foot down at the last second and try to pass me”

Actually, if there’s a car in front and nobody behind me I just change into the same lane before the form one lane so we can get through smoothly without the need to slow down.

Reading it again, we might need a legal ruling on the difference between ‘Be prepared to’ and ‘Required’. Because I would have thought looking when forming 1 lane would be required.

I guess the nice thing to do would be to indicate.

Got it working.

It says that in a form one lane situation ‘Be prepared to use lane changing
procedures in this situation, ie using your mirrors, indicators and doing a head check.’

Where the merge right rule says ‘Lane changing procedures are required when one lane ends and you are required to merge into another lane. This includes indicating and head checks.

So I’d read that as an optional on the form one lane indicating. ie, indicate if there’s a car near you.

My instructor taught me up to around two years ago, and he insisted I indicate, but then it may have been part of the concept of being a good citizen on the road that he was beating into me.

Early 90’s. I remember my instructor telling me that some people do indicate but it’s not in the road rules that you have to.

Am having problems with my acrobat reader so can’t get on the ACT Rules site to check if it’s still the case.

When were you taught that?

astrojax said :

aah, yes, not questioning the zipper principle, which is entirely effective and egalitarian; but whose responsibility to indicate is it??

I was taught that you don’t need to indicate in a form 1 lane situation.

Turning left at a roundabout indicate left and turn left. Turning right indicate right and turn right. Going straight ahead, don’t indicate and proceed ahead.

If you’re turning left or going straight ahead get in the left lane. If you are turning right get in the right lane.

Follow these simple rules and all will be in a happy place.

Yes, you can go straight ahead in the right lane of a roundaboout but why not make it simple and get in the left lane unless you physically can’t turn right

Woody Mann-Caruso7:06 pm 18 Mar 09

Try including the next sentence which obviously should be read in conjunction with the one you quoted

Look, try to keep up with me here.

You said, and I quote – again: ““if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering”.

Now, for the second time, you’re claiming that this is the exactly the same as the road rules that say you should:

– indicate left or right when entering a roundabout if you intend to turn left or right; and
– you should indicate left immediately before exiting a roundabout.

Could you point out the part that actually says what you said? The part about indicating right when entering to turn straight? Because all I see is a rule about indicating right when you’re going to turn right.

I’m worried you’ll wipe yourself out on a roundabout before I get a straight answer.

kramer – it is NOT current Australian road rules to indicate right when intending to go ahead, and it has not been the rule in Vic. National Rules can be found here http://www.ntc.gov.au/filemedia/Reports/ARR_February_2009_final.pdf – page 112 of the PDF is what you’re after.

I’m curious as to where people really get this idea from. Obviously no-one here is admitting to doing it. I’ve seen non-geriatric drivers do it, and recently..

Another thing that gets to me is people indicating a Right Turn late, IE waiting until already in the intersection. That’s a good way to get run into by an oncoming driver.

Also, people who ignore the double white lines usually found in the last 10 metres before a roundabout – I have seen plenty of drivers overtaking bike riders there. (Never mind the odd idiot trying to overtake in the rider’s lane on a roundabout!)

Lastly, I’d like to remind a certain motorbike rider out there that they don’t have way over push bikes just because they feel like it. Picture this: Red lights, push bike waiting to take off from the left lane. Couple of cars waiting in the right lane. Motor bike approaching from behind in the left lane. Lights go green, everyone takes off – and will soon merge into one lane. Motorbike coming up from behind speeds up and gets on his horn to try and get the bike rider out of his way, so he can beat the cars into the single lane. Fortunately he sneaks past without hitting anyone.

I was taught both have to indicate too, and that’s as recently as a little over two years ago.

Both. At least with the ACT-style “form-one-lane” where neither lane continues.

aah, yes, not questioning the zipper principle, which is entirely effective and egalitarian; but whose responsibility to indicate is it??

Madame Workalot12:37 pm 18 Mar 09

astrojax said :

indicating when two lanes merge to one – vehicle in left lane is obliged to merge into the right lane (right of way to the right?), so must indicate to ‘change lanes’ to come into the right lane..? but vehicle in right lane just keeps on keeping on..?

comments?

