Ask Phoebe: Give-way rule is bottom line for roundabouts

Traffic should follow the lane markings, but there will always be those who don't follow the rules. Photo / Dean Purcell

I frequently drive through a two-lane roundabout at the intersection of two straight roads at right angles.

A lot of traffic comes from my right (the east), in the right-hand lane, and turns right to exit north. I generally stay in my left-hand lane (south entry) and go straight ahead, exiting north. Recently I have been watching the indicators on the right-turners, and if there is no traffic in their left lane, and all right-lane traffic on the roundabout is indicating right, I proceed straight ahead in my left lane.

A few people turning have registered surprise at this. My take on this is that as they are indicating their turn, the contention in my lane that would have occurred had they gone straight ahead will not occur, hence there is no reason for me to give way.

Am I right to proceed under these circumstances, and if not, what is the point of multiple lanes? Richard Horton, Auckland.

Multiple lanes are there to allow more than one stream of traffic on and off a roundabout at the same time. Lane markings and arrows indicate which lane you should be in.

My interpretation of your question leads me to think that you are right in your understanding of the rules, and that motorists should stay in the appropriate lanes.

There will be exceptions, such as vehicles that may have to change lanes to exit, or that are too large or travelling too fast to stay in the correct lane.

But the Road Code also says that, on a roundabout, you should be ready to give way to any vehicle coming from your right.

The new Westgate Drive extension to Royal Rd has been completed for months now. Road markings are in place, footpaths and landscaping complete, houses are being built and associated traffic is using the road. However, the road is still not open for public use. Why is this, and when can we expect to be able to use this road? Janell Sutcliffe, Massey.

The extension to Westgate Drive has been built by a developer as part of the subdivision now being built, as you note.

It will become a public road when the subdivision is finished and the road ownership is transferred to Waitakere City Council. This is expected in the next few months, although the developer may choose to take his time.

Until then the road is private property and the developer can limit public access.

I enter the Southern Motorway via Stanley St and this onramp has a lane for trucks only. Often, when the ramp signals are on, private cars, taxis and couriers use the truck lane, which is not light-controlled. Do you know of any plans to penalise the abuse of this lane? And what size is a truck? Denise Smith, Ellerslie.

Only trucks weighing more than 3.5 tonnes are allowed to use the truck priority lane.

Motorway police enforce this at Grafton Rd onramp southbound, as part of their regular patrols. The fine for driving in such a lane if you're not in a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes is about $150.