There are no road markings or signage to tell you any different. Any turn that exits after 12 o'clock can be considered a right turn (so you'd indicate right entering the roundabout). I was taught the 12 o'clock rule. “If you’re exiting before 12 o’clock, take up a position in the left lane”. You can use the approach to … I was always taught that if it's after 12 o'clock, use the right hand unless marked. When you go in straight through around about legally, you don't have to indicate when you winter, but when you leave you should always signal left anything to the left of the 12 o 'clock that will be indicating lift anything to the rest of the 12 o 'clock that'll be indicating. If you are going ahead and the exit is at 12 clock you again approach in the left hand lane with no signal on approach and signal left to leave as you pass the last exit before the one you wish to take. Please enable Strictly Necessary Cookies first so that we can save your preferences! This website uses cookies to provide you with the best browsing experience. RAC Forum Thread Hey, so I'm a few days off my driving test and otherwise my theory has been great. The Golden Rule. If your exit is not the first exit, but your exit is before 12 o’clock or directly ahead at 12 o’clock. a long way after 12 o’clock). The road I am exiting on to only has one lane. 5 Exit Roundabout Rules. ADI qualified Driving instructor 12+ years’ experience, Foundation Multimedia - Isle of Wight Web Design & Marketing. If taking any exit between the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock positions, motorists should generally approach in the right-hand lane. As a general rule, if you’re taking the first exit left, or going to follow the road ahead at the roundabout then use the left lane, and if your exit is to the right (past 12 o’clock), then use the right-hand lane. In NSW you’ll cop a $191 fine and two demerit points. If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists should generally approach in the left-hand lane. Update Feb 2021 after Boris’s roadmap announcement. ... A vehicle ( a ) is approaching a roundabout at 6 o'clock and a vehicle ( b ) approaching at 3 o'clock. Speed: approach so that you can stop and give way if necessary. So, if inner lane tries to exit at 9 o'clock, he should be at fault. If you are approaching a roundabout and the turning left and the exit is before 12 o clock then you approach in the left hand lane and give a left signal on approach. If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists should generally approach in the left-hand lane. When you want to go straight ahead (any exit to the left of 12 o’clock) Unless road markings say otherwise, approach in the left-hand lane. near pedestrian path way ) = can exit and 9 o'clock or 12 o'clock at the roundabout. The ‘12 o’clock rule’ divides the roundabout into a clock face, and argues that any exit after the 12 o’clock position is a right turn! The RSA state that motorist should think of the roundabout as a clock: If taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists should generally approach in the left-hand lane. If for instance there is no right exit on a roundabout you are approaching then they may have a the left lane for turning left and the right lane for turning right, so there is one for each direction which is different to a four exit roundabout where normally the left lane is for left and ahead, but on this occasion they may as well use the right lane for ahead. Imagine the roundabout a clock face. Any turn that exits after 12 o'clock can be considered a right turn (so you'd indicate right entering the roundabout). Posted by u/[deleted] 3 years ago. However, you must be aware that there are local variations to this rule, multi lane roads may also vary - ask your instructor for details. It really is a guideline more than a rule but it gives the driver a rough rule to use on approaching roundabouts. “Straight ahead at a roundabout can be considered 12 o’clock (so you wouldn’t indicate on entry).” Many people disagreed with the rule, with some saying it was a “dumb, stupid rule”. If you’re taking any exit between six and 12 o’clock, you should be in the left hand lane. Many roundabouts have the second exit (the road Ahead) which is located before or after the 12 O’clock position. If you’re taking any exit between six and 12 o’clock, you should be in the left hand lane. Any turn that exits after 12 o'clock can be considered a right turn (so you'd indicate right entering the roundabout). First off the “12 o’clock rule” isn’t a bad rule, especially for learners and it generally works. Christine. roundabouts. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. RAC Forum Thread I was taught the general 12 o’clock rule when approaching roundabouts, but what happens when you come to a roundabout with an exit going left, one going straight ahead and the other exit is just you going right around the roundabout and returning the way you came. Outskirts of Derry (same rules apply with regards to roundabouts) on approach to 'B&Q' - exits 1 and 2 approach in left lane, exits 3 and 4 in right lane. This 'golden rule' should help you to drive safely at any roundabout regardless of the number of exits: Think of the roundabout as a clock. 11. I was taught the 12 o clock rule, left lane to 9 o clock, left lane for straight ahead and right lanes for anything beyond that. The same going if you are using this roundabout from the other direction where if there is no left exit just ahead and right, then the left lane is used to go ahead and so no signal is needed on approach and then you would just signal left to leave. Exit 3 at 12 O'Clock here also. The 12 o clock rule refers to an idea of what you would do on the approach to roundabouts. give way to the vehicle coming from the right is the rule. If it's at, say, 9 o'clock, you indicate left. (An exception to this general rule would be where the second exit is beyond the 12 o’ clock position, ie. Roundabout indication question sparks road rule debate. If you are going ahead and the exit is at 12 clock you again approach in the left hand lane with no signal on approach and signal left to leave as you pass the last exit before the one you wish to take. The rules of roundabouts were very important, but they did tend to confuse people. It is not a Rule, because it does not, and cannot, apply to all roundabouts. “Think of the roundabout as a clock”. Despite the British inventing roundabouts and having them since about 1909 though we’ve not always been clear which lane to use for going straight ahead. Ask any driving instructor and they’ll tell you the same thing: think of the roundabout as a clock. Answer Save. Archived. As a general rule we suggest that drivers use the 12 o'clock 'golden rule' to help plan a safe path onto and around a roundabout, unless road signs, markings or traffic conditions indicate otherwise. There are very few road markings. ... Before 12 o'clock use left lane, after 12 o'clock use … Just a quick question on lanes - When you are going straight through a roundabout you always approach in the left lane, right? Choose left lane and keep to the left throughout the roundabout if your exit is not past 12 o’clock unless road signs or markings direct you otherwise. Close. The 12 o clock rule refers to an idea of what you would do on the approach to roundabouts. Anyways, TLDR; the 12 o clock rule is correct, go by that rather than by the number of exits on the roundabout. The 12 o clock rule. 4 Answers. His instructor said “It’s very simple. I have always used the 12 O'clock rule too, although you can use the outer lane to go straight on also, but anything past 12 you should be in the right hand lane, regardless of how many exits … When taking any exit from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position, motorists should approach in the left-hand lane When taking any exit between the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock positions, motorists should approach in the right-hand lane Anything past twelve o clock you approach in the right hand lane. Golden Rule This ‘golden rule’ should help motorists to drive safely at any roundabout regardless of the number of exits: think of the roundabout as a clock. Also note how the roundabout is oval, which illustrates another problem with the 12 o’clock rule – it assumes roundabouts are round like a clock face, which many aren’t. “After 12 o’clock, take up a position in the right lane”. Send post to email address, comma separated for multiple emails. And yes I know that the majority of drivers already know this, but there are quite a few out there that don't so hopefully this'll help clarify the issue for some of them. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Exit Shopping Cart Is a myth. Update: UK DRIVING . If the exit you are taking is passed 12 o'clock, signal right on approach and change this to a left indicator when you go to leave the roundabout.