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

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

Though street indicators have been erected for drivers to tell apart, Instructing Info, 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 will be simply negotiated.

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Methods to distinguish between conventional roundabouts and spirals

The unique intention of establishing roundabouts is to make visitors move smoother at intersections with out having to attend for visitors lights. Nonetheless, many roundabouts in Hong Kong have turn into visitors accident black spots. Along with drivers not taking note of street circumstances, inadequate information of conventional roundabouts and spirals can also be one of many causes of accidents. Let’s first have a look at how you can distinguish between conventional roundabouts and spirals.

When approaching a roundabout

Earlier than getting into a roundabout/spiral,You will note a triangular signal about 100 meters forward that claims ’roundabout’. This implies there will probably be a roundabout forward. About 50 meters earlier than the roundabout/spiral, you will notice 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 strains encompass the surface, and lengthen to different street exits. 

Coming into and leaving roundabouts

In keeping with the Transport Division’s ‘How a lot have you learnt concerning the guidelines for utilizing roundabouts?’, when approaching a roundabout, you need to decelerate, resolve as early as potential which exit you’ll take, drive into the proper lane, be sure that there are not any different automobiles approaching from the best, and switch left into the roundabout when it’s protected.

Conventional roundabout:

• In the event you take the primary exit to depart the roundabout (i.e. flip left), activate the left flip sign and observe the left lane to enter and exit the roundabout.

• If it’s good to 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, automobiles within the left lane can not flip proper, however for the sake of warning, it is strongly recommended that automobiles in the best lane test whether or not there are different automobiles approaching from the left when leaving the roundabout).

• If it’s good to depart the roundabout from the third exit (i.e. flip proper), you need to first activate the best sign and enter the roundabout alongside the best lane. When approaching the exit, activate the left flip sign and take note of the automobiles within the left lane. After making certain that the scenario is protected, proceed to depart the roundabout alongside the best lane.

Spiral:

• In the event you take the primary exit to depart the roundabout (i.e. flip left), activate the left flip sign and observe the left lane to enter and exit the roundabout.

• If it’s good to 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, automobiles within the left lane can not flip proper, however for the sake of warning, it is strongly recommended that automobiles in the best lane test whether or not there are different automobiles approaching from the left when leaving the roundabout).

• If it’s good to depart the roundabout from the third exit (i.e. flip proper), you need to first activate the best sign and enter the roundabout alongside the best lane. When approaching the exit, activate the left flip sign and take note of the automobiles within the left lane. After making certain that the scenario is protected, proceed to drive out of the roundabout alongside the best lane.

Completely different between Conventional roundabouts and spirals

From the above utilization, we will see that the normal roundabout and the spiral are precisely the identical! The distinction is that the left lane automobiles usually are not allowed to show proper on the spiral, and there are street indicators on the bottom to point the route of journey.This causes some drivers to fret about not having the ability to depart the supposed exit in time when driving alongside the best lane, in order that they occupy the left lane for a very long time, growing the possibility of 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 visitors accidents? The primary purpose is the precedence problem when vehicles are leaving.

• Utilizing a standard roundabout: Automobiles travelling alongside the interior lane should give option to automobiles travelling alongside the outer lane earlier than leaving the roundabout.

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

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

Roundabout Site visitors Blackspot

Roundabout blackspots the place 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

Often requested questions

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

When leaving a standard roundabout, the within lane provides option to the surface lane, however at a brand new spiral, the surface lane provides option to the within lane, and the precedence is precisely the alternative.

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

If you’re turning left when getting into, activate the left sign; in case you are turning proper, activate the best 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 swap lanes abruptly. Proceed circling and wait till you’re near the exit once more earlier than exiting safely.

How have you learnt if a roundabout is conventional or spiral?

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