I abide by the rule whichever car is in front or, if there’s traffic, the zipper rule. Works for me (most of the time)…

indicating when two lanes merge to one – vehicle in left lane is obliged to merge into the right lane (right of way to the right?), so must indicate to ‘change lanes’ to come into the right lane..? but vehicle in right lane just keeps on keeping on..?

comments?

Jesus christ, take yourself off the road now, it’s people like you that scare the crap out of me when I see them driving.
Mandatory IQ test for all drivers, that’s just bloody retarded. Moron

old canberran9:26 am 18 Mar 09

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

That web page said exactly what I said/wrote:-

Really? It says, and I’m quoting you here, “if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering”? It must be written in some kind of invisible ink only old men can read with their onion belt decoder buckles, because I sure can’t see it.

Try including the next sentence which obviously should be read in conjunction with the one you quoted:-

When exiting a roundabout, whether you are turning left, right or even going straight ahead, you must always indicate a left turn just before you exit, unless it is not practical to do so.

The quote in my earlier post is from the RTA web site.

Well at least now I know why people do this recently (indicate right to go straight).
(Although it flies in the face of common sense and I’m not sure why it would have been an official rule, anywhere.. ever.)

The problem is enhanced when an unsure driver indicates right from the left hand lane before they enter, only to proceeding straight.. scary!

Madame Workalot8:29 am 18 Mar 09

sepi said :

I know a lot of roundabouts are marked like that – I guess more should be…

I’m sure you’re right. But it isn’t failsafe is it?

I mean if I am going straight ahead in the inside lane, and at the next entrance, someone else enters the outside lane right next to me, and goes straight ahead, then they will be in the way as I am trying to exit.

I think fear of being stuck keeps me in the outside lane – I will have to reform

Sepi, that’s where the indicators come in! If you’re going straight but you’ve got your right indicator on, people waiting in the left lane at the next entrance may enter the roundabout (if you’re turning right on the inside lane, the left lane is therefore free). If you don’t indicate right, people will assume you are going straight ahead and will not enter the roundabout.

Turning right from an outside lane is incredibly dangerous. There are exceptions to this where it is marked on the road (ie I think the roundabout on Parkes Way and Corranderk (sp?) Street) but the overwhelming norm is as detailed above: left to go left, right to go right, either lane straight.

Clown Killer said :

This advice is all well and good, but it doesn’t reflect the reality of what’s actually happening on our roads. The proper way to deal with a roundabout (corrected for Canberra conditions) is as follows:

Always drive your Prius* in the right hand lane (not just for roundabouts but anywhere you drive). To be safe, make sure you stay a good 5-10km under the posted speed. As you approach the roundabout think about how you’re such a brave eco-warrior for choosing a hybrid car – your unbearable smugness will alert other drivers of your presence and they will move aside, clearing a path through the roundabout.

*if you own a 4WD instead of a Prius proceed as described above except: as you approach the roundabout think about how all the other drivers are goddamn pussys for not driving a real mans car – your arrogance will alert other drivers of the small size of your dick and, feeling sorry for you, they will move aside – clearing a path through the roundabout.

And for all those who drive something in between, quake in fear!

Clown Killer6:48 am 18 Mar 09

This advice is all well and good, but it doesn’t reflect the reality of what’s actually happening on our roads. The proper way to deal with a roundabout (corrected for Canberra conditions) is as follows:

Always drive your Prius* in the right hand lane (not just for roundabouts but anywhere you drive). To be safe, make sure you stay a good 5-10km under the posted speed. As you approach the roundabout think about how you’re such a brave eco-warrior for choosing a hybrid car – your unbearable smugness will alert other drivers of your presence and they will move aside, clearing a path through the roundabout.

*if you own a 4WD instead of a Prius proceed as described above except: as you approach the roundabout think about how all the other drivers are goddamn pussys for not driving a real mans car – your arrogance will alert other drivers of the small size of your dick and, feeling sorry for you, they will move aside – clearing a path through the roundabout.

