[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I think that terminology has a a lot to do with the confusion some people have.

Taking the first exist is often referred to as making a right turn.

Taking the second exist is often referred to as going straight ahead and taking the third exit is usually referred to as making a left hand turn.

While all of these are somewhat true, the truth is that cars exiting a round about are not really making a turn.

When taking the third exit, you are not turning right from the left hand lane. You are simply staying in your lane. The round about is part of all four roads that it connects to. So if you're headed north and intend to go west, you should get into the left hand lane and stay in it including when you leave the round about. You are not making a right hand turn. You are continuing on the same road in your lane.

Thinking of making a right hand turn from the right hand lane and a left hand turn from the left hand lane is a pretty simple and effective way of thinking about it but a round about is actually more of a curve in the road than it is an intersection. Of course, when traveling straight through or taking the second exit, you may use either lane. I always try to use the right hand lane because some people don't know the rule.

When using the left hand lane to go to the third exit (left hand turn) I am always very aware of people in the right hand lane. Some of them don't know the rules and feel that the right hand lane is safer. But the point to be made here is to ALWAYS be aware of other cars in the round about and expect them to do the wrong thing.

There is a situation that can occur when both drivers are following the rules that can be a problem. A driver enters the round about in the left hand lane heading north and intends to take the second exit. Another driver enters at approximately the same time in the right hand lane heading west and intends to go straight through. As the first driver begins to exit he is going to cut in front of the second driver. If both drivers are aware and courteous this should get worked out without a problem. If one driver is aware and paying attention, he should be able to avoid an accident. However, if both drivers are distracted, there's a good chance that they will collide and blame each other when both were following the rules.

Pay attention. Know the location of other cars and anticipate them doing the wrong thing and you'll be fine.