Spardo:
Pierrot and Franglais have put their fingers on it. It is the way we are taught in France and to my mind is the safest and most sensible way to proceed, and I have always done it long before I came to live here.
But, the most important thing, as Wheelnut says, is to indicate. In France you indicate left (if going for anything other than the 1st exit) and keep it on until just past the exit before the one you want. Then indicate right ‘to inform those entering from that entry’ as my instructor told us.
It makes sense because it means you have only one side of the wagon to worry about, and are ready for the numpties who try to overtake.
I must admit to being a bit uncomfortable about being instructed in England, by signs on the lane, to take a different route.
As you say.
In the UK I follow any clear road markings, otherwise I try to keep to the outside.
The inside mirrors show any overtakers/liberty takers etc. The outside mirror will only show the headboard of the trailer, so if you`re on the inside lane and trying to move into the outside lane you are making a move into a blind spot. You are trusting others to be responsible good drivers and not overtake you.
Sticking to the outside makes perfect sense. Unless you believe all other road users are perfect.
It seems that France and Spain treat roundabouts the same way.I think it’s better than the UK because it avoids changing lane on the roundabout.Also relatively few people use indicators either correctly or even at all.Some drivers wouldn’t notice if indicators were no longer fitted.
And there was me thinking that indicators was no longer a spec on most cars ! 
One of my pet hates and probably loads of other people I’m sure, it’s probably been mentioned before, it’s the lack of indicator use on roundabouts by drivers as they are exiting, that really boils it for me. In my car not a problem, got the oomph to keep going, but in a truck! You approach slowly, car coming round, so you slow right down and maybe stop, and said car driver exits before getting to you, no indicators, so now you have to start from scratch and probably have to wait a bit, then there’s the one that does indicate, but TOO F’n early, you pull out and he wants the exit after you!!!
As I’m sure you know, Pierrot, on French cars indicators are an optional extra. 
Spardo:
As I’m sure you know, Pierrot, on French cars indicators are an optional extra.
I know what you are saying, the French aren’t the best, (not as bad as Italy though !! 
) but I’ve found over the years they are getting better. But I have found in England where the driving etiquette was superb, it has now dropped dramatically
Yes, but at least if I want to overtake in France, wait patiently for a gap, if I am flashed out it as almost always a British or Dutch car. Otherwise I have to judge my moment carefully and pull out anyway, and watch for the rapidly flashing lights behind.
Early-Riser:
Hi all,
■■?
I get what you’re saying. I’ve seen it myself and wondered same thing. Reading above looks like some countries (France for one) do have different practices.
I watched a flip flop in one of those curtain sided vans do exactly what we’re on about yesterday. The first huge roundabout you come to when off the M54 roundabout at Stafford park. Him in left lane, me a couple of cars behind then a few cars in the right lane but going straight over as they’re entitled. Flip flop no indicators ambles past the straight over exit to turn right making 2 cars slam on. The absolute classic that all commercial drivers do including UK drivers robroy, although I’ve never seen that [emoji57]
[emoji23]
(Sorry mate, couldn’t be helped but speak as you find etc) [emoji1360]
my misses learned to drive a couple of years ago with completely different driving on roundabout practices that ive used for many years.
many similar drivers will have passed their test on similar instruction though the logic of what they are told to do somewhat escapes me.
your average ee has experence in ee/european traffic which in general terms is either manic or lackadasical to our uk standards.
the 2 dont mix plus they are mostly in left hookers.
you have the vast majority of myopics that dont know or care about truck visibility hence the carnage that ensues constantly…just be sure its not you. 
I was taught to hog the centre line on a roundabout for anything except the first exit, that was RTITB training in 1979
Wheel Nut:
I was taught to hog the centre line on a roundabout for anything except the first exit, that was RTITB training in 1979
Remember we had three lane single carriageways too
Wheel Nut:
I was taught to hog the centre line on a roundabout for anything except the first exit, that was RTITB training in 1979
All very well Malc, but then you have both sides of the wagon to worry about and therefore twice the number of blindspots.
I’ll stick to the outside lane with plenty of info given out (indicators) and concentrate on one side only in preparation for a sudden stop when someone can’t see several flashing lights and cuts me up from the inside (of the roundabout) lane.
Sadly our UK road engineer’s have added to the problem, here in Exeter we now have several roundabouts where you can turn right from the centre lane and one where you can turn right 4th exit from the left hand lane. We also have turning left from the righthand lane . So I see how they get confused.
robroy:
Early-Riser:
YES, i do mean almost EVERY foreign truck, or to be more specific, almost every artic lorry with a foreign number plate.
and
NO, no individual or specific nationality.
Ah right, so you do mean EVERY foreign truck. 