Canberra Gardener said :

I see this all the time at the Barton Highway roundabout.
People indicating right to go straight ahead.
They also do it from the left hand lane.

try going through that intersection on the inside lane when the car next to you suddenly tries to turn right (from the outside lane)
exciting times… :\ could have made for a perfect PIT maneuver

Very Busy said :

OMG

+1.

bd84 said :

Step by step:
Turning left
1. Approach in left lane ONLY
2. Indicate LEFT 300m before roundabout
3. Turn steering wheel in anti-clockwise direction and exit

Turning right
1. Approach in right lane ONLY
2. Indicate RIGHT 300 m before roundabout
3. Enter roundabout and turn steering wheel clockwise
4. Indicate LEFT to leave the roundabout (i.e. 3/4 of the way around)
5. exit and cancel indicator

Straight ahead
1. Approach in EITHER LANE
2. DO NOT indicate before the roundabout
3. Indicate LEFT to leave the roundabout (i.e half way through)
4. Exit and cancel indicator

That’s fine but CAN be overridden by arrows in the road (eg right hand turn only from right lane or 2 lanes turning right etc). ALWAYS check the arrows on the road.

If you’re going straight ahead you do NOT indicate as you enter the roundabout. Many people put their right indicator on (as indicated by Kramer). This is NOT the case as it says you are turning right.

bd84 said :

Indicate LEFT 300m before roundabout

300m sounds like a long way. Are you sure that’s right?

The fact this thread has gone on so long without acheiving a consensus makes me scared to get in the driver’s seat ever again.

Did someone say Monorail? That’s ONE rail, no complicated indicator thingy necessary. Never shall Monorail deviate from it’s path. That is, of course, until they introduce the dreaded BIORAIL.

See now seeing people indicating right to exit roundabouts while driving is scary, seeing people making comments on their understanding of the road rules on here is terrifying. Prime example of why road rule refresher tests every 5 years should be compulsory. Anyone losing their licence should be subject to the same test.

Step by step:
Turning left
1. Approach in left lane ONLY
2. Indicate LEFT 300m before roundabout
3. Turn steering wheel in anti-clockwise direction and exit

Turning right
1. Approach in right lane ONLY
2. Indicate RIGHT 300 m before roundabout
3. Enter roundabout and turn steering wheel clockwise
4. Indicate LEFT to leave the roundabout (i.e. 3/4 of the way around)
5. exit and cancel indicator

Straight ahead
1. Approach in EITHER LANE
2. DO NOT indicate before the roundabout
3. Indicate LEFT to leave the roundabout (i.e half way through)
4. Exit and cancel indicator

If you don’t understand the indicate left to exit, don’t bother trying. If you don’t understand roundabouts or the concept of how to turn left or right and indicating in those directions, take your licence to a Government shopfront and ask them to cut it up and throw it in the rubbish.

sepi, you could always turn right on the roundabout by going the short way around, like I’ve seen twice . . .

I know a lot of roundabouts are marked like that – I guess more should be…

I’m sure you’re right. But it isn’t failsafe is it?

I mean if I am going straight ahead in the inside lane, and at the next entrance, someone else enters the outside lane right next to me, and goes straight ahead, then they will be in the way as I am trying to exit.

I think fear of being stuck keeps me in the outside lane – I will have to reform

Woody Mann-Caruso9:31 pm 17 Mar 09

That web page said exactly what I said/wrote:-

Really? It says, and I’m quoting you here, “if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering”? It must be written in some kind of invisible ink only old men can read with their onion belt decoder buckles, because I sure can’t see it.

Both lanes can go straight. The left lane can turn left, or exit straight. The right lane can go straight out, or turn right.

If you are in the left lane, sepi, turning right, what happens to the driver in the right lane, going straight?

Left lane left, right lane right, both lanes straight.

I’m sure there was an ad on TV when the roundabout laws were standardised, that said it was now required to indicated on entering and exiting a roundabout. This works on huge roundabouts, but is just wrong on little suburban ones.

I think I have been guilty of going right in the outside lane. Is it really that much worse my being there than a car that is only going straight (around half the roundabout)?
If I’m in the inside lane, how do I exit if someone else is in the outside lane and needs to keep going?

Gahh – I thought I knew all about roundabouts, and apparently I have no clue.

kobez_outlaw8:55 pm 17 Mar 09

I have actually seen some people indicate right and go straight recently, now I know why. It’s a huge pain in the ass. What an idiotic rule.

An interesting move that I have observed in Canberra drivers: BRAKE HARD then CHANGE LANES, then as the lane change is almost complete, INDICATE, and BRAKE AGAIN.

