[mathmussim]

Please bear with a naive US driver. I downloaded some driving directions today. They're overwhelming -- 40 or more steps for a 1-2 hour drive! I assume that the "turn 1 or 2 clockwise" directions are for the roundabouts. What's confusing is that sometimes a "turn 2 clockwise" can be "turn right", "turn left" or even "bear left". Very confusing. Any key to deciphering these directions? I'm leaning once more towards taking the train.

Thanks for the replies -

John

[jdbob]

Our UK friends have the advantage on us there since they are used to roundabouts. Roundabouts can have 3 or more "spokes". So if you go for 2 you might end up turned to the right of where you started before you entered the roundabout. However, if there were 5 spokes going 2 might only be straight ahead or even somewhat to your left.

What I'm still confused about (and I drove there for two weeks last November) is how you navigate roundabouts that have an inner and outer lane of traffic. It would seem like there could be some serious collisions there if the outlane needs to keep going around to a further exit and the inner lane doesn't. There must be a rule for this but I haven't figured it out. I somehow managed not to crash while I was there but I'm sure other drivers were pointing at me and saying "stupid yank".

[zardell]

Mmmmmmmmmm.......know what you mean about roundabouts. They can be confusing.

Just try and remember that they are only ordinary junctions, but with a circle in the middle that you have to manouevre around.

However, have a look at this and see if helps.......hope so !!

www.highwaycode.gov.uk/17.htm

Good luck.

Julie

xx

[mathmussim]

Thanks for the link Julie, although my fear factor has increased a couple of notches. Double roundabouts, mini roundabouts -- Double mini roundabouts!!

Whew! And it seems weird you'd signal right when you always turn left! I'm hoping one can drive like an old lady (no offense to old ladies) and always stay in the left most lane. Is that allowed? If not, I'll have to bring an American flag to put on the bumper to warn everyone. Well, maybe a Canadian flag would be better so as not to make anyone get too aggressive!

[zardell]

[QUOTE=mathmussim]

And it seems weird you'd signal right when you always turn left! QUOTE]

Yes, on APPROACH if you were turning right you would put on a right hand signal, but when you EXIT the roundabout, you would always put on a left hand signal.

See if this helps......

Lets put it this way......(and I hope Ive got this right, cos now in my mind I'm driving on the wrong side of the road !! )..........you are driving in the U.S and about to turn right into a side road (off a major road) You didn't put a signal on to tell others of your intention and there was another motorist on the minor road who was waiting for you to drive past, so that he could get out and join the major road. He would be a bit miffed to say the least, cos if you had signalled, he could have gone without having to wait for you. Agreed??

Now, the road that goes around (in other words the circle of) the roundabout is always the MAJOR road, so therefor you must always signal left to EXIT the roundabout, thereby telling others who want to join the roundabout (from the minor road) of your intentions. It may mean that they can go without having to wait for you.

I've just re-read all that and its as clear as mud !! :laugh

Don't worry - when you've driven round a couple it'll all make sense.

Or maybe stick with your original intention and get the damned train. :D

Julie

xx

[jess]

zardell,

Thanks for the link! It helps to see the pics. :)

J

[jdbob]

Thanks for the link zardell :nice1

Jess - I'm leaving Wellington the day before you arrive :D

[veronica]

I'd just buy a map and follow that.....much easier.

[Simon & Emily]

Whew! I'm hoping one can drive like an old lady (no offense to old ladies) and always stay in the left most lane. Is that allowed?

Nope, no way is this allowed - you'll end up with a huge crash.

The highway code should explain it to you best, but if you just stay in the outside lane on a roundabout you'll cut up anyone trying to turn off and very likely end up getting hit on the drivers side.

Very basically speaking, if you're turning left you can go in the left / outside lane, indicating left and simply turn off - remember to give way to oncoming traffic who are on the roundabout before you join. If you are going straight over you also go in the left / outside lane, but do not indicate until after you have passed the last turning before your junction. If you are going around the roundabout, such as taking the third or fourth exit (imagine getting off at 2, 3 or 4 o'clock) you must get in the right hand lane, indicating right and follow the traffic around. You then need to navigate across the lanes towards the outside lane, in order to be in the outside lane by the time you need to indicate left (ie at the exit before you wish to leave) to go off at the next exit. As only traffic turning off at the next exit should be in this outer lane, it should be easy to join the flow. If cars are in this lane are not turning off you stand a good chance of your left side hitting their right side. This is a classic blind spot in most cars, and the cause of many accidents.

Now, that may sound very confusing, but in practice it's very simple once you get the hang of it. One lane roundabouts are a breeze, but those with four or more lanes can be tricky, but often have traffic lights as well just to complicate them. The trouble is not the roundabouts themselves, but those ar**hole drivers that don’t get in the correct lanes and just think they can drive over all the lanes and cut everyone else up, or stay in the outside lane hoping to get the their exit just a bit quicker, thus blocking all the inner lanes.

There is a wonderful roundabout in the UK in Swindon called the Magic roundabout, which has one central roundabout with 5 more around the outside. On this, there is a general free-for-all, and you never know which way people are going to come at you from.

http://www.swindonweb.com/life/lifemagi0.htm

Hope this all makes sense,

Emily

[jdbob]

Was just taking a look on Google Earth at the roundabouts in Blenheim. Most are very simple one laners. There are two that involve Highway 1 that are a little different. The actual roundabout is only one lane, but when approaching the roundabout if you are essentially making a left hand turn (for example heading south to heading east) then there is a lane just for that turn, essentially bypassing the roundabout.

It's pretty obvious for those that if you are turning left you get in the left lane, any other direction you must in the right lane to enter the roundabout, but there is actually only one lane to deal with inside the roundabout.

I think where I got confused was in Christchurch, and in fact did end up on the wrong road at least once :uhoh

But then again, I consider big cities evil anyway :D

[StevieD]

Oh the joy of roundabouts! IF it is a 2 laner, the inner lane is usually used to turn "right" from your perspective as you approach the roundabout. If you going left or straight ahead then the leftmost lane should be used. But you do find both lanes can be used - just takes a little care and a bit of getting used to. If in doubt, signal and use the leftmost lane to go around the thing!!