Going through a two-lane roundabout. L or R lane?

[RoadRacer04]

My scenario is a roundabout with an inner and an outer lane. The inner (right) lane markings show that you can either go straight through the roundabout or veer right. The outer (left) lane markings show that you can either go straight through the roundabout or turn left.

Assuming you are going to go straight through the roundabout, which of the two lanes available do you use (given that you can legally use either). I tend to use the inside (right) lane because it straightens the route quite nicely and gives me a little better view of anything approaching from my left. I am aware though that some motorists approaching from my left may see me in the inside lane and assume I am going to veer right and so continue into the roundabout ... and into my path. So. Left lane, Right lane or don't care? And why?

I was doing my restricted car licence last year and i was instructed to turn right at a double laned roundabout so i moved into the right hand lane to go round (both lanes were marked with the straight thru and/or right turn arrows) at the end of the test the instructor told me i done everything correctly except when i turned at the round about i was apparently suppose to be in the left lane to turn right at the roundabout? i was confused, so does that mean that the right hand lane is for ppl doing the complete 180 round the roundabout??

[Oakie]

I was doing my restricted car licence last year and i was instructed to turn right at a double laned roundabout so i moved into the right hand lane to go round (both lanes were marked with the straight thru and/or right turn arrows) at the end of the test the instructor told me i done everything correctly except when i turned at the round about i was apparently suppose to be in the left lane to turn right at the roundabout? i was confused, so does that mean that the right hand lane is for ppl doing the complete 180 round the roundabout??

Well yeah, if you followed his logic no-one would ever be able to use the right lane as at some stage they'd have to cut across the left lane to get out.

[Skyryder]

Sunday the 26th of April, 09.45AM, and I'm going to meet my crew outside QEII Park. I'm late. I'm entering the big roundabout that intersects with Marshlands Rd, heading east.

I'm in the right hand lane to go straight thru. Wrong. Even though that's standard practice and legal.

Blood red (blood red, get it?) 4WD Nissan or Toyota twin cab is in the left lane in my 10 o'clock, so I'm assuming (Assume, makes an Ass out of U and ME) he's going in my direction, that is, straight through. Also, he ain't indicating a right turn so I think it's a done deal.

Wrong.

He goes right, right across my bow.

It's why I prefer the left hand lane. I've nearly been wiped out on this round a bout too. Changed to the left preference becasue of it.


Skyryder

[Oakie]

It's why I prefer the left hand lane. I've nearly been wiped out on this round a bout too. Changed to the left preference becasue of it. Skyryder

I'm aware that when I'm in the left lane and I have two cars side by side in double lanes on the next road to my left, the farthest away car may not see me and pull out infront. Being in the right lane gives that second car a better chance to see me and gives me a little time to react if they do start to move.

On reflection it probably is safer in the left lane as long as those vehicles approaching from the left see you.

[Max Preload]

I was doing my restricted car licence last year and i was instructed to turn right at a double laned roundabout so i moved into the right hand lane to go round (both lanes were marked with the straight thru and/or right turn arrows) at the end of the test the instructor told me i done everything correctly except when i turned at the round about i was apparently suppose to be in the left lane to turn right at the roundabout? i was confused, so does that mean that the right hand lane is for ppl doing the complete 180 round the roundabout??

No. It just means he's a fucking idiot.

[Morepower]

Left lane always....think about it..less chance of coming across a car in left lane wanting to turn right as you have to give way because you are crossing the lane line...read the Road Code...plus this makes sense.

Turning left or going straight - Use left lane
Turning right ie past 12 o'clock position - Use right lane

Coming from the land of roundabouts this is the way to do it.

I tend to disagree
If you look at the pictures on the link posted earlier
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roa...undabouts.html
the roundabouts are generally marked so that someone turning right in the left lane is the one crossing the centre line and therefore must yield to someone in the right lane going straight through.

And this is the problem , there is no education so everyone has their own interpretation of the rules which leads to confusion . I am not 100% sure i am right , its just the way it looks to me and the fact that in most ( if not all ) cases that there is no indication via lane marking that you can right turn at cross road roundabouts in the left lane.

If the powers that be would divert some of the advertising money from showing us the endless drink drive / speeding / what happens when you get it wrong adverts , to teaching us how to get it right , then everybody would be on the same page and we would not have the current system where on a roundabout its a lottery as to where the other vehicles are heading because everyone also indicates right to go straight , none to go left and even left to go right.

[Grahameeboy]

I tend to disagree
If you look at the pictures on the link posted earlier
http://www.landtransport.govt.nz/roa...undabouts.html
the roundabouts are generally marked so that someone turning right in the left lane is the one crossing the centre line and therefore must yield to someone in the right lane going straight through.