A simple defensive driving technique living in Canberra is to NEVER assume that another car will do what you expect – if they are indicating, expect them not to turn, lack of indication usually means that they are turning. It’s simple really.

Why would anyone think they can go straight ahead, even turning slightly left, with their right indicator going? Of course other drivers think you’re turning right… it has something to do with that mysterious flashing light on the right side of the car.

Mind you, I’m seeing a LOT of people going right around roundabouts, that is, going right, from the outside lane, so there you go.

monomania said :

Maybe everybody should sit a 5 to 10 minute computer based test multiple choice test at the shopfront every 5 years when they come to renew their licence to reinforce the road rules. Repeat questions answered wrong until all are answered correctly. OK 10 to 20 minutes in a few cases

Such a simple great idea – too much for this Govt.

creative_canberran7:32 pm 17 Mar 09

You indicate right to go right, you indicate left to go left. Now please, hand your license over to one of the chimps at the zoo who is more deserving of it!

Surrender your license, buy some magentic L plates and you can start by taking this test here

Remember, it’s also dangerous to go through a roundabout at more then 5kph. Obviously you don’t want to lose time, so jam on the brakes at the last minute.

Maybe everybody should sit a 5 to 10 minute computer based test multiple choice test at the shopfront every 5 years when they come to renew their licence to reinforce the road rules. Repeat questions answered wrong until all are answered correctly. OK 10 to 20 minutes in a few cases

Woody Mann-Caruso said :

It’s because of people like you I can’t go straight through a roundabout from the left lane. You’re indicating right now, but f.ck knows where you’re actually going.

Came here to post the same thing. Thanks Woody.

I have to deal with this “trust” issue every morning to work when in a left lane entering a roundabout (the busy one down the hill on Yamba Drive). I don’t trust drivers and usually wait for a gap, even if there is a stream of cars indicating right and actually turning right. It is tempting to pull out but why risk it to save 20 seconds of travel time.

Kramer said :

When they aligned a number of road rules across the country a couple of years ago this was one of them. The original ACT laws were indicate left for left, right for right, and nothing for straight ahead. However the current (previously Vic?) Australia wide rules say indicate right when joining roundabout and left when exiting – which I personally reckon is seriously flawed. I’m guessing this rule may work well for very large roundabouts, but for the small twin lane roundabouts you are just begging for a T-bone with this behaviour.

I think the original rules with an indicate left to exit would be the best solution – and it’s actually what I do on the road anyway :-p

I think you have miss read the rules. National rule 112 says to indicate left when entering the roundabout if you plan to exit at the first exit and that exit is LESS than half way round. Rule 113 says indicate right if exiting at an exit MORE than half way round, which means you do not indicate on entering if you are going straight ahead.

old canberran6:05 pm 17 Mar 09

Kramer said :

Old Canberran – The rules are the same in NSW as ACT. Here’s the NSW roundabouts rules from the RTA. Looks the same to me…

… and just for the record, when going straight – don’t indicate when entering the roundabout, just indicate left prior to exiting.

Thanks Kramer. That web page said exactly what I said/wrote:-

When approaching a roundabout, if you are turning left or right, you must indicate left or right.

When exiting a roundabout, whether you are turning left, right or even going straight ahead, you must always indicate a left turn just before you exit, unless it is not practical to do so.

Woody Mann-Caruso5:01 pm 17 Mar 09

Don’t know about the ACT but here in NSW if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering and half way through you indicate left so as to avoid delaying the traffic coming towards you which would otherwise have to stop if you were going right.

And presumably the people on your left can just go f.ck themselves. “He’s turning right on the inside lane, so I can enter and go straight in the left la…wait, WHAT THE F.CK ARE YOU DOING!?”

It’s because of people like you I can’t go straight through a roundabout from the left lane. You’re indicating right now, but f.ck knows where you’re actually going.

Turning left? Indicate left entering and leaving.
Straight ahead? Don’t indicate entering, indicate left leaving.
Turning right? Indicate right when entering, then indicate left before leaving to let people on your left know not to t-bone you.

In other words, when entering signal your intended direction; when exiting signal left.

I can’t find the roundabout on that map – the canturf farm looks cool from above tho.

I am coming from Fyshwick, and trying to get onto Canberra Ave – which comes really soon after the previous exit. Which I always end up taking by mistake.

