Double Lane Traffic Circle

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Dee96

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Hey Guys

Am i right when i say that the car on the out side lane always has right of way?
 
Right of way to do what? Assuming a 4-way circle, here's the simple version: left-hand lane allows you to take the 1st or 2nd exit; right-hand lane allows you to take the 2nd or 3rd. If you're wanting to take the 3rd exit and you enter the circle in the left-hand lane... you're a knob.
 
HapticSimian said:
Right of way to do what? Assuming a 4-way circle, here's the simple version: left-hand lane allows you to take the 1st or 2nd exit; right-hand lane allows you to take the 2nd or 3rd. If you're wanting to take the 3rd exit and you enter the circle in the left-hand lane... you're a knob.
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You forgot the version that include taxis.
 
What pisses me off is people in far left lane think they are allowed to turn right.
As I understand it, the people in the right lane can go straight on and also turn right.
The people in the left lane can turn left and go straight on but CANNOT turn right.
 
UK_Roundabout_8_Cars.gif


There we go.
 
Some of these explanations are wrong according to the law. My mother had an accident in a two lane traffic circle and we did research as the insurance would not pay.

The lane you are in does not at all define your entry and exit point. It is up to the person on the inside lane to ensure it is clear for them to exit the circle at all times. If it is not clear to exit they need to continue around the circle until it is! They are also meant to go through the routine of checking mirrors and indicating as they are effectively changing lanes, or at least crossing over a lane, when exiting the circle.

The person in the outside lane is also fully entitled to carry on around the circle, which is what happened in my mom's case.
 
ClintZA said:
Some of these explanations are wrong according to the law. My mother had an accident in a two lane traffic circle and we did research as the insurance would not pay.

The lane you are in does not at all define your entry and exit point. It is up to the person on the inside lane to ensure it is clear for them to exit the circle at all times. If it is not clear to exit they need to continue around the circle until it is! They are also meant to go through the routine of checking mirrors and indicating as they are effectively changing lanes, or at least crossing over a lane, when exiting the circle.

The person in the outside lane is also fully entitled to carry on around the circle, which is what happened in my mom's case.
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Crap! Come live in a town with plenty of circles. There are even arrows as you approach the circle to tell you what you can do.
Imagine the chaos that would cause. I did my learners in 2003. If you are in the left lane, you can turn left at the first exit or continue straight to the second. If you are in the right hand lane, you can go straight, take the third exit or exit at the fourth. This time of year is especially bad when people like your mom who don't know how to use a circle visit.
 
Captain Beer said:
Crap! Come live in a town with plenty of circles. There are even arrows as you approach the circle to tell you what you can do.
Imagine the chaos that would cause. I did my learners in 2003. If you are in the left lane, you can turn left at the first exit or continue straight to the second. If you are in the right hand lane, you can go straight, take the third exit or exit at the fourth. This time of year is especially bad when people like your mom who don't know how to use a circle visit.
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Oh dear, you have to love someone who feels they know it all even when you have done ALL the research as a result of a claim :rolleyes:

Dude, I live in Durban, I have not travelled to every other part of the country but I can guarantee that we have one of the greatest concentration of double lane traffic circles in SA! Especially around the Umhlanga area.

And yes, some of these are marked and it does not take a brain surgeon to realise if they are marked what needs to be done. Some will also have a solid line around a quarter of the circle showing that you cannot exit from the inside lane. Others do not! This one did not. Insurance refused to pay and research showed they had a leg to stand on as the chap continued around the circle in the outside lane and my mom was attempting to exit. She had to ensure he was indeed exiting and not assume so. He even admitted guilt until his insurance company said they will not pay as he could happily continue going around the outside lane all day.

I will now waste my time and find the relevant links found in the research.
 
ClintZA said:
Some of these explanations are wrong according to the law. My mother had an accident in a two lane traffic circle and we did research as the insurance would not pay.

The lane you are in does not at all define your entry and exit point. It is up to the person on the inside lane to ensure it is clear for them to exit the circle at all times. If it is not clear to exit they need to continue around the circle until it is! They are also meant to go through the routine of checking mirrors and indicating as they are effectively changing lanes, or at least crossing over a lane, when exiting the circle.

