Is this the UK's Stupidest Roundabout?

This one even baffled me!
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[@chrispayne523]

It's frustrating when you're queued in the left lane intending to go straight ahead, only to discover about 3 meters before the roundabout that it's a left turn only, with no prior markings and the right lane backed up.

[@dogastus]

Yes, there's one of those approaching Andover from the North. A straight ahead arrow in the left hand lane shortly followed by a left turn only arrow. maps.app.goo.gl/NzVBay24mfpZv9Tf9

[@JohnCarlyle]

The ones that get me the most are those that have markings stating left lane is for left or straight, then a little further again says left or straight, then a little further again says left only!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@theunholybanana4745]

@@JohnCarlyle how does someone even design something like that, with the one shown in the video it's a dumb oversight but at least you can see how it happened, I have no idea how someone looked at the roundabout and decided to give completely conflicting road markings.

[@gillianbartlett3665]

Come to Blackpool arounderness way there are possibly two crashes daily I try to avoid at all cost markings are there people don’t pay heed .

[@kiddywolf1837]

As a retired driving instructor, If i did not know the area on seeing the road sign straight head is past ‘12 o’clock’ so i would look to go in the right hand lane on approach. The only error I can see is the left lane should not be marked ahead and left. It should be left only.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@kiddywolf1837 agree definitely it should be left only. I do see your point, but the sign reads as ‘ahead’ so if no reason to suspect otherwise I would keep to the left lane. Although I would have been ok if I had done as you say eh! 🤙🏻

[@streamleazefishhouse]

I agree it is marked incorrectly on the approach to the roundabout.

[@user-xu5vl5th9n]

It is a filter to see if you are local or not. If not, you are automatically filtered out of the area.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@user-xu5vl5th9n brilliant!

[@tomherbert4052]

This roundabout is a local roundabout for locals only.....

[@NeilStain]

That roundabout has been like that for years, used it daily when dropping my lad off at Uni and there were often near misses. Also a lot of people drive straight over those hatchings, totally ignoring them 😂

[@InclusiveDriving]

Wolverhampton actually has a council department for making roundabouts more complicated than necessary!

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@InclusiveDriving I might not head there for a drive then! 😝

[@100tallpaul]

I use it every day as I'm local and to be honest, when I'm on my way home from work I use the left lane and just drive straight over those white markings. I dont just cut in on other drivers but obviously like you saw, the lane goes straight on, always has so I've never paid attention to the markings. But then again I've never seen them anywhere else.

[@nathanw9770]

Just wondering how often people go straight, over the markings and bump into traffic waiting to go onto the roundabout? I can imagine there being a lot of crashes here.

[@FACEJJ]

but if you went over the white markings you'd smash into the side of people at the give way? is that what you do?

[@100tallpaul]

@@FACEJJ obviously not. Stupid comment

[@rogerkearns8094]

@@100tallpaul No, it's not a stupid comment, it's what you seem to imply - or that you're risking that happening, at least. Also, why be so rude? There's no need. Best wishes, anyway.

[@FACEJJ]

@@100tallpaul I apologise. What do you do though? Unless I'm missing something it seems like your options from the left lane if a car is approaching from the next exit are: - try to merge into the right lane at the last minute - stop on the roundabout - bail out and take the left Unless you're just not emerging onto the roundabout until you're certain that there's nothing at the give way or approaching the give way at the next exit?

[@lefthandedspanner]

The London Dash Cam often features Rosehill roundabout in Morden, and the west side of that is a complete dog's breakfast in terms of lane layout and signage

[@wrightwoodwork]

Someone has made a mess of the markings

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@wrightwoodwork has to be. I thought I was going mad at first

[@wrightwoodwork]

@@JamesSimpkinsADI has the 2nd exit only 1 lane or 2 . 1 lane I'd say the right lane but if 2 the hatched area, entrance/exit to to you left should be moved back

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@wrightwoodwork yeah 2 lanes merging at the exit which makes those markings even more terrible. Definitely agree, either the left lane should be left only but as you say makes more sense that those markings are pushed back

[@infinty1412]

What is the most scary is that the botched markings seem to have been there for quite a long time as they seem pretty warn out. Locals probably gave up sending complaints to the National Highways a long time ago and simply get in the right-hand lane in good time when approaching the roundabout. Then, prepare themselves to either snigger at those who suddenly put a left indicator on or get frustrated by the others who bully their way into the right-hand lane on the roundabout.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@infinty1412 I think so! I was the cause of the sniggering! 😂

[@andydaniel3070]

I live close to Chelmsford and it's an absolute nightmare to drive around. I've been caught out a few times, suddenly finding myself in the wrong lane.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@andydaniel3070 yeah was my first time, must admit it was an experience!

