Safe Speed Forums

I was visiting Huddersfield, specifically Ainley Top. I took a wrong turn on Ainley Top roundabout and ended up on the A643 to Halifax. 3 miles later I finally find somewhere to U-turn and after half an hour of stop/start stationary traffic I'm back at Ainley Top Roundabout.

This roundabout has a big sign warning of 55 casualties in the last year, so I'm being cautious, it's dark, slightly damp and I have a huge queue behind me. I go to enter the roundabout and when I'm a foot across the line, a pair of headlights emerges from behind the damn trees. Whilst the roundabout is two lanes, the lane markings have almost completely worn away due to people crossing them to take the exit (first exit relative to my position)

The guy is approaching fast, isn't in any particular lane, I suspect he may want the first exit, so I stop, decelerating very quickly from about 15mph. I'm about 2 feet over the give way line.

The guy does take the first exit, and I would have been right in his path had I not stopped (it was quite close even stopped). I breathe a sigh of relief and am just lifting off the brake when *bam* I'm pushed into the junction by a Renault Scenic

Cheeky git said it was my fault because I crossed the line and then stopped.

Google Maps

Is there anything I could have done to avoid this? I'm currently considering getting LED bulbs for my brakes (the non strobed kind) which will give people and extra half a second's notice

I doubt brighter/faster brake lights would make any difference. The chap probably wasn't even looking in your direction.

I use the roundabout regularly and it is confusing for people who don't.

To start with traffic coming off the M62 Westbound, wanting to go South to Huddersfield actually has to turn right but is channelled into the left hand lane with little warning. This gives rise to a lot of vehicles taking strange lines around the roundabout.

Knowing the road, for once I'm going to say I don't think there is much you could have done about it.

Apart from maybe getting sat-nav and not taking the wrong turn in the first place.

dunno about avoiding it, but a rear nudge bar/towbar would have worked a treat.

This is common accident & easily done, car in front moves off, car behind observes and follows taking right glance to ascertain if they can follow, car in front stops. I wouldn't be at all suprised if it wasn't an insurance scam favourite too.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

Ahh yes a towbar, or "BMW Deterrent" as I prefer to call them. I've thought about it, but I'm never going to tow anything, I don't think my licence even allows for towing anything larger that what I could put on the roof rack and it'd spoil the look of the car somewhat.

And in this case, the guy would probably still have hit me, only more damage would have been done and everyone's insurance goes up just that little bit more.

*sigh*

i now have to provide a diagram of getting rear ended at a roundabout in my 3 week old car

more damage, but only to his car- steel towbar vs plastic bumper wins every time. actually maybe less as it's one shagged bumper instead of two. my old 4x4 was front ended, rear ended, you name it, I won every time I miss my 4x4, and people say there's no need for urban SUV's

most damage it sustained was a cracked fog light, after a drunken morrocan reversed into me, he needed half the back end of his van replaced.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction