Hello there!
Ran into this situation driving to work today, and wondering what best to do?
Context:
- I am the red car. There were other cars behind me and to my right as well.
- The green car represents the other cars. There were multiple green cars too.
- The yellow circles are traffic lights.
- The pictured yellow box is very faded despite what it looks like on this dated satellite imagery. When approaching the junction, it is difficult to see how backed-up the section up ahead is.
The scenario:
- Today, while attempting to enter the M20 Motorway East Bound towards Dover, the traffic lights on the far right turned red.
- I stopped before the yellow box in order to avoid blocking the junction.
- There were about two cars behind me, and two cars to my right.
- While waiting, the traffic lights to the left (which were holding back the green car) went green.
- At the same time, the lane ahead of me cleared, allowing me to proceed over the yellow junction box.
- The result was a bit of an awkward couple moments while both myself and the drivers to my side started to go at the same time as the drivers on the left.
Nobody was angry, there weren't any collisions, but I'd now like some advice for how to avoid this situation going forwards?
I'd assume that, by the rules of the highway code, it would still be my right of way as you'd normally give way to the right on a roundabout? Please correct me if I'm wrong, I'd be interested to know.
In practice however, especially given that the yellow box is so faded, I wouldn't always expect people on my left to assume I was going to proceed on a traffic-light controlled junction. So regardless of who's right of way it is, I imagine some of you will have, in general, some more practical advice.
I understand that in the ideal scenario you just wouldn't go past the traffic light if the lane up ahead was blocked. But the reality is that it's often quite difficult to see, and I don't imagine it will be the last time it happens to me driving every day.