[@keith6400]

The road sign at 0:41 roundabout with two exits with two lanes on approach, restricted circulation lanes should logically have a left turn only lane and a straight ahead only lane marked thus on approach.

[@billyhills9933]

I assume that the left turn is a fairly minor road with straight across being the most common route. By making both lanes mean straight over gets more cars across at a time. The actual markings on the roundabout don't make sense and should show the separate lanes to stop cars, and especially lorries, cutting others up when leaving.

[@keith6400]

@@billyhills9933 Two continuous streams of traffic launching onto a roundabout where once on the circular part there is only enough room for one abreast would give rise to a bottleneck similar to approaching roadworks on a dual carriageway does not seem to be a sensible arrangement.

[@andrewwright1200]

More oddities, 2 lanes in, 2 lanes out, but the outer exit lane has a merge left arrow, but it continues on as 2 lanes....

[@dominicr4740]

Have you visited the Shiptonthorpe A1079 roundabout in East Yorkshire? It has a similar problem to that where two lanes on turn into just one lane off if you heading north on the A614. It also has major issues and accidents if you are heading west due to poor speed controls on approach from the east from a National speed limit to a 30 limit and direction signage.

[@mikecook6104]

Not a roundabout but......M49 (bristol) has a fully built off junction, roundabout lights and signage intended for the distribution center, Amazon in particular, but isnt and never will be opened for use as they (Amazon) wont pay for it! Genius 😂

[@BM_PAZ]

Junction 15 westbound exit on the M4. All three lanes of the slip road can be used to turn right on to the A419 and the markings are terrible. Despite the roundabout lanes, road markings and clear signage drivers always get confused and are all over the place.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@BM_PAZ thank you I’ll have a look at that one

[@KX36]

I don't know how much time you've spent in the north but I'm a southerner that now lives in the north and all the common sense about road design in the south seems to evaporate at higher latitudes. The roads around Leeds seem to have been dreamed up in the mad hatter's tea party. Things like motorways with 40mph limits joining very short A roads that almost immediately end but with 70 limit etc. I swear I've been on a roundabout with only 1 road in and out. There are loads of A roads and big interchange roundabouts around Leeds where if you follow the signs you'll approach passing 3 or 4 signs telling you to be in lane 1 for a certain destination only to get onto the roundabout and see that you needed to have been in lane 3.

[@willspin9572]

IQ drops the further north you go haha

[@KX36]

@@willspin9572 That's not really fair. There are dumb people making important decisions everywhere. Whoever it is in Leeds Council that makes road planning decisions is just particularly dumb. There's a 1 way ring road called the Inner Ring Road which is the only way around the mostly pedestrianised or bus/taxi only city centre and a couple of years ago they pedestrianised a stretch of that near the train station so it's still called a ring road but it's actually a 1 way C shaped road to nowhere.

[@Ultima2876]

It happens in the south just as much. Devon and Cornwall seem to have an obsession with random left-only lanes meaning half the time you have to be driving in the middle lane or you get trapped

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

I understand why them hatch markings are there, it gives more space between you and the vehicles at the next exit, if you stay in lane 1 you’ll have a collision with a vehicle who is at the give way lines at the first exit, what I don’t understand is, why mark both lanes as straight and then as soon as you get onto the roundabout vehicles in lane 1 need to try to get into lane 2, it would make far more sense to mark lane 1 as left only and lane 2 as straight only, that way they wouldn’t need to put them hatch markings down and you wouldn’t need to merge in with another traffic lane.