I just flash my high beam a few times to let people know that i’m entering the roundabout.[/quote>

I just flash my Jim Beam to let people know that I’m doing whatever the hell I feel like

I believe this is the intersection in question, yes? You can see the arrows on the Google Map view. Which approaching direction are you talking about?

Gungahlin Al4:35 pm 17 Mar 09

You put your left blinker to indicate you are existing only.

Well this existential driver will be blinking all the way home then tonight…

Canberra Gardener4:30 pm 17 Mar 09

I see this all the time at the Barton Highway roundabout.
People indicating right to go straight ahead.
They also do it from the left hand lane.

Every day I see it, stop for two minutes and you will see it for yourself.

It is bloody dangerous. Problem starts when the traffic entering to your left thinks your turning right, so they move off as well (duel lane randabouts) only to be met in the middle.

Seen it happen a couple of times in the last few months. An accident that is.

You never change lanes while on the roundabout.

You just exit from the inner lane (preferably using your left indicator). That’s why the outer lane isn’t allowed to go further than the second exit – so they don’t wipe you out when you’re exiting from the inner lane.

Madame Workalot4:13 pm 17 Mar 09

sepi said :

Tks caf – so do I then have to get in the inner lane, and then get into the outer lane quickly to exit, or just try to exit from the middle lane?

It is hard to explain what I mean. Mostly I have no trouble except on that roundabout near fyshwick/wentworth ave.

Aaah, I get your question now Sepi! I see a lot of people going right from the left lane there. I don’t actually think you’re allowed to, because you can go straight from the right lane (I think? Happy to be corrected). Would be interesting if someone can actually check out the lane markings there…

As someone previously posted, you don’t indicate right to ‘get onto the roundabout’. If you are going left you indicate left, if you are going straight you don’t indicate, and if you are going right you indicate right.

You then indicate left to get off the roundabout (between the exit lane prior to your exit and your exit).

In general, Canberrans don’t use indicators (and if they do they use them while already turning/changing lanes). It is my pet peeve. My mother does it all the time.

Old Canberran – The rules are the same in NSW as ACT. Here’s the NSW roundabouts rules from the RTA. Looks the same to me…

… and just for the record, when going straight – don’t indicate when entering the roundabout, just indicate left prior to exiting.

If you are going straight at a roundabout and if at any time put your right blinker on, you are a tit. You put your left blinker to indicate you are existing only. There is no need to put the right blinker on to enter a roundabout because that only really makes sense in situations such as rejoining traffic after pulling to the side of the road for example. I often see people using their right indicator to go straight and it is damn confusing for other drivers on the roundabout and downright dangerous.

Tks caf – so do I then have to get in the inner lane, and then get into the outer lane quickly to exit, or just try to exit from the middle lane?

It is hard to explain what I mean. Mostly I have no trouble except on that roundabout near fyshwick/wentworth ave.

Holden Caulfield3:50 pm 17 Mar 09

GOING STRAIGHT, DON’T INDICATE!

It’s pretty bloody simple really.

Find me one other instance on the road where one has to indicate to go straight ahead.

sepi: No further than the second exit.

Do you use a blinker to go straight at a set of lights or a giveway sign…. NO!!!!!
Another casing point for everyone to redo the driver test every 5 years. Some of the things I see on the road makes me wonder how they got the license in the first place.
We are not in 1965 anymore……..

Small roundabouts work much better if everyone follows the old fashioned ‘give way to the right’ rule, instead of the new ‘whoever is there first’ rule. And don’t indicate for straight ahead – it is mostly old people I see doing that.

But I hate large roundabouts. Indicating I can deal with, but I am not always sure which lane I should be in. How far around a roundabout can you go in the outside lane?

Whatsup said :

Everyone knows you should speed up and sound your horn, that way you are giving a clear message to everyone that you are coming through.

I prefer to make my roundabout approach with “Ride of the Valkyries” blasting full bore out of my speakers, Apocalypse Now style!

On the original topic, that roundabout poster Kramer posted sums it up well. Left indicator for left, right indicator for right (and switch to left as you exit), left indicator once you have passed the left turn for straight ahead. It’s pretty simple.

caf said :

Not specifically directed at the OP, but the most important bit is to FOLLOW THE BLOODY ARROW MARKINGS. If the lane is marked with a right-turn only arrow, don’t go ever go straight ahead from it. It’s not a “guideline”, or “advisory” – it’s a rule to stop people running into each other.

