Fiat 500 Almost Takes Out A Corsa

[The Dark Knight]

Copied from video description: This idiot in the Fiat 500 decided to exit left from the right hand lane on the roundabout and almost took out the Vauxhall Corsa. - Footage from Roadhawk DC-2.

[Phil 87]

Good video, that's better than anything I've caught on my dashcam. That must be the only Corsa driver in the country who is actually capable of avoiding a crash :P

[RAIDER32]

Can't make my mind up who I'd say is at fault based on what I can see in the video.

If that Fiat had made a 3/4 turn and was on the inside, yeh maybe a tad late on the indicator,

but the lorry was 'just' blocking the exit so the Fiat went slightly left to get around it,

the Corsa didn't give enough time (right of way) and almost jumped into the side of the Fiat.

Or the Fiat could have been indicating right (can't see) and changed mind at last minute,

thus throwing the Corsa off and leaving the junction too early.

[The Dark Knight]

Definitely the Fiat at fault. Yes the Corsa was eager to get away but the Fiat was in the right hand lane so should have continued around the roundabout and the sun was blasting at us so it would be more difficult to spot a late indication. The Fiat should have been indicating and moving over way before then for that exit.

What sealed it for me was the lack of awareness by the Fiat driver. Everyone gets the wrong lane at some point but it was the way the Fiat just cruised over like the road was completely empty! Bonkers!

[RAIDER32]

Definitely the Fiat at fault. Yes the Corsa was eager to get away but the Fiat was in the right hand lane so should have continued around the roundabout.

I'd have to disagree there, (based on what I see, and depending where the Fiat came from, but it did look to be coming around)

Lets pretend the Fiat is the green and you were in the top left. (pic & info from gov.uk)

- signal right and approach in the right-hand lane

- keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout

- signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

If you were coming around the roundabout you would be in the right lane, the lorry is blocking the exit,

the Fiat might have exited in the right lane if not for the Lorry, but it can exit where it wants.

The Corsa 'jumped with you', but you had your eye on the back of the Fiat (whether it was going around or coming off)

the Corsa just went with you, and obviously didn't give those extra 2 seconds you did to let the priority traffic clear.

If you looked at one frame, you'd have to fault the Corsa for hitting the Fiat indicating while exiting.

[The Dark Knight]

The theory is good and the Fiat would get credit for indicating but on that particular roundabout, there is more room than that picture/diagram and you cannot leave it that late to move across on such a busy roundabout.

Strictly speaking, flashing the lights at someone means stay there I am coming (something like that) but everyone has adopted it as signalling someone to go/move. In that sense, contrary to what seems like unquestionable theory, most people adopt the courtesy of getting over in good time because for me that was much too late.

[RAIDER32]

The theory is good and the Fiat would get credit for indicating but on that particular roundabout, there is more room than that picture/diagram and you cannot leave it that late to move across on such a busy roundabout.

I just think in this case the Fiat had to slow slightly and go for the left lane,

If not for the lorry it would have come around faster and exited in the right lane a tad further round,

so would not have been so close.....in theory lol

[Phil 87]

Actually watching it again it looks like the lorry and Corsa simply failed to give way to the Fiat. The Fiat's positioning could have been better but they might blame the lorry for that. I hate how lorry drivers think they can do what they want just because they are too big to be damaged by anything, but doesn't they rule about "not causing other drivers to slow down" apply to them too? But to be fair some lorries are so slow off the mark that there isn't a gap in traffic big enough for them, which might be what happened here.

This is why I'm very reluctant to go onto a 2 lane roundabout unless both lanes are clear, because you just don't know if that car in the inside lane is going to cut across straight towards you (same applies for junctions heading onto a dual carriageway, but most people don't seem to care about this).

It would be good if you could give us a link to google maps so we can see the roundabout, because it looks like a good example to make sure you know the best road positioning.

[The Dark Knight]

This might help. The first 2 photos show the front and rear views from where the majority of people indicate and begin to move over from the right hand lane. It was clear for the Fiat to do just that.

The second 2 photos show the front and rear views from where the Fiat started to move. You can see the proximity to the lanes we were moving out from and although the Corsa should have been more alert to late indication, I honestly think it is more than reasonable to assume that a car in the right hand lane at that point will continue around and not move over.

In any case, if I find myself in the position of the Corsa, I will be on the lookout for this kind of thing.

[Phil 87]

Yeah you're definitely right about getting in the left lane early, I found it on google maps and there are arrows in the right lane telling you it's for turning right and loads of room to move into the left lane.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/53%C2%B003'31.7%22N+1%C2%B024'59.1%22W/@53.05819,-1.416067,17z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x0

Looking at it on street view it's clear that the lorry driver did nothing wrong, and I'd say both the Fiat and Corsa drivers were equally in the wrong. It just goes to show what a different perspective gives you.

[The Dark Knight]

To be fair, it is only right for me to say that the Corsa was wrong for making the assumption all would be well and going for it. I guess the Fiat's dodgy late indication and movement offers mitigating circumstances.

Just focussing solely on the lorry and removing the Corsa from the equation altogether, I believe that if the Fiat had indicated and moved over sooner as per the photographs, the lorry would not have presented such an obstacle. The Fiat would then be where that silver Saab was at the beginning of the video and due to taking a wider line than sticking to the insider of the roundabout, would also have arrived at the turn off a fraction later than it did in the video.

[RAIDER32]

It was a good video to debate over,

I can't imagine how I'd react if something bad happened to me in a similar situation lol.