[Tudorqueen]

Hello,

My brain is not entirely sure about deciding on this so I want to bring it up for discussion. Would you approach this from the left lane, or would you start in the right lane when you first enter and just change lanes when you exit? It is the Lathallan interchange, entering from Polmont A803 and exiting towards M9 Edinburgh. Photo attached.
any tips for these types of roundabouts in general as well?
Thank you so much for all your help, much appreciated.

[Beelzebub]

The direction sign on approach makes it pretty clear that your exit is to the right (3rd of 4), so RH lane on approach, and on the roundabout, moving to the LH lane after the second exit.

However, Streetview seems to show that there are actually 3 lanes on the roundabout, but the markings have been removed. Is that still the case?

[Tudorqueen]

@Beelzebub thanks so much for this! Oh you are right, it does appear that there are three lanes but only when an exit is coming up - on other parts, there are two lanes

[Tudorqueen]

Actually, no, there really are three lanes. I can’t remember how it is in reality but surely it’s the same - but yes, no road markings. So in fact it does appear that I should go into the middle lane and definitely not the left!

[Tudorqueen]

Ah now I have confused myself too much! Though it appears that there are three lanes, there are no lane markings and everyone seems to treat the roundabout as having two lanes.

[Drivingforfun]

It's perhaps not what others on here will want to hear but if it's a roundabout you often use's it's best to make yourself predictable to other drivers, even if that means not following what's generally "right"

There is a roundabout near me where the vast majority of drivers use the left-hand lane to take the 2nd exit even though that is turning right, because the first, left, exit is hardly used

I used to adopt the stance that I'd rather follow the correct procedures but ended up getting into conflict and it dawned on me that what's the point in being "in the right" and having a crash, which on a roundabout is usually deemed to be 50-50 fault regardless of actual fault?!

[TC1474]

General rule of thumb (unless directed by road markings or traffic signs) is that when exiting a roundabout beyond the 12 O'clock position then the right hand lane is the correct lane to be in, left hand lane if for any exit pre 12 O'clock.

Given that there are 3 lanes here, then it would not be unreasonable to use the middle lane but be aware of other vehicles trying to chop your nose off by cutting across in front of you.

So if there are only 2 lanes to start with, then s-move into the outside lane, then as it opens into 3 lanes (which is actually a strange layout) then you can choose the appropriate lane according to traffic flow and volume.

[olduser]

Beelzebub and TC1474 cleared up what is the correct way.

I would add, with roundabouts, the key is to be aware of all the traffic around you, even more than you would on a normal road, you may be be in the correct lane but others may not be, making it impossible to work out their intentions, leaving no choice but to watch.

On big roundabouts, many will behave as though it is a normal road.

If it looks as though I am heading for a conflict, I will give way, even if I know I am in the right.
It's so much easier, quicker, and less stressful than fighting it out, and as Drivingforfun points out Insurers usually treat roundabout claims as 50/50.