This is the way I was using them until yesterday (as a result of this thread). Until yesterday, when intending to go straight and if I were in the left lane while approaching the circle I would get into the inner lane of the circle and then exit into the left lane of the road to continue on. This is a prescribed method of dealing with the circles.
However, I have had several previous close calls with people thinking that if they are in the outer part of the circle that they had the right of way to continue around as far as they wanted. Yesterday, after reflecting on the prudence of using the right hand lane and outer part of the circle to continue straight (also a prescribed method), I allowed a car that I was driving parallel with as we approached the circle (with him in the right lane), to get ahead of me and then I merged to the right lane before entering the circle. Sure enough, this person was one of the ones who felt that being in the outer part of the circle gave him the right to continue around as far as he wanted. Had I stayed with my normal (legal) method, there would have been another close call or an actual accident as I tried to go straight and as he tried to continue around the circle. It would have been no satisfaction that his insurance company would have had to pay for my damages.
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