One afternoon I was driving through the lights at Coranderrk/Constitution heading towards the roundabout, in the right hand lane. (Green light, red arrow). Somebody in the right turn lane decides to beat some of the traffic and use that as a third straight ahead lane, then gave me a puzzled look as i slammed on the brakes and gave them a huge blast on the horn.

Your left or right or our left or right Thumper?

Clown Killer3:03 pm 17 Mar 09

I saw A chap exit a round-about sideways once. It was the two lane one on the Cotter Road at Lady Dedman Drive(I think). Another car and I were approaching the roundabout slightly staggered and this bloke tried to get through the gap between us with his foot down. Not having much of a clue, he over-corrected on the way out. You just have to shake your head sometimes.

proofpositive2:43 pm 17 Mar 09

weeziepops: FAIL!
please give back your driving licence and go to the end of the line.

Gungahlin Al2:43 pm 17 Mar 09

See now I thought the rule in Canberra ws “Approach roundabout as fast as possible, so everyone else has to hit the skids, even if they were almost on the roundabout and therefore technically had right of way, merely to protect their own health.”

The initial question is easily answered. Treat the roundabout as a normal X intersection, and on approach indicate exactly as you would when approaching said ordinary intersection and use the left/right lanes the same way. Easy? Right.

Then when you are ON the roundabout, you are on a road, so that other critical everyday road rule applies – if you are about to turn left (as in OFF the roundabout) then indicate left.

Madame Workalot2:36 pm 17 Mar 09

old canberran said :

Don’t know about the ACT but here in NSW if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering and half way through you indicate left so as to avoid delaying the traffic coming towards you which would otherwise have to stop if you were going right.

What you said in the first place weeziepops was correct for this part of the world anyway. Judging from the behaviour of some Canberra drivers down here over Xmas and Easter it’s safer to stop until they have completely cleared the roundabout and are out of the way.

Actually old canberran, the rule states that you must give a right indication if you are exiting more than halfway around the roundabout. Therefore if you are going straight, you shouldn’t indicate.

(For reference, it is Part 9, Rule 113 of Road Rules 2008 (NSW)

i go by the international standard of indicate left for a left turn and right for a right turn with no indication for going straight ahead. However, when in a two laned roundabout, whomever is in the inner righthand lane should indicate when exiting regardless. I could be wrong but it has never failed me.

Since we are on road rules in the ACT and i believe that this may still be somewhere on the books. When approaching a roundabout or intersection you are required to fire a warning shot into the air to let others know that you are approaching, however, you are not allowed to discharge a firearm in public. Go figure

Just out of curiosity, if one was to use this indicator thingy when driving … where do I look for it? Is it a button or what?

I just flash my high beam a few times to let people know that i’m entering the roundabout.

Everyone knows you should speed up and sound your horn, that way you are giving a clear message to everyone that you are coming through. Its airy fairy indicator light submissive behavior that causes collisions.

Under the new guidelines, right of way is essentially about who’s got the biggest penis.

Just out of curiosity, if one was to use this indicator thingy when driving … where do I look for it? Is it a button or what?

I just flash my high beam a few times to let people know that i’m entering the roundabout.

No need. If you cut them off, they’ll know you’re there.

old canberran2:10 pm 17 Mar 09

Don’t know about the ACT but here in NSW if you are going straight through a roundabout you indicate right when entering and half way through you indicate left so as to avoid delaying the traffic coming towards you which would otherwise have to stop if you were going right.

What you said in the first place weeziepops was correct for this part of the world anyway. Judging from the behaviour of some Canberra drivers down here over Xmas and Easter it’s safer to stop until they have completely cleared the roundabout and are out of the way.

Madame Workalot2:08 pm 17 Mar 09

I do kind of agree with you on that one Weeziepops. It’s a little hard to give way if you’re next to the bus. But the lesson is to always be cautious (you should be alert anyway, as the 40kph sign when lights are flashing applies), move out of their way wherever possible and be prepared for them to pull out in front.

I think the ‘always give way to buses’ rule was developed because most of the time buses drive on key arterials that are often busy. They have to stop, and if they have to give way to all the traffic they would never operate on time. Makes sense when you think about it.

