[Car crash at a roundabout?] The best way to use roundabouts/spirals appropriately｜When to activate the lights｜Selecting lanes｜Rationalization of proper of means

Typically seen on Hong Kong roads Roundabout there are conventional roundabouts and spirals. Though they appear comparable, they’re really totally different in utilization and driving routes.

Though highway indicators have been erected for drivers to tell apart, Educating Data, however the roundabout Site visitors Accidents How ought to we distinguish and use roundabouts and spirals appropriately? Kwiksure will examine the similarities and variations between conventional roundabouts and new spirals and supply steering for drivers to Beginner the roundabout could be simply negotiated.

The Automobile Insurance coverage Claims Course of in Hong Kong (with a settlement letter template)

The best way to distinguish between conventional roundabouts and spirals

The unique intention of organising roundabouts is to make site visitors stream smoother at intersections with out having to attend for site visitors lights. Nevertheless, many roundabouts in Hong Kong have turn out to be site visitors accident black spots. Along with drivers not being attentive to highway circumstances, inadequate information of conventional roundabouts and spirals can be one of many causes of accidents. Let’s first have a look at find out how to distinguish between conventional roundabouts and spirals.

When approaching a roundabout

Earlier than coming into a roundabout/spiral,You will notice a triangular signal about 100 meters forward that claims ’roundabout’. This implies there shall be a roundabout forward. About 50 meters earlier than the roundabout/spiral, you will note a big blue signal that claims “Instructions”.。

Conventional roundabout:

Roundabouts are proven as circles.A single straight line is used to point the connecting roads to different exits。

Spiral:

Roundabouts are proven as circles.A number of curved traces encompass the skin, and lengthen to different highway exits. 

Coming into and leaving roundabouts

In accordance with the Transport Division’s ‘How a lot are you aware concerning the guidelines for utilizing roundabouts?’, when approaching a roundabout, it’s best to decelerate, determine as early as potential which exit you’ll take, drive into the right lane, ensure that there aren’t any different autos approaching from the suitable, and switch left into the roundabout when it’s secure.

Conventional roundabout:

• In the event you take the primary exit to go away the roundabout (i.e. flip left), activate the left flip sign and comply with the left lane to enter and exit the roundabout.

• If it’s essential take the second exit (i.e. go straight), you’ll be able to enter the roundabout alongside the left or proper lane. After passing the primary exit, activate the left flip sign and exit the roundabout alongside the unique lane (typically, autos within the left lane can not flip proper, however for the sake of warning, it is suggested that autos in the suitable lane examine whether or not there are different autos approaching from the left when leaving the roundabout).

• If it’s essential depart the roundabout from the third exit (i.e. flip proper), it’s best to first activate the suitable sign and enter the roundabout alongside the suitable lane. When approaching the exit, activate the left flip sign and take note of the autos within the left lane. After guaranteeing that the scenario is secure, proceed to go away the roundabout alongside the suitable lane.

Spiral:

• In the event you take the primary exit to go away the roundabout (i.e. flip left), activate the left flip sign and comply with the left lane to enter and exit the roundabout.

• If it’s essential take the second exit (i.e. go straight), you’ll be able to enter the roundabout alongside the left or proper lane. After passing the primary exit, activate the left flip sign and exit the roundabout alongside the unique lane (typically, autos within the left lane can not flip proper, however for the sake of warning, it is suggested that autos in the suitable lane examine whether or not there are different autos approaching from the left when leaving the roundabout).

• If it’s essential depart the roundabout from the third exit (i.e. flip proper), it’s best to first activate the suitable sign and enter the roundabout alongside the suitable lane. When approaching the exit, activate the left flip sign and take note of the autos within the left lane. After guaranteeing that the scenario is secure, proceed to drive out of the roundabout alongside the suitable lane.

Completely different between Conventional roundabouts and spirals

From the above utilization, we will see that the standard roundabout and the spiral are precisely the identical! The distinction is that the left lane autos usually are not allowed to show proper on the spiral, and there are highway indicators on the bottom to point the route of journey.This causes some drivers to fret about not having the ability to depart the meant exit in time when driving alongside the suitable lane, so that they occupy the left lane for a very long time, growing the prospect of site visitors accidents.

Conventional roundabouts/spirals: who has precedence?

Though the principles for using roundabouts are so clear, why do roundabouts in Hong Kong nonetheless trigger many site visitors accidents? The principle purpose is the precedence difficulty when automobiles are leaving.

• Utilizing a conventional roundabout: Autos travelling alongside the interior lane should give solution to autos travelling alongside the outer lane earlier than leaving the roundabout.

• Utilizing the brand new roundabout: autos travelling alongside the outer lane should give solution to autos leaving the roundabout from the interior lane first

Whether or not it’s a conventional roundabout or a spiral, look to the suitable when coming into and to the left when exitingDevelop good defensive driving habits to forestall autos from crossing your line from the left rear. Additionally, concentrate on longer automobiles that will cross the road when coming into and exiting roundabouts, inflicting Site visitors Accidents。

Roundabout Site visitors Blackspot

Roundabout blackspots the place site visitors accidents have occurred embody:

Tsuen Tsing Interchange(Tsuen Wan Street)

Tsuen Kam Interchange(Texaco Street North / Wai Tsuen Street)

Sai Kung Nam Pin Wai Roundabout

Tai Wai Station Spiral

Axe Hill Street Roundabout, Diamond Hill

Tseung Kwan O Movie Street / Po Ning Street Spiral

Spiral at Sheung Tak Property, Tseung Kwan O

Incessantly requested questions

What’s the distinction between a conventional roundabout and a spiral?

When leaving a conventional roundabout, the within lane provides solution to the skin lane, however at a brand new spiral, the skin lane provides solution to the within lane, and the precedence is precisely the alternative.

How do I exploit my lights when coming into a roundabout?

If you’re turning left when coming into, activate the left sign; in case you are turning proper, activate the suitable sign; in case you are going straight, don’t activate the sign, and activate the left sign earlier than leaving the exit.

Missed your exit at a roundabout?

By no means change lanes abruptly. Proceed circling and wait till you’re near the exit once more earlier than exiting safely.

How are you aware if a roundabout is conventional or spiral?

Take note of whether or not there are clear marking traces (lanes separating totally different exits) and arrows on the bottom.