Scary Roundabout Story

[beady]

After tonight, I think I might have seen everything. ::) ::)
We were headed out towards Mulberry Rec Center and CR42 via Buena Vista. As we were approaching the roundabout at Mulberry I noticed a car stopped in the rotary just before where we would enter the roundabout. To our utter amazement the car began backing up(that's right I said backing up in the roundabout!!!!).We supposed in order to exit the roundabout and enter Buena Vista which they apparently missed on the way around. Guess they didn't figure out that they could go around again....Another car was approaching from behind them. We had to exit to get to Walgreens and didn't hear any screeching of brakes or crunching of metal so there didn't appear to have been any concequences.
All I can say is , heads up and drive defensively folks.

[Floridagal]

Had a similar thing happen to me yesterday. I was in the roundabout by Arnold Palmer and a car just stopped in the roundabout as I was approaching. When he saw me coming he started moving. Good thing I was driving slow.

[Hancle704]

We encountered someone driving the inner lane of the North Morse Blvd Roundabout in the wrong direction.

[Talk Host]

Another, "I couldn't belive my eyes" story, please! I was approaching the Morse circle on El Camino from the North. The car ahead of me, turned LEFT into the circle. Got it, TURNED LEFT into the circle. It was only a miracle that there was no accident. He/she went to the exit to 27/441. :yikes:

[lm01]

I don't see the problem .....they were only going 1 way.
If you don't know I'm kidding I'm kidding folks. Lets just say all those people were from Europe and forgot how to drive in the US

[Boomer]

When we visited TV, Mr. BB loved the roundabouts, none of those annoying 4-way stops where each person seems to think it's time to go. But Mr. BB is pretty adventurous.

I, on the other hand, thought the roundabouts were exactly like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride.

This brings up another question I have for those of you who drive golf carts there.

What is it like when you have to merge with car traffic while you are in a golf cart?

[Avista]

Do not drive a golf cart through a roundabout! There will be ways around it.

[Boomer]

Avista,

Thanks but...

I'm sorry. I see that I did not make my question clear, and it did not help that I veered a little off the topic.

I think there were some places, maybe on the south side of the north side, where golf carts were actually supposed to be in the regular street traffic for a short time.

Maybe I am not remembering correctly or maybe I saw some renegades. We did not get around to renting a golf cart while we were there so I did not get the firsthand experience.

[BOMBERO]

Not a problem. I'm getting use to incorrect info. from people who do not live here.

[Taltarzac]

Saw a tipped over dump truck at one of the roundabouts-- the one you use to get to Tall Trees from Buena Vista.

The police had put warnings out before you reached the roundabout so that made it safer.

One day a in heavy rain on Buena Vista just past a roundabout, I came across a tortoise going to the other side in the middle of the road. Came very close to hitting it because it was hard to see in the heavy downpour and I was not expecting a rather large critter in the road.

[KathieI]

Boomer, I understood what you meant. I'm one of those people that gets nervous when I have to merge the cart into a regular traffic. I still don't have the "hang" of it so most times I drive my car if I'm going a long distance (sometimes even a short distance.) But soon I'll be living in TV and I'm sure I'll become very accustomed to the merge. It is scary though but I see that the drivers of cars are very nice and don't try to give you a hard time (gee, guess I'm used to L.A. drivers).

Kathie :redface:

[jjdees]

Earlier this month, I had a close call by the Palmer course. I was in the roundabout just about at an intersection and a woman in a beat up white car entered the circle and almost t-boned me. I had to swerve left to miss her. She didn't appear to have any idea what she had just done or for that matter how to drive in roundabouts. She obviously wasn't a resident. I wonder is she's the same one some of you mentioned in this thread.

[Bubbalarry]

Had an experience the other day and am not quite sure if I was in the wrong or not.

Both myself in left lane and a car in the right lane entered the circle at Morse and Stillwater, coming from 466. Now we were side by side going into roundabout and I had was heading down Morse towards Hadley Village.

