Lorries Pulling Out at Roundabouts.

[westv]

I'm sure others have experienced this too.
You are on the roundabout and wanting to go straight ahead (second exit) but just as you get to the first exit a lorry pulls out causing you to stop rather than be crushed!
What is even more annoying is that the lorry driver gesticulates as those you're the one at fault.

 

[dangie]

I'm sure others have experienced this too.
You are on the roundabout and wanting to go straight ahead (second exit) but just as you get to the first exit a lorry pulls out causing you to stop rather than be crushed!
What is even more annoying is that the lorry driver gesticulates as those you're the one at fault.

Might be a little annoying for a few seconds, but it’s not that arduous to stop and start again. I’d soon get over it.

 

[AlterEgo]

Lorries are so slow to accelerate, and so large, that if they tried to allow the requisite time to pull out without causing any other vehicles to slow, nobody would ever move.

Best to learn to be accommodating of them.

 

[philthetube]

Bear in mind they only have to give way to vehicles on the roundabout, very likely that you have not reached the roundabout when they start to move.

 

[westv]

Bear in mind they only have to give way to vehicles on the roundabout, very likely that you have not reached the roundabout when they start to move.

No, I have already said I am ON the roundabout.

 

[ac6000cw]

Lorries are so slow to accelerate, and so large, that if they tried to allow the requisite time to pull out without causing any other vehicles to slow, nobody would ever move.

Best to learn to be accommodating of them.

I agree - anticipating and being prepared for what might happen on a roundabout is a basic driving skill.

At the point the truck driver made the decision to enter the roundabout, the oncoming car might not have been visible to them or was stationary.

 

[westv]

I agree - anticipating and being prepared for what might happen on a roundabout is a basic driving skill.

At the point the truck driver made the decision to enter the roundabout, the oncoming car might not have been visible to them or was stationary.

Just to clarify. Not stationary and visible.

 

[nlogax]

I agree - anticipating and being prepared for what might happen on a roundabout is a basic driving skill.

Basic driving skill for any road / situation though roundabouts are a particular hotspot.

 

[ac6000cw]

Basic driving skill for any road / situation

Agreed - 'Situational Awareness'.

 

[ainsworth74]

Frustrating but in reality a heavy slow vehicle like a lorry will often have to take a gap which isn't really big enough to let them get clear of traffic which technically may have right of way as otherwise they'd be stuck for potentially a very long time. Which of course would cause issues for vehicles behind them as well of course so in the grand scheme having to brake to let a lorry get onto a roundabout, even though it's your right of way, is probably better for everyone overall.

 

[westv]

May I remind everybody of the Highway Code

"give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights"

 

[ainsworth74]

May I remind everybody of the Highway Code

"give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights"

I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that the lorry driver in this scenario is in the right but simply explaining that it isn't worth getting worked up about. You'll be complaining next that you were stuck behind a lorry trying to get onto a roundabout for fifteen minutes because the driver refused to advance until a large enough gap appeared that no traffic already on the roundabout would be inconvenienced momentarily in line with the letter of the highway code!

 

[westv]

I'm not sure anyone is suggesting that the lorry driver in this scenario is in the right but simply explaining that it isn't worth getting worked up about. You'll be complaining next that you were stuck behind a lorry trying to get onto a roundabout for fifteen minutes because the driver refused to advance until a large enough gap appeared that no traffic already on the roundabout would be inconvenienced momentarily in line with the letter of the highway code!

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?
Or perhaps a more serious incident if you don't think the stationary lorry will pull out just as you are approaching them?

 

[ainsworth74]

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?

No obviously not but then I've not experienced that particular issue when I've come across lorries pulling out into gaps that aren't quite large enough. Typically any gesture I've seen has been a wave of apology!

Or perhaps a more serious incident if you don't think the stationary lorry will pull out just as you are approaching them?

Then they would clearly be a mistake on the lorry drivers part just as many other accidents result from mistakes of judgement on the roads.

 

[ac6000cw]

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?

Possibly not, but they were probably only doing what you seem to be doing here - letting off steam!

 

[AlterEgo]

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?

Well none of us were there to witness the exact incident and distances so I don't think any of us could possibly comment. It is however a delay of only a few seconds to your day, and I never understand why people get so wound up when driving.

 

[westv]

Just purely out of curiosity, how posting to this thread are drivers?

 

[cjmillsnun]

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?
Or perhaps a more serious incident if you don't think the stationary lorry will pull out just as you are approaching them?

You probably leaned on the horn and gesticulated at the lorry driver.

Also other have already said anticipate that the lorry might pull out, perhaps slow down a little on roundabouts in general to create a gap.

I would advise you to watch Ashley Neal on YouTube and learn to make it a non issue.

And yes I’m a driver who has held a full licence for 28 years now.

 

[westv]

Possibly not, but they were probably only doing what you seem to be doing here - letting off steam!

I wouldn't really class any of my replies as "letting off steam", just relaying the facts as I see them.

 

[ac6000cw]

Just purely out of curiosity, how posting to this thread are drivers?

Me, for over 40 years, both of cars and (in the past) motorcycles. In the UK and other countries (on holiday).

