Roundabout accident

[David_5122280]

I recently had an accident on a roundabout involving a motor cycle. Wishing to turn right at a roundabout on a dual carriageway I was unable to move into the right hand lane as we were slowing and there were cars alongside me blocking the lane. Giving the signal that I wished to turn right I entered the roundabout slowly following the left hand lane round. The cars in the outside lane cleared, and as I moved round towards the head of the roundabout still indicating, I was struck at high speed by a motor cyclist who had not seen my signals and assumed I was going straight on. The motor cyclist arrived at the roundabout well after me.

The highway code does state 'In all cases.... Watch out for long vehicles and including those towing a trailer which might have to take a diffent course approaching or on the roundabout, because of their length. Watch out for signals'

Was I at fault as my insurance company seems to think.

Dave.

 

[RickyLionheart]

I'm afraid you are at fault, when turning right on a roundabout with 2 approach lanes you should be in the right hand lane.

You should have stopped and indicated right and waited for a gap before you entered the roundabout

 

[CliveV]

I think Ricky is correct. I have seen others in similar situation put the window down and make a clear hand signal (as well and indicators of course) indicating that they need to move lane.

The driver in front of realise what was needed and slowed to a halt to allow the vehicle to change lane.

Much thumbs up in thanks and all was sorted.

Sadly just trusting to luck as you did David is not the best option.

 

[sparkes]

when found in that situation you should have gone straight on.

Its nice you quote the highway code while making an illegal move and then trying to blame the biker. from your own statement the information did not apply as you did not have to make the move you did.

Yes, you are at fault, and I realy hope you loose your licence as that will be little punishment compared to what the biker must be going through.

 

[RichardS1]

Without doubt David you are at fault, once you entered the roundabout in the incorrect lane the only option open to you was to go straight on until it was save to turn your outfit around to come back to the roundabout.

 

[Guest]

David . The apparent speed of the motorbike is no concern of yours! If it was illegal that would have been assessed by accident invetigators/police.

Cars dawdle compared to bikes due to power to weight ratio, do not assume that the bikes speed was actualy "high".

Keep your eyes open in future and " THINK BIKE "

 

[mcghee]

I think we need to try to avoid a car vs bike argument here, since it's not really the issue, it could just as easily have been a car. You may well have been caught blind but you were in the wrong whether signalling or not. It is sometimes necessary to give room to long vehicles on roundabouts but I'd guess the biker had assessed your outfit's positioning on approach and concluded that you did not need both lanes. As has already been said you'd have been much better to take the safest exit and turn round.

 

[Icemaker]

we have a roundabout that i use daily to exit the m60 at stockport in cheshire, this roundabout has two lanes on the aproach and four exits. i use the right lane to take the third exit for bredbury which also has two lanes but only for a very short distance. every single day i have to contend with idiots who use the left lane to go round the roundabout and exit at the third road, whenever i get the chance i ask if they are aware they are breaking the law and always get the reply that theire are no road markings so why should they not use the left lane as then dont have to que up in the right lane to go straight on, when i point out the que is onlt there becouse of theire inconsiderate and illegal driving they usually shut up or get angry which to me shows theire gilt.

Seems to be the norm these days that driving skills are being lost or ignored for ones own selfishness and most people on the road will blame the other driver despite theire own obvious gilt. towing a caravan or trailer does not give us the right to flout the law in any way and should infact make you a much safer driver, esspecially as most of the time you will have completely innocent and captive passengers in the car with you.

Bring back the traffic police and get the road skills back in to driving. (at the very least it will get most reps off the road).

 

[Rioja]

Oi ! Most reps have far more experience and skill than your average Sunday afternoon middle lane dawdler !

One of the biggest dangers is lack of experience on our roads. Hence, many of our younger drivers present the biggest threat to safety.(I have to admit to regular "knocks" in my 20's)

I once heard someone say beware all drivers wearing a hat...either a boy racer or a geriatric in a Volvo.

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Oi ! Most reps have far more experience and skill than your average Sunday afternoon middle lane dawdler !

One of the biggest dangers is lack of experience on our roads. Hence, many of our younger drivers present the biggest threat to safety.(I have to admit to regular "knocks" in my 20's)

I once heard someone say beware all drivers wearing a hat...either a boy racer or a geriatric in a Volvo.

OR.....a policeman!!!! ;O)

 

[PaulT]

Please don't generalise Rioja! Geriatric in a Volvo indeed. Why Volvo, I'm sure more geriatrics drive other cars than Volvo so do we have to perpetuate this myth about all Volvo drivers being dodderers.