Well this car decides to stay in the circle and forces me and the car behind me to come to a hard stop, as it passed in front of me and went on into I gess its called Caroline on Stillwater.

What got me was the driver never signalled and I was sure not to hit him but came so close to getting rear ended. Now I am a pretty calm driver, but what elevated my temper was the A-hole behind me who flashed, beeped the horn repeatedly and gave me the finger while passing me eventually on the right.

I did notice the plate was from NY.

Now was I in the wrong or what?

What are the roundabout rules anyway?

Perhaps when TV does a preview they should explain these rules to perspective buyers.

:cus: :cus: :cus:

[LovinItAtTheVillages]

As we were heading down 27/441 today around 4pm..just as we were approaching the bridge to turn toward Ruby Tuesdays..we saw a man in a golf cart driving right down 27/441 toward Perkins...
not a super duper gas powered over the road model...Nope
Im talkin an old plain model...riding down as though he owned road..

sure hope he made it........cars were zooming quickly by

[KILLICKB]

All Villagers should be sent to the UK to navigate in and out of one of those intersections where many of the feeders from one roundabout connect directly to second or even third roundabouts ! I don't think it is our having roundabouts that is the problem --- the drivers who haven't figured them out haven't yet figured how to drive, period! I also cannot believe that with all the rhetoric about roundabouts in TV that the authorities have not put out a definitive mode of useage? I was taught (not neccessarily correct in TV) that if you need first exit or straight through stay in right lane. If you need any of the next exits stay in left lane, use your indicators ( a novel idea here in TV !!!) and exit accordingly.

[MMC24]

If you have navigated the gigantic traffic circle in Portsmith, NH, traffic circles in TV are less of a traumatic encounter. I have not yet seen anyone in TV going the wrong way which would freak me out but have also seen cars stop in the middle a couple of times.

[beady]

I spent 1/2 of my adult life in eastern Massachusetts, and a good deal of time not far from the afore mentioned Portsmouth, NH circle. There are several roundabouts there...we called them rotary's. The difference being they were open, no buildings or high vegetation, so you had the whole picture of the traffic pattern in the rotary. Here they are landscaped and some have buildings, so it is hard to see the vehicle flow. Perhaps that contributes to the confusion for some who aren't familiar with their proper use. :dontknow: :dontknow:

[Taltarzac]

I spent 1/2 of my adult life in eastern Massachusetts, and a good deal of time not far from the afore mentioned Portsmouth, NH circle. There are several roundabouts there...we called them rotary's. The difference being they were open, no buildings or high vegetation, so you had the whole picture of the traffic pattern in the rotary. Here they are landscaped and some have buildings, so it is hard to see the vehicle flow. Perhaps that contributes to the confusion for some who aren't familiar with their proper use. :dontknow: :dontknow:


Are the MA roundabouts bigger or the same size than the ones in TV? Heard that they were quite a bit bigger in eastern MA?

This link has an interesting picture. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout_intersection

[beady]

Good point Tal:
Yes, they are bigger and several of them connect major road ways, so it is imperative to know how to negotiate them.

[Frank2]

As long as there are roundabouts in the Villages there will be driving issues with the navigation.

Drive defensively, please. :cop: :bow:

[Barefoot]

Speaking of roundabouts and driving errors, I've seen people doing such ridiculous things it's as if they're on Candid Camera and just trying to provoke a reaction. Unfortunately they just sail along impervious to those around them.

The worst thing I've seen so far (and I've seen it twice) is automobiles driving in golf cart paths and approaching tunnels. :yikes: This seems to happen when there is no marker showing it is a divided path, and I guess drivers "mistake" the golf cart path for a roadway.

Be alert my friends!

[jjdees]

I've said it before and I'll say it again, TV roundabouts are small and allowing double turn lanes in such a small circle is dangerous.

[Ouida]

It seems to me that if everyone just used the right lane in a roundabout, you couldn't go wrong.

[Avista]

t seems to me that if everyone just used the right lane in a roundabout, you couldn't go wrong.