[@RJWhitmore]

The hatch markings should not be necessary ideally; the entrance to the roundabout for the first exit should be moved back to the start of the roundabout, instead of occuping the left lane. Then put lane dividers in on the roundabout itself for lane discipline (and liability; I work in insurance, any accident on that roundabout is going to be split liability without actual lanes).

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

I totally agree with you, they should definitely move the entrance of the first exit back, it’s extremely dangerous having it occupy lane 1 of the roundabout, however, saying that, any good driver will be absolutely fine, all good drivers know that you never arrive at the same time and point as another vehicle, always be staggered, either in front or behind.

[@SteveOnTheInterweb]

​@RJWhitmore I bet it was all regular 2 lane before with held back entrance as you say, then they added the hatching after making the pass-thru lane ahead (probably traffic from left used to be queued up), which means lane1 now have to terminate early. Hatching permits HGV maneuvers, but lane markings shown in video reflect old layout, they forgot to change it.

[@digitaliphotography]

A traffic cop told me years ago that while the Highway Code says use either lane for straight ahead, the Road Traffic Act says "unless otherwise marked, the left lane is for first exit only" which doesn't help in this case as the markings are quite clear, and totally absurd

[@AllanReidInclusion]

I haven't read the whole act, but as best I can tell the act doesn't talk about the use of roundabouts, it actually defers to the highway code in terms of "rules of the road". Seems like the cop may have been misinformed or misleading you.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@AllanReidInclusion I have to agree with that 👌🏻

[@doughunt9621]

Try the Canford Bottom roundabout on the A31 just east of Wimborne Minster in Dorset. A 'hamburger' roundabout with 5 trafficlight controlled roads, when it is virually impossible to to avoid being caught up by red traffic lights. It was set up for 2012 access to Weymouth for the Olympics, but is a total disaster.

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

I’ve had a look at that roundabout on google maps, very easy roundabout, road signs and road markings tell you what lane you need for your exit.

[@SparkcatcherFox]

According to Google Earth the hatching was added between 2000 and 2005.

[@nathanw9770]

How did you get google earth images from 2000?

[@lmaoroflcopter]

It all depends on exit lanes. That whole "it's ahead so Left lane" isn't correct, not nearly as much as it should be. If a single lane exit, it's right hand lane to take the 2nd exit. Left hand lane to take 1st exit. Looks like the council f'd up the markings on the left-hand lane.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@lmaoroflcopter two lane exit so even more baffling. But exit lanes isn’t something I consider. Many roundabouts you can’t see the exit lanes on approach so can’t be something you plan as to wether you choose left or right lane etc

[@qooqle]

I definitely know a more stupid one, search morden hall road in london, drop into streetview on the roundabout on its northern end (A24/A297 junction) and look at the 3 lanes approaching the roundabout from morden road. That 3rd lane that opens up makes absolutely no sense, its just not possible to have 3 vehicles emerge on to the roundabout at the same time

[@Being_Jeff]

I'd be trying to find out who is responsible for these markings and send them the video, is it highways department.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@Being_Jeff yes I agree - I’ll be looking into it, it can be a nightmare trying to find the right people to speak to sometimes, but yes I’ll be contacting highways and will post an update if I hear back

[@alunrundle162]

For a baffling roundabout, look to Maesglas West on the A48 in Newport. It was supposed to be a link road from the new Southern Distributor Road (a moved A48) to a massive plant owned by LG. The plant never happened. It was scrapped before they built the roundabout. Yup. They built the roundabout. It has ONE exit and ONE entrance each way. On a major road.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@alunrundle162 brilliant thank you I’ll try and find it

[@qooqle]

Try the m181 in scunthorpe, it's a small spur motorway off of the m180 that reaches a roundabout, where you can only go ahead or U-turn. Straight ahead is the start of another short motorway called the A1077(M). So basically coming off the m180 into Scunthorpe takes you onto 2 more ridiculously short motorways with a roundabout between them...

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

Pont ebbw roundabout? That roundabout is so easy, road signs and road markings tell you what lane you need for your exit, it just has a “peculiar” feel to it because it’s a “hamburger” roundabout, going straight 3rd exit you cut through the roundabout, the road signs and the road markings and also in English and in Welsh, adding to the “peculiar” feel of the roundabout.