Now that I have achieved a degree of satisfaction regarding my original query, I have another. It’s more a comment, really, but I do hope someone out there may have a view to offer. I find it a bit irritating when I am driving along and a bus pulls out in front of me without indicating. I know The Man says we have to give way to buses, but the assumption of telepathy as part of the process seems a bit unrealistic.

I should clarify my response… obviously the right indicator needs to be used in situations where the 2nd exit to the round about is significantly more than 180o around… such as at T intersection round abouts.

Clown Killer said :

Just out of curiosity, if one was to use this indicator thingy when driving … where do I look for it? Is it a button or what?

Usually it’s a big red button on the dash with a triangle on it. That’ll activate both your indicators at once, and then there’s no chance of people not seeing you.

Looking at the law regarding roundabouts, I could only find reference to when you must indicate right or left, but there didn’t appear to be anything stating that you must not indicate right if you’re going straight.

Still, it’s best not to do that. As you said, most people take a right indicator to mean that you want to turn right. Best to use the indicators on your vehicle in a manner that most drivers are expecting you too… unexpected manuvers will lead to confusion and confusion leads to crashes.

In the interests of optimising traffic flow at multilane round abouts, your right indicator should mean that you’re taking at least the 3rd exit from where you’ve entered, or are performing a u-turn. If you plan on taking the second exit or going straight, don’t indicate right at all.

At single lane round abouts yeah this obviously doesn’t matter quite so much, still best to get into a consistant habit at all round abouts.

Don’t forget to indicate left just after you’ve approached the exit before yours on larger round abouts.

Clown Killer1:47 pm 17 Mar 09

This post is a joke. No-one in the ACT ever uses an indicator.

Just out of curiosity, if one was to use this indicator thingy when driving … where do I look for it? Is it a button or what?

Seriously, though. After muy experiences in Victoria over the recent long weekend, you can add Victorian drivers to that statement as well.

Madame Workalot1:45 pm 17 Mar 09

I kinda took the ‘indicate left after entering the roundabout’ as indicating when leaving, which should be done between the last available exit and the one you want.

On reflection, I was perhaps a little rude as you may have been a learner driver or indeed, someone who has not yet got their licence. I apologise. I think I am a little frustrated as this morning, I was waiting at a roundabout for what felt like bloody ages because no-one could be arsed indicating that they were turning right…

Not specifically directed at the OP, but the most important bit is to FOLLOW THE BLOODY ARROW MARKINGS. If the lane is marked with a right-turn only arrow, don’t go ever go straight ahead from it. It’s not a “guideline”, or “advisory” – it’s a rule to stop people running into each other.

This post is a joke. No-one in the ACT ever uses an indicator.

Actually it looks like I am right…
Check the TAMS road rules and here’s the more concise roundabout poster.

Case closed.

Thank you, Kramer. I’m glad I didn’t just make this one up.

When they aligned a number of road rules across the country a couple of years ago this was one of them. The original ACT laws were indicate left for left, right for right, and nothing for straight ahead. However the current (previously Vic?) Australia wide rules say indicate right when joining roundabout and left when exiting – which I personally reckon is seriously flawed. I’m guessing this rule may work well for very large roundabouts, but for the small twin lane roundabouts you are just begging for a T-bone with this behaviour.

I think the original rules with an indicate left to exit would be the best solution – and it’s actually what I do on the road anyway :-p

People, people – please! I seek edification, not censure. My lack of certainty on the issue should reassure you that I have not acted upon my admitted urge to indicate right to enter and then indicate left to exit. The TAMS reference document advises me to operate the left hand indicator after entering the roundabout, which seems to suggest a need for careful consideration of timing else people will think I am turning left (thanks, Ed).

Madame Workalot1:18 pm 17 Mar 09

Page 46 of the ACT Road Rules Handbook. PLEASE read it (preferably the whole thing).

This has to be a joke, yes?

Madame Workalot1:15 pm 17 Mar 09

Are you serious? How long ago did you get your licence?

Right indicator to go right, left indicator to go left, no indicator to go straight and a left indicator when exiting if practicable. I’ll dig it up in the road rules unless someone beats me to it.

Good God, with people like you on the road it’s no wonder my knuckles are white by the time I get to work 😛

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