And this is the problem , there is no education so everyone has their own interpretation of the rules which leads to confusion . I am not 100% sure i am right , its just the way it looks to me and the fact that in most ( if not all ) cases that there is no indication via lane marking that you can right turn at cross road roundabouts in the left lane.

If the powers that be would divert some of the advertising money from showing us the endless drink drive / speeding / what happens when you get it wrong adverts , to teaching us how to get it right , then everybody would be on the same page and we would not have the current system where on a roundabout its a lottery as to where the other vehicles are heading because everyone also indicates right to go straight , none to go left and even left to go right.

Thats the way we were taught in UK...it makes sense.Any why should the right turning driver have too give way...other driver is not turning from the right....it's the same with the silly turning left rule...the car you are giving way to is not on your right...it is approaching at all times...no where does it say that you don't have to give way if the following traffic is going straight...after all the turning right vehicle has to give way to oncoming traffic...does it say that in the Road Code...No...mind you drivers here don't seem able to think for themselves very often.The recent fatal accidents at the weekend show that drivers don't think...and as you say the Govt focuses on speed as the killer when the Land Transport's own stats don't confirm that, not even close...If you are a few cars back in a line following a slower vehicle. Doesn't matter if you have a Holden HSV you just need to be patient because the potential for another car further up wanting to pass said slower vehicle is high = recipe for accident if HSV driver wants to overtake...this is a common accident scenario in NZ..lack of thinking..

[awayatc]

left lane, right lane, splitting between the two, or use the third lane on the right....whatever suits on the day.
(or straight through on the wannabe roundabouts that realy aren't more then an intersection......)

[Pixie]

As far as can remember, the rule is the same in NZ as in UK - KEEP LEFT - any right hand lane is a "passing" lane, so you should only be in the right hand lane if you are passing something i.e. left turner.
Also, unless it is marked otherwise, someone in the left lane has the right to go ALL the way around the roundabout. Makes for interesting viewing sometimes

Bloody foreigners!
THE RULE IN NZ IS GO SLOW IN THE RIGHT MOST LANE.
and if you can find 2 other like minded wankers on the motorway,form a rolling road block.

On roundabouts use as many of the lanes as possible between entering the roundabout and leaving it,without indicating.

[Cheshire Cat]

I don't think it really matters as long as you indicate. And be real careful. I've had people fly into roundabouts from my right and cut me off

[MSTRS:Me]

"If there's no traffic, start in the left hand lane, cut across to the right lane midway thru and exit via the left lane" so that the bike basically travels in a straight line Don't pretend that you've never done it

I don't need to pretend...I never have. This manouevre is right up there with the right indicator on/go left aficionados.

[MSTRS:Me]

On a different matter.
If you are turning right at traffic lights that have turning arrows can you turn right on a red arrow (green for striaght through) as long as you give way?

Big clue, right there...

[cowboyz]

the correct answer is use the right hand lane.

This is because it is illegal to turn less than 360 degrees on a roundabout on a bike. To make a left turn you enter the roundabout in the right hand lane. Go round the roundabout and exit when the turn shows up again. It it optional if you complete more than one rotation.

Pleased I could clear that up for you.

[discotex]

What if the left lane is marked left turn or straight through only, surely you are not allowed to turn right in front of someone going straight through in the right lane! As toycollector had happen to him.

Good spotting. If there are markings at the roundabout you must follow them.

On a different matter.
If you are turning right at traffic lights that have turning arrows can you turn right on a red arrow (green for striaght through) as long as you give way?

No way in hell. I almost got taken out by someone playing that game a couple of months ago.

We know how to drive in the UK dude.....the Road code is actually confusing re lanes on roundabouts and the pictures which are correct are then countered by the narrative

It's a shocker. And you don't need to read it to get your licence anyway. We laugh about getting a bike licence by riding around the block in Raro but NZ is fairly close to that standard compared to the US and EU.

Big clue, right there...

Well.... In some states in the US it is perfectly legal to turn right on a red light (so would be our left if that's what TimeOut meant) if there is no traffic.

[MSTRS:Me]

No way in hell. I almost got taken out by someone playing that game a couple of months ago.

Well.... In some states in the US it is perfectly legal to turn right on a red light (so would be our left if that's what TimeOut meant) if there is no traffic.

This isn't the States, and it's an Arrow light that's red.

I do agree that it makes sense to be able to turn left on a red when no traffic is coming from your right. Maybe one day the powers-that-be...nah, too sensible.