There are at the moment two kinds of roundabouts in Hong Kong. We name them standard roundabouts and new spiral roundabouts. Probationary (P-license) drivers are at all times confused by them since every has its personal guidelines for giving indicators and precedence. However passing the driving check doesn’t robotically make you an skilled, as solely the Yau Tong check route has a roundabout.
What’s extra, there is no such thing as a clear consensus as to easy methods to use roundabouts. Some drivers are likely to drive alongside the outer lane it doesn’t matter what, inflicting site visitors congestion. Some drivers even overtake by altering to the flawed lane, leading to automobile accidents. These atrocities have left a status of “black spots” on some roundabouts!
Kwiksure presents the similarities and variations between the traditional roundabouts and spiral roundabouts, in addition to a situation evaluation.
The Automobile Insurance coverage Claims Course of in Hong Kong (with a settlement letter template)
Similarities and variations between the traditional roundabouts and the spiral roundabouts
Street Indicators
Earlier than getting into a roundabout, you will notice a triangular “roundabout forward” signal about 100 meters upfront. It’s often arrange alongside the pedestrian route. At about 50 meters earlier than the roundabout, you will notice a large blue path signal.
Guidelines of use
Whether or not or not it’s a standard roundabout or a spiral roundabout, drivers should carefully observe the next guidelines
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When getting into a roundabout, you need to strategy from the left.
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Resolve as early as potential which exit you need to take and swap to the proper lane.
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In the event you miss the exit, hold circling across the roundabout till you strategy the exit once more, then depart.
Typical roundabouts vs. spiral roundabouts: Driving ideas
The Transport Division launched a guide named “How A lot You Know About Guidelines of Utilizing Roundabouts”, during which we will see that the 2 kinds of roundabouts aren’t too dissimilar with regards to utilization.
If you’re in the end making a left flip (i.e. taking the exit on the left), journey alongside the outer lane and hold left.
If you’re in the end making a proper flip or taking different exits (i.e. taking the exit on the appropriate), journey alongside the internal lane and hold proper.
If you’re in the end going straight forward, both line might be high-quality.
Typical roundabouts vs. spiral roundabouts: The “give-way precedence” controversy
If the foundations of use are so clear, why do site visitors accidents nonetheless occur occasionally? The perpetrator is the precedence challenge on the exits.
Within the standard roundabout, automobiles on the internal lane ought to give approach to automobiles on the outer lane to go away first. Conversely, within the spiral roundabout, automobiles on the outer lane ought to give approach to automobiles on the internal lane to go away first. Previous or new, keep in mind this rule of thumb with regards to roundabouts: look proper when getting into and look left when exiting in case any car crosses your path from behind on the left. Additionally, be careful for lengthy automobiles (e.g. container vehicles) as they could additionally cross your path once they enter and exit the roundabout.
The emergence of spiral roundabouts stems from an remark that drivers exiting a standard roundabout would make a number of lane adjustments without delay, rising the danger of accidents. Due to this fact, in 2004, the Transport Division rolled out spiral roundabouts on a trial foundation. But out of the 327 roundabouts in Hong Kong, there are solely 23 spiral ones – accounting for a mere 7% of the overall. The coexistence of each roundabouts, in addition to the distinction between give-way guidelines, has ceaselessly brought about accidents.
Roundabout black spots
Roundabout black spots the place site visitors accidents have occurred embrace:
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Tsuen Tsing Interchange (Tsuen Wan Street)
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Tsuen Kam Interchange (Texaco Street North / Wai Tsuen Street)
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Nam Pin Wai Roundabout, Sai Kung (a site visitors accident that resulted in 19 deaths and 43 accidents occurred right here)
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Tai Wai Roundabout
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Hammer Hill Street Typical Roundabout, Diamond Hill
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Lung Fu Street Roundabout
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Sheung Tak Property Roundabout, Tseung Kwan O
