How to approach this double mini roundabout?

[Fifteen15]

Because everyone else is doing it, I want a go too A few weeks ago I almost got smashed into by an M&S lorry. I don't know who was to blame, probably me though as I'm relatively new to the roads.

It was rush hour and I was waiting to enter the double mini roundabout. In order for it to be clear, I needed to wait for a vehicle to turn right towards the green arrow to block the cars on my right from going. I saw an M&S lorry coming, signalling right so I thought good, I can go now. He then proceeded to carry on going right into a U turn seconds after I set off. I had to twist the throttle right back to get away from him hitting me.

https://img715.imageshack.us/img715/7739/doubleroundabout.png

Who was to blame? And how do I avoid getting hit when people decide to do U turns on this particular double roundabout?
____________________
"Pain is weakness leaving the body, and blood makes the grass grow faster...but I'll wear my gear anyway"

[Pete.]

You treat the two roundabouts as separate and indicate/maneuver accordingly.

As far as the incident - he indicated properly and you assumed he was going straight on when he wasn't. He could have been more courteous but otherwise acted properly and the onus is on you to be sure that he was taking the route you thought he was. It's a valuable lesson for you that I'm sure you won;t forget in a hurry.

I have a double mini roundabout near my house and that has happened a few times out there. One lady lost control when it happened and went through the front of the butchers.
____________________
a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[iooi]

You.....

He was on the roundabout indicating right, and you pulled out in front of him

Does not matter if its a single/double/treble roundabout...... You give way to the right.

This is one reason I hate indicating on a roundabout.... If there are none, you don't move till you are 100% sure where they are going.

Also a lorry will need a lot more room to do a turn like that.
____________________
Just because my bike was A DIVVY, does not mean i am......

[Babba]

Scary.

I've driven lorries this big & that looks like a very slow speed manoeuvre for him with a lot of work involved.

It looks to me like the lorry is legal in doing a full circle & the driver would have had a lot to be thinking about while doing it.

So much that had you dissapeared from the drivers view, like right in front of his cab at the wrong moment, the whole lot could've gone over you & not feel as much as a bump.

It doesn't matter who's to blame, in an argument the bike's always going to lose. 44t, 500hp & 1/4" steel bumpers have no respect for flimsy bits of metal surrounded by plastic & ridden by something that's 80% water.

Try reading up on 'defensive riding', it might come in handy on these odd occasions.

[Glenben92]

You were technically in the wrong, but it's a bastard of a situation because he was right to indicate even if he was going straight on (better than having someone from that top junction pull out on him) and you should assume that he WILL be crossing your path (always assume this until you're sure it's not the case) but I'd likely have done the same thing because you could sit there all bloody day. It could probably be set out better but you were technically in the wrong mate, just mark it up as experience and it'll be an experience that'll probably save your life one day. Don't think of it as making a mistake, think of it as learning how to not make a mistake.

On a lighter note, never presume that you're in the wrong because you're new to the roads. In many instances new drivers, having not had a chance to pick up bad habits and still having the highway code/training fresh in their heads are capable of making better decisions than people who are driving on "auto-pilot". I know I'd trust 90% of new bikers before I'd trust a seasoned cager.
____________________
57 Huoniao HN125-8 - , 97 Kawasaki GPZ500S -
99 Yamaha FZS 600 -
Mod 2 Passed - 01/10/2010

[Frog]

[defblade]

Never

ever

trust an indicator.




Wait till you see they're actually doing what they say they're doing. Don't feel pressured by anyone behind you to pull out at risky moments, either. There's far too many times when someone doesn't realise they're giving a misleading signal (or even that it's on at all).

Anyhow, in this case, I'll bet the lorry was much further to the left of the road than required for a right hand turn and this could have been a clue that he was doing a U turn (lorries need space!). On a similar note, never ride up the inside of a lorry that's pulled out to the centre line... he's about to turn left and crush you.

So long as you don't get killed, this stuff will start to make (a 6th) sense... you're on the right track already by thinking about it and asking... we all make mistakes sometimes and those who admit they might have done something better in that situation (not really a question of "fault" or "blame" especially when it's bike vs lorry - better means avoiding the accident even if at possible cost of macho points) will end up the safest.
____________________
Honda Varadero 125cc => Suzuki Bandit 650 33bhp => 77bhp =>
BMW K1200R Sport 163bhp => Aprilia Shiver GT 750 95bhp

[anthony_r6]

U-Turning on those small roundabouts needs to be illegal. It's stupidly dangerous.
____________________
Ted : "Maybe he's agoraphobic."
Dougal : "Jack scared of fighting? I don't think so, Ted."

[parkmoy]

The lorry was signalling correctly. If he was going to turn towards the green arrow he would ideally have signalled a LEFT turn as he was level with the exit immediately prior. I say ideally because he may well have had too much on and too little time to do so.

Whilst you should never trust indicators, a left signal would have given you a clue that he might be intending to turn into your road. As it was the right signal indicated the opposite intention.

[G]

[iooi]