So to be pedantic here, and to.back up your claim, that must also mean even foreign regd trucks driven by Brit drivers also, the likes of Verhoek for eg, and one or two others who’s names escape me.
Speaking as somebody who used to get all this type of generalisation and negative anti foreign truck, stereotypical ■■■■■■■■ chucked at me personally on a regular basis a few years ago (the reason why I always jump on this type of crap on here 
) …it does get a bit tedious after a while tbh. 
Your still missing my point if you consider what i said to be in any way “negative anti-foreign truck.”
I am simply stating my suspicion based on personal observations that there is a significant difference in the way foreign drivers HAVE BEEN TRAINED to use roundabouts compared to us in the UK, I did not suggest that UK drivers are right and Foreign drivers are wrong,
And i thought to myself, why not ask the those wiser, experienced individuals who posses the most extensive knowledge for their views…
sadly, they were all too busy to reply so you lot would have to do instead!!
But seriously, If you were to take my exact same argument, but applied it to roundabouts abroad, then the opposite would be true.
Judging by the majority of replies it seems my suspicions have been confirmed, what i still don’t quite understand is why this hasn’t been addressed in some form or other by the appropriate authority, It wouldn’t take much more than including the UK system in their training, and vice-versa and the hassle it would save for those who do fall victim would be massive.
Early-Riser:
Judging by the majority of replies it seems my suspicions have been confirmed, what i still don’t quite understand is why this hasn’t been addressed in some form or other by the appropriate authority, It wouldn’t take much more than including the UK system in their training, and vice-versa and the hassle it would save for those who do fall victim would be massive.
While I can’t speak for other EU nations’ drivers, although I suspect by my observations that many follow broadly the same principles as France on roundabouts, certainly I agree that training be given to EU drivers to follow UK lane marking instructions, where they exist, but follow with extra care what they have been taught, where they don’t. That is keep to the outside of roundabouts, signalling accordingly, and then leave at their chosen exit, again signalling accordingly. I would certainly tell a French driver to be doubly aware of overtakers on roundabouts (a practice I deplore and never do in any vehicle large or small) suddenly cutting across from the inside across his bows.
I don’t say this because I am French, I am not, but because I truly believe it is the safest way for vehicles with trailers and obvious, and unavoidable, blind spots.
I particularly hate the lane markings in the UK which, because I do obey them, frequently leave me isolated between 2 lanes of traffic and having to watch 2 sets of blind spots rather than one.
Spardo:
Early-Riser:
Judging by the majority of replies it seems my suspicions have been confirmed, what i still don’t quite understand is why this hasn’t been addressed in some form or other by the appropriate authority, It wouldn’t take much more than including the UK system in their training, and vice-versa and the hassle it would save for those who do fall victim would be massive.
While I can’t speak for other EU nations’ drivers, although I suspect by my observations that many follow broadly the same principles as France on roundabouts, certainly I agree that training be given to EU drivers to follow UK lane marking instructions, where they exist, but follow with extra care what they have been taught, where they don’t. That is keep to the outside of roundabouts, signalling accordingly, and then leave at their chosen exit, again signalling accordingly. I would certainly tell a French driver to be doubly aware of overtakers on roundabouts (a practice I deplore and never do in any vehicle large or small) suddenly cutting across from the inside across his bows.
I don’t say this because I am French, I am not, but because I truly believe it is the safest way for vehicles with trailers and obvious, and unavoidable, blind spots.
I particularly hate the lane markings in the UK which, because I do obey them, frequently leave me isolated between 2 lanes of traffic and having to watch 2 sets of blind spots rather than one.
Totally this David ^^^^^^^
I lived and worked in England, I took/passed all my tests in the UK (Bike car and truck) and compared to here in France, IMHO they do not give enough to educate the driver as to the pitfalls or of the dangers. Unless it’s changed for your car licence, in the UK you don’t get taught how to drive on a motorway, here in France you do, it’s part of the test.
I don’t think its done now, but when I took my car test, why did I have to reverse round a corner?? Show that I could park a car within 6 inches from the kerb!!! What a load of bull.!!! What did that prove ■■?
I used to drive for a company in Le Mans, France doing 3rd party work for E.Leclerc, we used to always sit on the right hand lane of roundabouts and indicate the whole way around until the exit, one of our guys got a fine for failing to use his indicators, think he also got points, due to possible accidents with motorbikes.
we could always -
slow down
give them space
remember they are in a strange land
on the wrong side of the road
and trying to read roadsigns in a language they are not familiar with .
Maybe thats just to simple - much easier to bash jonny foreigner.
beefy4605:
we could always -
slow down
give them space
remember they are in a strange land
on the wrong side of the road
and trying to read roadsigns in a language they are not familiar with .
Maybe thats just to simple - much easier to bash jonny foreigner.
Thank you kind sir, I feel much more unbashed already. 