Amen to that! In fact, when we moved here we took the class on golf cart driving. The Sumter County deputy was asked about driving ones car in a roundabout. That is exactly what the Sumter County deputy told us. "Just stay in the right lane!"

[jjdees]

That's fine until the person on your left makes a right turn and you don't.

[Avista]

We always have to watch out. Seems wrong to make an exit from inner lane.

[Barbi]

My experince --- roundabouts only make sense to people from Boston and London. All others are almost always confounded by the functioning aspects of a roundabout.

[rekops]

The right thing to do is obviously to be on the defensive,

Correct usage is to be in Rt lane only if you are taking the first Rt turn.
You need to be thinking as you are approaching the roundabout, where you will exit.
If it is any one except the first turn, you need to be in the left lane.

As an example: you are traveling south on Buena Vista and approacing the circle at Belvedere and Winifred. If you are exiting for Belvedere, you need to be in the Rt lane.
If you need to continue on Buena Vista, or exit to Winifred or U-Turn to go back north on Buena Vista, you would need to be in the left lane.

Ok , My wife and I are both civil engineers (wife specifically a traffic Engineer) and understand what is correct, and what actuallty happens.It will never be perfect, but believe me it would be much worst with traffic signals at each 4 way intersection.
If you nchecked accident statistics of accidents from folks running red lights down here, it would be scary.

[Ooper]

:agree:
Exit from the right lane only... continue in the center lane.

[Hope2b]

You are correct on what lane to be in BUT the local law says stay in the outside lane. These roundabouts are real small compared to most so they say stay out of the inner circle. As stated before we have been told that the roundabouts have the two lanes so trucks can get around them.

[Avista]

These roundabouts are too small for all this lane changing!

[jjdees]

The traffic lanes painted in the circles lead the inside lane into right turns. Haven't seen that anywhere else. Dangerous.

[rockaway]

Simple roundabout rules:

Right lane to turn right or continue straight.
Left lane to continue straight, make left turn or continue around.

If you are in the right lane and continue around the roundabout you are
in effect making a left turn from the right lane something you would never think
of doing on a regular straight road, so why is a roundabout any different.

This idea of staying in the right lane all the time know matter where you are
going is wrong and a disaster waiting to happen.

[Avista]

The Sumter County Deputy says, Stay in the right lane." I still believe the circle is too small for lane changing. We are not in Europe.

[rockaway]

By every driving standard the deputy is wrong on this one. Ask him if he will look the
other way the next time you make a left turn from the right lane. I don't think so.
If you stay in the right lane around the roundabout you are doing just what you are
complaining about CROSSING LANES!!!!!

[ABC]

I cannot believe a Deputy said to stay in the right lane as this is not only incorrect worldwide (which i do believe still includes TV) but also dangerous, surely if the inner lane was not for traffic use the engineer's would not have put it there, are this deputy's comments a rumor or is it in print anywhere?

The 2008 Villages Phone book (page 49) actually does a reasonable (if not long-winded) job of laying out roundabout instructions. Ar least they include the most important points, namely,

On approaching a roundabout, decide as early as possible which exit you need to take and get into the correct lane (1st exit right lane, straight on either lane, 3rd or any other exit left lane).

Upon reaching the roundabout yield line, Yield to Traffic circulating from the left (yield to traffic already on the roundabout)

When exiting the circulatory roadway (roundabout) from the outside track (lane), yield to leading or adjacent vehicles that are exiting into the same lane (yield to the inside lane if they are ahead or level with you)

The pieces about reducing speed, yielding to pedestrians, going around again if you miss your exit, and not stopping on the roundabout etc. should be common sense.

IMHO

[jjdees]

The simplest solution would be to repaint the traffic lines and abolish exits from the inner lane. That's where the problem is the worst and most dangerous.

[The Great Fumar]

Don't be mislead by so called experts.....
Do what the villages and the Police tell you to do...Stay in the right lane and you will be fine......The circles are to small for lane changing and people who enter and exit from the inside lane across traffic are bound to get T-BONED someday , its just a matter of time.....