 

[westv]

You probably leaned on the horn and gesticulated at the lorry driver.

100% no.

 

[Shaw S Hunter]

But does it really require the "You are clearly at fault" reaction from the lorry driver?
Or perhaps a more serious incident if you don't think the stationary lorry will pull out just as you are approaching them?

So 5 7 posts to make and amplify a small complaint. What "solution" would you like to see? Perhaps the Dutch way of having traffic lights at roundabouts? That always strikes me as belt and braces for swimming trunks! What do you reckon?

 

[ainsworth74]

Just purely out of curiosity, how posting to this thread are drivers?

Yes, hello, I've had a driving licence for fifteen odd years now.

So 5 7 posts to make and amplify a small complaint. What "solution" would you like to see? Perhaps the Dutch way of having traffic lights at roundabouts? That always strikes me as belt and braces for swimming trunks! What do you reckon?

Only at roundabouts that are actually so far over capacity that really a more comprehensive solution is required but cannot be funded so using traffic lights to chop the traffic is the cheapest way of preventing some entrances getting completely gridlocked by traffic already on the roundabout. And even then I think they should be part-time and only switched on during the busiest parts of the day or between like 7am and 8pm or something.

Otherwise let the roundabouts flow, that's there whole purpose!

 

[GusB]

There are many questions that could asked here. Were the lanes on the approach to the roundabout marked in such a way that the lorry driver assumed you'd be taking the first exit? Were you in the correct lane for the exit you were intending to use? Were you signalling correctly?

There's only one real answer: get over it!

 

[ac6000cw]

Only at roundabouts that are actually so far over capacity that really a more comprehensive solution is required but cannot be funded so using traffic lights to chop the traffic is the cheapest way of preventing some entrances getting completely gridlocked by traffic already on the roundabout. And even then I think they should be part-time and only switched on during the busiest parts of the day or between like 7am and 8pm or something.

Also having traffic lights on busy roundabouts is generally safer for cyclists - there are a reasonably number of them in and around Cambridge partly for that reason. I think the traffic lights are full-time on most of them.

 

[dangie]

Just purely out of curiosity, how posting to this thread are drivers?

I've been driving for over 50 years. That's not showing off, it's because I'm 'old'

If you've ever driven around a roundabout before, which I'm sure you have many times, always expect the unexpected.

When lying in that hospital bed it's little comfort thinking 'I had the right of way...'

 

[westv]

So 5 7 posts to make and amplify a small complaint. What "solution" would you like to see? Perhaps the Dutch way of having traffic lights at roundabouts? That always strikes me as belt and braces for swimming trunks! What do you reckon?

I'm sorry you feel that way about polite debate. It would be a short part of the forum if everybody felt that way.

There are many questions that could asked here. Were the lanes on the approach to the roundabout marked in such a way that the lorry driver assumed you'd be taking the first exit? Were you in the correct lane for the exit you were intending to use? Were you signalling correctly?

Small roundabout. No road markings.

 

[ainsworth74]

Also having traffic lights on busy roundabouts is generally safer for cyclists - there are a reasonably number of them in and around Cambridge partly for that reason. I think the traffic lights are full-time on most of them.

That's a fair point, though the examples I'm thinking of tend to be on dual carriageways where it wouldn't be safe for a cyclist to be anywhere near. This is one near me which definitely needs them during the day but after about 8pm at night the traffic is quiet enough that it could function without traffic lights safely but cyclists would be wise to avoid due to the nature of the roads in question! Though there is some cycle way provision slightly further along to the west along the A174 to be fair.

 

[315801]

I have had a car licence for 20 years which at 1 point included a PCV ( Bus Category D ) between 2006 & 2008 and therefore I can say that having driven s big vehicle myself ( although not a lorry ) that the driver should have known better than to pull out, especially as most lorries have double the number of gears as most cars dop 10 or 12 gears compared to 5 or 6 in cars.

The buses I drove had 3 grared Voith automatic gearboxes and were relatively quick to get going, however, 1st gear on a lorry is a much lower ratio than 1st gear on a car or bus, that is why if you are behond a lorry / truck you will often hear about 5, 6 or even 7 gear changes before they gave reached 30 or 40 mph.

Also if I may, I would like to add the advice that to anybody who does encounter this situation as described in post #1, if you can do so at the time, follow this procedure :

1, Note the vehicle registration

2, The time and place where the incident occurred

3, Any company details off the vehicle ( often available off the cabside of the towing unit )

4, Ring the company to which the vehicle belongs and report the incident as calmly as possible including all the above details in points 1 & 2 and give a full description of what happened.

After this procedure, you can be safe in the knowledge that you have played your part in getting a driver who would rather use rudeness and hand gestures instead of waiting his turn, off the road.

I often had cars pull out in front of my bus, notably at peak travel times 16:00 - 18:30 here in the wirral and I can tell you from my experience that blowing your horn or flashing your headlights is of no interest to drivers who pull out in front of you.

The number of 2 fingered gestures or other signs which are too X rated to mention on here was absolutely unbelievable.

 

[nlogax]

Just purely out of curiosity, how posting to this thread are drivers?

Me. Thirty three years and counting.