Near Miss of the Day 699: Roundabout close pass from driver speeding off slip road

There isnt assurdness for sure, wide roundabouts like this always pose some risk for cyclists so it becomes hobsons choice.

But I know of at least one cyclist who was hit and killed almost in exactly this setup by a lorry coming in from a left/front entry,whilst they rode around far far left and it was because the bit of the road the driver assumed anything to come into conflict with them was empty, they didnt look to the verge for anything where the cyclist was.

And I've had similar experiences where being in prime probably saved me the side impact as the driver saw me last second and applied enough braking to stop in the extra gap there was, even if I then got chopped across close passed by the impatient so and so's following me through on the exit.

joe9090 wrote:

I am not sure about this one. When I cycled in the UK, on scary WTF no marking roundabouts like that one, I used to stay far far left (about a foot way from verge) the whole way around, until i needed to skip an exit, would then check I was clear - trusting no-one, and then continue till leaving my exit. 

Seems alot of taking primary there with very little assuredness that phluckers like that wont rip past you. Risky.

This is a shockingly dangerous approach, as drivers behind will justifiably assume you are taking the next exit and you will get left hooked.

Position within the lane makes no difference, in the case of a driver who completely fails to give way to a road user already on the roundabout, the same evasive reaction would be required.

Wrong on several counts. 

joe9090 wrote:

Wrong on several counts. 

It's not wrong; it's just not what you chose to do.

Whether a cyclist takes the left lane all the way round or rides as a vehicle, there are risks.  It should not be assumed that keeping out of the way is safer, because there is no 'out of the way'.  If the roundabout includes spiral lane markings, non-vehicular cycling is probably less compatible with survival.  Equally, I can think of some large, rural roundabouts on routes I take to Scotland and Wales where I would probably cycle to the left because the roundabouts are so large they don't really perform like roundabouts.

In each case, a cyclist wishing to survive would be well-advised to spend half their time emphatically looking behind them (body twisted to demonstrate you're watching them).  In each case, signalling right until you're passing the exit before yours and then signal left (never mind you don't have to signal right if you're exiting before 12 o'clock).

But whichever approach you take on your position, drivers behind or joining must give way... you just have to be ready for the ones who DGAS across you.

Which makes it an awful, reckless and dangerous bit of driving, doesn't it Nigel?

That would have been the excuse used definitely even though it should not be allowed, especially at the speeds he was travelling.

My first thought - which makes it even worse.......