Fumar

[The Great Fumar]

jjdees is exactly right..........

Fumar

[ABC]

Where do The Villages or the Police say to stay in the right hand lane? the only place i have heard this is on TOTV forum,s, is there something in print or online? I would love to see it.

The Villages instructions for roundabout usage can be found in the resident Telephone directory on page 49 and certainly do not say to stay in the right hand lane.

However with all due respect to them i doubt neither TV or the local Police either design Roundabouts or have the power to issue rules regarding their use, this i am sure is done at State & Government level.

IMHO

[golfnut]

This I think is one topic that will never be decided and that's OK, I for one have seen the instructional video's and driven in the UK and from what I've seen there's absolutely nothing wrong with turning right from the inside lane, now that doesn't mean you have the right to turn in front of someone just behind you already in the right lane as they may intend to go to the next exit before turning right, just be careful, use your signals and pay attention, it's not that tough.

[rekops]

Fumar, Please be a little flexible and think through it. You are definitely wrong in your thinking on this issue. Go to the earlier post and watch the video. And why not listen to the experts. Guess you probably have made up our mind though.

It is a good discussion topic with alot of responses. Keep it going

[jjdees]

I've also driven the roundabouts in the UK and in multiple US cities. The size of TV roundabouts are too small for the maneuvering required with double turn lanes exiting the circles. This is the single most dangerous part of TV roundabouts. A lot of the drivers will stay in the right lane and will eventually hit someone exiting from the inside lane.

[ABC]

I am sure Roundabout size is taken into consideration when the Engineers design them, i cannot imagine any reason why they would place 2 lanes on a roundabout that was not big enough for 2 lanes, as i have said before the 2 lanes are there for a reason!

I agree there are much larger roundabouts across the world but the traffic lanes on TV 2 lane roundabouts i have encountered are more than adequate in size for 2 vehicles side by side and for vehicles to be able to use them in the correct manner, e.g. to be in the correct lane according to the exit you wish to take and yield to traffic that has right of way over you.

[l2ridehd]

There is a real easy enhancement they could make to these roundabouts.* I also drive in the UK all the time.* So picture going around the opposite way, sitting on the opposite side of the car, and exiting on the left.* Now how do they make this work easy?* They paint on the road lanes coming in which lane you should be in for the exit you plan to take.* And then continue that around the circle. So if you were traveling North on Buena Vista and approaching the circle at Odell and Bailey Trail, the first exit would be Odell and that would be painted on the right inbound lane.* If you wanted to continue on Buena Vista or go toward the left (Bailey Trail) those would be painted on the left hand approach lane.* Once past Odell, the painted Buena Vista moves to the right lane and the painted Bailey Trail stays in the left.* When you pass the continuation of North bound Buena Vista, the painted name of Bailey Trail moves to the right lane as that is the next exit.* It is really easy and it really works in almost all right hand drive countries.* Australia does it the same way.* Now in Malaysia the lines on the road are only there as a suggestion, so roundabouts become very dangerous.*

[jjdees]

I'm not referring to the physical size as being inadequate to exit from the inside lanes, I'm saying in my opinion that for people not used to roundabouts, the exit from the inside lane creates a danger that's unnecessary.

[Bubbalarry]

Simple roundabout rules:

Right lane to turn right or continue straight.
Left lane to continue straight, make left turn or continue around.

If you are in the right lane and continue around the roundabout you are
in effect making a left turn from the right lane something you would never think
of doing on a regular straight road, so why is a roundabout any different.

This idea of staying in the right lane all the time know matter where you are
going is wrong and a disaster waiting to happen.


:agree: :agree: :agree:

Thats exactly how it should be done PERIOD. Now pass it on to the dummies who don't get it and save some lives.

