‘I couldn’t believe they were doing it’
Shocking dashcam footage captured the bizarre moment a driver missed their exit and did a three point turn on a busy city centre roundabout. The strange and dangerous manoeuvre took place on Gabalfa roundabout, Cardiff, at around 10.30pm on Thursday night.
The driver is seen taking the left only lane which goes towards the University Hospital of Wales and Newport. The lane is clearly separated from the other with double white lines, bollards and clear “turn left” road markings on its approach.
However, the footage shows the driver pass the exit and the bollards before they apply the brakes and carry out a three point turn across the double white lines. During the manoeuvre the car ends up facing in the wrong direction for a short period of time before it continues back onto the roundabout.
Concerningly the video shows a number of vehicles using the roundabout prior to the act, including a vulnerable cyclist wearing dark clothing. Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here
The footage was captured by Martin Edwards who runs MET Executive Travel with his wife.
Martin explained that the company transports the likes of celebrities, VIPs, influencers and CEOs across the city. “We’ve always got cars on the road and so we catch quite a lot on dash cam,” he said.
Describing his utter disbelief at having witnessed the manoeuvre, he said: “I couldn’t believe they were doing it. Just before the video they had crossed the double white lines [on the approach].
“I thought: ‘What’s that car doing?’ They seemed a little bit lost which is fair enough, but when they turned to go I thought: ‘No way!’, I was shocked.
“I was hoping there was not a car coming down the outside lane as it could have either gone into the side of them or caused carnage.”
According to the Highway Code, double white lines where the line nearest you is solid must not be crossed or straddled.
They can only be crossed in exceptional circumstances such as if you need to enter an adjoining premises or side road and it is safe to do so.
Other exceptional circumstances include to overtake a pedal cycle, horse, maintenance vehicle or stationary vehicle – but only if they are traveling 10mph or slower.
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