Driver beeps his horn and slams on his brakes after a car pulls out in front of him at a roundabout – sparking debate over who was at fault
A driver who beeped his horn at a car that entered a roundabout has sparked a heated debate over who was actually at fault at the intersection.
Dash cam footage showed the driver entering a roundabout in Cronulla in Sydney's south before slamming on his brakes as a black Mazda drove in front of him.
The driver sent the footage in to Dash Cam Owners Australia in a bid to expose the Mazda, but was quickly corrected by the popular Facebook page's admin.
'As the black vehicle enters the roundabout first, the dash cam vehicle must give way to them. It is NOT 'give way to the right',' the admin wrote alongside the clip.
'Please approach with care and be prepared to give way to any vehicle that enters the roundabout before you.'
People are divided after dash cam footage shows a driver honking at a car who entered at a roundabout
NSW rules state that vehicles entering a roundabout must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout
The clip has had over 165,000 views with people flooding the comment section with who they think is to blame.
'Classic example of how people just don't understand RB's. The arrogance is ridiculous. Even IF the dash cam car had some kind of right of way they don't need to blast their horn, just slow down a little and the day continues,' wrote one viewer.
'If a vehicle enters the roundabout before you they have the right of way ... If you hit that vehicle in the rear part of the vehicle the insurance will find you at fault,' another agreed.
Some blamed the design of the roundabout itself.
'The main problem is that a lot of roundabouts are badly designed allowing for drivers to drive though at speed,' wrote one.
'Good incentive to just put the foot down and hope to be first to enter the roundabout. That way, everyone else must give way to you, every time, and you can never be in the wrong,' added another scathing viewer.
The video has received over 165000 views with many Facebook viewers blasting the dash cam driver
The NSW road rules state that when a driver approaches a roundabout they must give way to any vehicle already in it.
The driver must then slow down to give way and in some cases, stop in order to avoid an accident.
According to the rules, the dash cam driver should have given way to the black Mazda and the Facebook page agrees.
ROUNDABOUT RULES EXPLAINED
The roundabout sign means Slow Down, prepare to Give Way and if necessary stop to avoid a collision.
When approaching a roundabout, you must get into the correct lane, indicate if turning, and give way to traffic already on the roundabout.
Enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic.
The rules for using a roundabout are quite simple. But, as common as roundabouts are, the number of crashes at intersections with roundabouts suggests that when we approach one, we still aren't quite clear on the rules.
Part 9 of the Road Rules 2014 details the legislation that covers roundabouts. Motorists should know what a roundabout is and what they're for. It is the way they should be approached and used that seems to be causing the confusion.
Rule 114 explains how to give way when entering or driving in a roundabout.
For this rule, give way means the driver must slow down and, if necessary, stop to avoid a collision.
There is no specific legislation stating one must give way to the other if entering the roundabout at the same time, only that you must give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout.
However, common sense must prevail. As the rule states, a driver must slow down enough to be able to stop to avoid a collision if necessary.
Many drivers enter/approach roundabouts too fast and if there was a collision and it was a result of them not slowing to be able to avoid a collision, then they may face penalties from the authorities.
These are the rules and you can be fined for not abiding by them. If involved in a crash, you might be liable when you thought you weren't.
Source: NRMA