Originally Posted by jpdx
Priority from the right in roundabouts, however, makes no sense, and although I can't dispute that these aberrations exist, I'd say that it's much more common to find priority for cars in the circle.
France switched from priority to the right, to giving priority to those on the roundabout. It was chaos for a while (I was there during it) as no-one knew who had priority, or who was going to assume that they had priority.
Originally Posted by gglave
I'm not sure I'd define it as an 'odd' custom - More in the category of a 'nice' custom, but it was neat to watch how, in Ireland, everyone flashed their hazard light to say "thank you" after you let them pass.
I have to remember not to do that when driving abroad, as I think it is a peculiary UK and Ireland custom. You can either use hazards (when thanking those behind you) or flash your headlights (for those in front of you - e.g. if they have let you through on a constricted roadway). Of course nothing is ever that simple, flashing your headlights in the UK can mean:
- thank you!
- You're an idiot and I would have tooted, but it wasn't that serious!
- You're driving the same car as I am!
- hello! (if you know the other driver)
- watch out, there's a policeman ahead with radar or speed camera
- watch out there's an accident ahead (usually I flash hazards as well, but not everyone does).
- you forgot to/need to turn your lights on
- there's a bit of your car which is obviously broken, and you will not be able to see it
- I'm an ambulance or police car wanting through (Ok, they also generally have blue flashing lights and sirens)
-move out of the overtaking lane, you are going too slowly and hogging it and I want to get buy - this is kind of a subset of the second one too...
So you need to learn to interpret flashing headlights in the UK with care... you can usually narrow it down to 2 or 3 possibilities