Status unknown
Updated layout unclear to many drivers M4 jct 15 westbound exit slip
Sent to National Highways less than a minute later. FixMyStreet ref: 3900675.
The new layout allows all three lanes to go toward A419 to Swindon. The lines are painted correctly however for most drivers they are confusing. drivers positioning themselves in the middle lane are convinced they are being guided by the lines into the 1st, far left lane. This happens to me every single time I use the junction. I think the lines are painted in a way that unobservant drivers (let's face it, most of the drivers) after entering the roundabout from the exit slip start following the lane as if they were coming FROM Swindon let's say towards Bristol. They are convinced lines are guiding them into the 1st, far left lane. I think the solution would be distinguishing the line style for those entering from west bound exit slip from those being on the roundabout driving from Swindon onto entry slip west bound. If one (let's say those on the roundabout) were guided by dashed lines and the others had dotted lines it would make clear for them which lanes to follow and it would stop drivers from getting them mixed up where they all meet together. If you could observe the traffic flow in rush hours in the marked point I'm sure you'll be able to get what I mean. And like I said, the markings are correct but they have to be made even clearer because ever since the junction was rebuild the 1st lane is hardly ever used for Swindon as drivers think it's the middle one that takes them into 1st lane after going round the roundabout. It would also help if you could paint 'SWINDON' on all three lanes approaching the junction from westbound exit slip. Nowadays the full capacity of the road is simply not used as the traffic mostly queues on lanes 2 and 3.
Updates
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Apply defensive driving skills and treat every other driver as if they don't know what they are doing, horn at the ready.
Highway will not change the layout of the lines after its already been revamped.
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Thank you for your report concerning the new layout at Junction 15 of the M4.
Thank you for your feedback. Our improvement projects are intended to benefit our road users, so feedback from yourself and others is invaluable to us.
We've designed this new layout to meet all relevant standards and have carried out an independent safety audit which observed its operation at both peak and off-peak times. However, following your comments, we will review our information and revisit the site at peak times to see if/what adjustments need to be implemented to ensure driver safety.
If you require any further update on this issue our Customer Contact Centre is available 24 hours a day at:
• 0300 123 5000
• info@nationalhighways.co.uk
Kind regards
National Highways
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