The person in the outside lane is also fully entitled to carry on around the circle, which is what happened in my mom's case.
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I'm sorry, that is retarded.

By that logic, there is no point in having 2 lanes. Look at any decently marked circle and you'll even see "left + straight" & "straight + right" arrows on the two lanes.
 
From roadsafety.co.za :

The procedure for changing lanes clearly places the onus of the driver wishing to change lanes to give way to traffic already in the lane into which he wants to move. And there is a rule of the road and a K53 procedure that govern this.

So, there remains a missing link in the legislation on exactly how motorists should handle those thorny situations where there are two lanes of traffic already on the roundabout and the driver in the inside lane wants to exit the roundabout. Until that gets sorted out I guess there will always be “issues” of who has right of way on multi-lane roundabouts, and resultant road safety issues too.

The problem does not lie with the creators of http://www.circles.org.za but with the legislation itself which is totally inadequate when it comes to multiple-lane roundabouts.
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From the www.trafficguy.co.za :

Two Lane Traffic Circle
The procedure, if you are in the left hand lane, of a two lane traffic circle, is identical to a single lane traffic circle. One extra point to remember, there is no law that says if you enter a traffic circle from position one (6 o' clock - see diagram) that you have to take the exit at position 2 (9 o' clock) or position 3 (12 o' clock). If your destination takes you further around that traffic circle, e.g. position 4 (3 o' clock), you have every right to do so.

If you enter a circle and wish to use the right hand or inside lane, you are quite entitled to do so, however now you have an extra responsibility. When you wish to exit that traffic circle from the right hand lane, it will be your responsibility to make sure that you do not cut in front of anyone else on your left hand side (in other words in the left hand lane). Remember, they do have a right to carry on around the traffic circle to reach their destination. They do not have to take the exit with you.
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From arrivealive.co.za:

Have said that, when one gets in a fix such as this the norm would be for the vehicle that is ahead of the other vehicle to move forward and for the vehicle behind to allow it to get out of the way so that it can exit the circle. However, as both A and B are alongside each other, the Calgary rule would seem the most appropriate.

At the end of the day, no vehicle in a traffic circle should obstruct another's line of travel. So if there were any doubt at all, B (B was in the inside lane) should go around the island another time (or even two) and move into the LH lane when it is safe to do so, and then exit from that outer lane when it is safe to do so. (Of course, he would check mirrors and blind spots first, then if it is safe, use the left indicator, and all that other "good K53 stuff".
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I wouldn't go trusting "trafficguy" without seeing quoted legislation.
 
Don't shoot the messenger! I do not paint the roads. I do not write the relevant legislation. I just happen to know what it says, or doesn't say, as a result of researching for a specific claim. I did mention this in my original post.
 
Voicy said:
I wouldn't go trusting "trafficguy" without seeing quoted legislation.
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Read those links, Voicy. Legislation is inadequate and does not specifically cover double lane traffic circles so if there are no lines drawn you have to fall back on standard K53 rules of the road. By exiting the traffic circle from the inside lane you are crossing over the outside lane so you are obligated to ensure it is clear. Sadly it is rather clear once you think about it. Believe me, we wanted to find otherwise as it would have saved my mother a stack of money.
 
ClintZA said:
/snip
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Oh, dear. It seems from my own subsequent [-]faffing about on google[/-] research that you're 100% correct. I'll stick to my estimation that you're a knob if you drive like that, though. :p

The legislation really is pathetic.
 
HapticSimian said:
Oh, dear. It seems from my own subsequent [-]faffing about on google[/-] research that you're 100% correct. I'll stick to my estimation that you're a knob if you drive like that, though. :p

The legislation really is pathetic.
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I fully agree. I also drive around a traffic circle as accepted by most of you but we need to be aware that legislation does not back us up. and also be aware that those knobs who do continue around the circle in the outside lane will not be guilty if you exit the circle and bang into them... ask my mom :)
 
If you're on the inside lane then you'll have to cut in front of someone at some point even if following the guidelines. Eg. People entering the circle from the opposite direction might be on the outside lane.
 
In Cape town we have a few 4 lane circles with traffic lights.
My first few trips through them took quite a while...
 
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