Obviously I drive one but as I also drive a Mercedes SLK there is no way I'd classify myself as geriatric.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Paul,

As a fellow Mercedes owner, I'm afraid to say that by admitting to owning an SLK you've definitely shot yourself in the foot over the dawdling issue.

Unless of course it's the AMG 55 variant, in which case you won't last long enough to become a geriatric :-}

Robert

 

[sparkes]

Please don't generalise Rioja! Geriatric in a Volvo indeed. Why Volvo, I'm sure more geriatrics drive other cars than Volvo so do we have to perpetuate this myth about all Volvo drivers being dodderers.

Obviously I drive one but as I also drive a Mercedes SLK there is no way I'd classify myself as geriatric.

Volvo and SLK

Geriatric Hairdresser then??

Only joking, Love the SLK but with kids and a twin axle not a good choice!

 

[KiwiPete]

Interesting, same eneralities, different car. Back in the 60's it used to be an old man driving a Rover 90 !!

 

[mcghee]

I understood the Nissan Micra to be the new car of choice for the discerning fogey. They always seem to travel at half the speed limit in any or all available lanes.

 

[Icemaker]

the nissan micra seems to be the car of choice round here (cheshire)for the sunday afternoon drive with the wife and picknick. strange how they all seems to have fourth and fifth gears disconnected.

 

[Icemaker]

now that is coincidence Craig i was typing my reply whilst you had the same observation, maybee there is something in it after all. nissan micra residuels have just dropped with thiere new reputation.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Heavens above - what about a geriatric in a 4x4 - ignorant to other motorists and will barge his way through oblivious to other road users thinking the traffic problems are similar to when he first drove in the 1950/60s. Another no no is an elderly woman with a head scarf on - what a disaster waiting to happen. I will agree with a previous posting though about company reps. who are hell bent in getting from A to B no matter who they carve up - this is also said about the white van man. Hey what the hell am I doing on the road with all these idiots about? I am the only sensable driver on the road these days.

 

[CliveV]

Many years ago we lived in Worthing on the south coast - a place that has a reputation for the elderly coming there to die but once there, they forget what they came for.

Sitting in my car waiting for SWMBO I observed a loverly Rover P5 (3.5 litre V8) come burbling into the car park. I have always loved these cars and watched it with interest. I noticed it had a few dents.

The driver did not park it well as it was at an angle to the "box" rather than "squared" within it.

An elderly lady got out of the passenger seat and went to the boot. From the boot she took a Zimma frame and carried it to the Drivers side door.

She then helped the driver (YES! - THE DRIVER!!!) out of the drivers seat so that he could stand rather shakily supported by the zimma frame.

The two of them then slowly wanderred off.

We may poke fun at the Nissan Micra for the elderly - but I would rather they have one of them than a wacking great Rover P5!

 

[David_5122280]

I'm afraid you are at fault, when turning right on a roundabout with 2 approach lanes you should be in the right hand lane.

You should have stopped and indicated right and waited for a gap before you entered the roundabout

Hi Rick - thanks for your honest assessment. Its the first time I have got myself in the wrong position on a roundabout and will have to take the rap. I did wait for the roundaboput to be completely clear, checking in my mirror and lights indicating, but the bike just came from nowhere. Fortunately there were no injuries to either party.

Dave

 

[darrell_5099783]

without sounding thick what does SWMBO stand for

daz

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

without sounding thick what does SWMBO stand for

daz

She Who Must Be Obeyed = the wife.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

The Nissan Micra phenomena can be obseved on Sunday on the Leek to Hanley road in Staffs and most days on the M6 when I have the caravan on the back.

It doesn't apply to all of them as my neighbours have 2 and stay in when I take the van out.

Their latest accessory which perhaps they should all have to amuse those held up at probably the legal speed limit is a nodding dog on the back shelf !!

Very entertaining when in the wrong lane at a roundabout.

Worse than the left hand lane all round a roundabout is the right hand lane and then turn left brigade!!

 

[tj_4]

Turning right from a left lane is not illegal, inconsiderate it may be. The bike was clearly at fault, he assumed you were going straigh on. We should never assume. If he did not see your right indicator he clearly did not see your left one that should have shown him where you are exiting the island. There is no requirement to indicate whilst travelling arounde an island just whilst entering and exiting.

When I started driving it was always the vehicle that wes approaching from behind that was at fault if an accident occured, because he should always give sufficient stopping distance, and be aware of all other traffic.

 

[CliveV]

I disagree TJ - Suggest you re-read the Hiway Code