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

If you look at the road markings, it says in English A48W for west, it then says A48gn, gorllewin means west in Welsh.

[@alunrundle162]

@@WayneTulip-zm9gw No. Not that one. Continue down the A48 past the next roundabout (which has the tip and Docks way exits.) The one after that.

[@mda5003]

Try Swindon's Magic Roundabout. Brilliant!

[@Ultima2876]

It’s quoted as ‘crazy’ etc but does make perfect sense if you treat it like any other multi-mini roundabout.

[@NwaHp3]

They have marked that roundabout with the chevrons and haven't changed the arrows to left lane left only-right lane is ahead and right. Anything after 12 o'clock should be considered a right turn anyway...use the right lane.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@NwaHp3 need to update the markings then. It’s not a right turn

[@WayneTulip-zm9gw]

Not all exits after 12 o’clock is a right turn, there are 2 roundabouts close to where I live, both are 3rd exit straight, both are at 2 o’clock, A607-A607.

[@wrightwoodwork]

@@NwaHp3 the 12 0 clock rule doesn't always apply. If the road Bends to the right and is the same road number you are technically still going straight on as you are still on the same road. On entering that roundabout with both lanes having traffic and 2 lanes to exit you should be able to navigate by staying in your lane and not crash . If in the right exit right and left exit in the left. The only thing you can't do if in the left is proceed past the 2nd junction on this roundabout as people can use the right lane to go straight. You only have to use the right lane if you would interfere with traffic in the right which you wouldn't if you stay to your lane . So the exit despite being past 12 is both lanes unless markings tell otherwise or you are local and know it's not marked correctly. It has nothing to do with the 12 o'clock rule . As that is wrong for this roundabout

[@johnleak5870]

In answer to your question, it may not be the stupidest roundabout, but its certainly up there. Personally I think road engineers or designers have lost the plot over recent years. Roundabouts used to be fairly simple to negotiate, but these days they are so confusing, often made worse by poor road markings/signage, (as in this case, as surely the left hand lane should NOT have an arrow for ahead) road markings too near the roundabout (giving drivers no chance to select the correct lane) and extremely faded road markings where drivers can no longer see white lines marking the lanes. In addition, why have roundabouts with traffic signals, when quite often the signals at the junction ahead of where one is stopped, changes first, often causing drivers to set off too early due to the close proximity of the signals.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@johnleak5870 couldn’t agree more, faded markings are simply one of my pet hates. Fine if you know the area, but if you’re there for the first time even as an instructor it makes it much more stressful

[@infinty1412]

If you don't mind me asking, how did your daughter do in her ballet exam?

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@infinty1412 she passed with a merit, her first ballet exam so was very nervous bless her! 💃🏼

[@infinty1412]

@@JamesSimpkinsADI That's excellent news.

[@gavindeane3670]

Well it's difficult to see how the hatched markings comply with any road marking requirements, so I'd treat then as meaningless and not imposing any requirements at all. But that doesn't help one bit! Who on earth puts the give way line in the middle of the roundabout carriageway like that???!!! It looks like someone in Colchester has decided it's ok to just make this stuff up. Dimwits with "better ideas" are always a problem.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@gavindeane3670 absolutely baffling! It’s lucky I had to stop at the roundabout , otherwise I would have likely moved on and then had a real problem!

[@Xanderbelle]

So it's just the road marks on approach that are wrong

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@Xanderbelle yeah potentially, I would agree

[@arky3000]

the fortune of war roundabout is the worst roundabout. They took the roundabout out by simply shoving up barriers. the roads leading around it could of been excellent for turning into off ramps. However keeping the curve sections in means they can keep their cheeky 40mph speed camera active and in place to hopefully clock people and rake in some cash, instead of making the road streamline and the same speed as the rest of the road. complete bellends.

[@JurivonStolzenberg14]

Poor layout and poor road planning. Dangerous for drivers only lookjng at their german badge and not beyond bonnet😅

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@JurivonStolzenberg14 too true!

[@jeremymenage1566]

The second exit does not take you ahead, it takes you right, which would mean taking the right hand lane. This would have avoided your dilemma.

[@JamesSimpkinsADI]

@@jeremymenage1566 it most definitely is ahead