A BASINGSTOKE driving instructor who has been teaching learners in the town for more than 30 years has set the record straight over how to approach one of the town’s roundabouts.

Some drivers in the town have been left confused over how to deal with the lane closure along Winchester Road during the ongoing roadworks at Brighton Hill Roundabout.

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Signs warn drivers that the left-hand lane closes before reaching the Brighton Hill Roundabout reducing it to a single lane.

The lane closure has resulted in a dispute on social media, with many believing that everyone should join the queue of traffic in the right-hand lane immediately after leaving the Winchester Road Roundabout, rather than use the empty left-hand lane and ‘push in’ at the last minute.

However, Angela Starlight, who became Basingstoke’s first female driving instructor 32 years ago, said those using the left-hand lane are doing nothing wrong. She said: “It’s open until it’s not open”.

The 58-year-old, who owns Gold Leaf Driver Training in Basingstoke, explained that when a lane closes in this way it is called a zip.

She said: “Technically people aren’t doing anything wrong by staying in the open lane. If you think of the pieces of a zip coming together that’s how it’s meant to come together. It gets silly when people in the queue have moved over early and don’t like people using the open lane. It’s making it worse.”

Angela explained that by only using one lane, it forces a long queue of traffic right along the road, rather than spreading out across two lanes and then taking it in turns to merge before the left lane closes.

“I say to my learners it’s too busy so stay in the left lane for a bit because there’s no point queueing from one roundabout to another,” she said.

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The driving instructor believes that many people do not know the correct way to deal with the lane closure and added: “In my professional opinion when you renew your driving licence you should have to do the theory again then people would know what to do.”

Angela said angry drivers annoyed at those using the left-hand lane often move back across to try and block the lane.

However, she said this is dangerous, explaining: “To knowingly block the lane is not allowed. They move out to stop people coming down the lane. But a lot of motorbikes are trying to get through as well and it gets silly and dangerous if you have someone moving out.

“I think people get angrier quicker nowadays.”

Angela said that ideally drivers should use both lanes and merge one at a time before the left lane closes.

She added: “Often they are so bunched up queuing I can’t safely get my learner over there. So, we have to travel down the left lane until I can safely get them across. Hopefully someone then lets them in.”

Rule 134 of the Highway Code explains how to deal with a zip, also known as merge in turn.

It states: “You should follow the signs and road markings and get into the lane as directed.”

The Highway Code adds: “Merging in turn is recommended but only if safe and appropriate when vehicles are travelling at a very low speed e.g. when approaching road works or a road traffic incident.”

Signs on Winchester Road clearly advise motorists to 'merge in turn'. 

The AA also explains merging in turn in more detail on its website, saying: “When traffic is queuing and moving slowly you should use all available road space in both lanes with drivers at the front of the queue taking it in turns to ‘merge in turn’ or ‘zip merge’. This can help reduce the overall length of the queue significantly and minimises the risk of disruption at junctions further back up the road.”

As to why so many drivers insist on queuing in the open lane, the AA said: “The problem seems to be the British obsession with queuing. Even unprompted we’ll form an orderly queue and wait patiently in line, considering anyone who doesn’t to someone be cheating.”

It added: “Next time you find yourself in slow-moving traffic approaching roadworks or an incident that’s blocking one lane, try to resist you deep seated urge to queue early, use all available lanes and merge in turn when you reach the lane closure.”