[RayB]

I have also been told by a Sumter County Deputy Sheriff who resides in the Villages that his recommended way to negotiate the roundabouts is to stay in the outside lane and not to change into the inside lane and back into the outside lane to exit. These roundabouts are too small in diameter to change lanes in these small roundabouts. I have driven through many roundabouts in England, Ireland, Germany and France. I even experienced the terror of driving in the roundabout around the Arc de Triumph in Paris. These roundabouts are sustantially larger and one must change lanes to accommodate the heavy traffic involved. If cars stayed in one lane then traffic would back up for miles getting into and out of the roundabouts. We do not have this type of volume going into our Villages roundabouts. Use of the inside lane is not necessary for cars. This is why the Deputy Sheriff recommended to stay in the outside lane.

I have been told the only reason there is an inside lane on our roundabouts is to provide adequate turning clearance for large trucks. I have a 35 ft. class A motor home and I can confirm that if the center lane was not there, I could not successfully turn into the roundabout or turn out of the roundabout without the space provided by the inside lane and the double lane exiting the roundabout. I would hit the curb. Ray

[ABC]

Ray B with respect, What you have been told is wrong and goes against every roundabout use guideline worldwide.

There is only 1 correct way to use a 2 lane Roundabout (see: Quote from rockaway)

If the inner lane was for trucks then according to roundabout design the lane would be a raised truck apron, i can see why with your motorhome you may need to encroach on both lanes and i am sure you do this wth care but this is not the reason that the lane was put there.

[The Great Fumar]

rekops and ABC
Why don't you contact the Marion County sherifs dept. who's job it is to police the roundabouts north of 466. As you have been told many times on this thread , They are instructing people that in these small roundabouts to stay in the ourside lane when driving in and out . Anyone who is in the inside lane and crosses in front of another car and causes an accident will be ticketed....End of story, The Deputy's of Marion County don't give a d--- about London or Boston, They support local law enforcement including traffic and we will follow what they say or receive a violation which carries a $280.00 fine . Now you can argue with them if you want to , but I'm going to enter and exit the right lane....Now let me know if you need this in Larger Print ....

[RayB]

Absolutely Correct. It is the only sensible thing to do. Stay in the outside lane and watch very carefully for those who risk being t boned by cutting in front of you to exit. RayB

[PJ]

I agree, to be safe, everyone should stay in the right lane. But even better, we should all straddle the center line, to discourage others from using the left lane and cutting us off when they exit.

Whatever happened to the plan to paint over all the roundabout lines to eliminate the 2nd lane, as reported a few months ago?

[golfnut]

I'm with rockaway and bubbalarry on this one, I too have driven in the UK and other states here in the US with roundabouts and the way rockaway decribes it is the way it should be done.

[The Great Fumar]

I GIVE UP !!!!!!!!

EXASPERATED FUMAR

[chuckinca]

Why is there a roundabout on Morse just south of 466 before the Lake Sumter bridge?

[punkpup]

the great fumar,

I'm with you.

[captain1202]

If you study the way the lines are painted in the "rotarys" and the approaching lanes it is obvious how to drive them.....the right way. Inside lane for "through" and "rotating" traffic,
right lane for right turns to immediate right and right land on continuing "through" roadway.

Sheesh!!

[Taltarzac]

If you study the way the lines are painted in the "rotarys" and the approaching lanes it is obvious how to drive them.....the right way. Inside lane for "through" and "rotating" traffic,
right lane for right turns to immediate right and right land on continuing "through" roadway.

Sheesh!!


Many people though-- new and old to TV-- just seem to stick in the right lane on the roundabouts at all times no matter where they are turning.

I usually can zip past 20 or more cars by using the left lane if I am going to the 12 o'clock or 9 o'clock or 6 o'clock postions. Only have to get in the long line if I am also turning right at the 3 o'clock.

[rockaway]

To Fumer and all the other right lane only people. I think you should take a ride
south on Buena Vista to the Stillwater roundabout. As you approach the roundabout
you will see painted on the road in the LEFT lane the words TO STILLWATER. What about the driving instruction painted on the road don't you understand?

[nONIE]

The differences of opinion are very confusing to me not to mention scarey! Not being the greatest driver in the world I may be the one in front of you you are cursing at!!!
:cus:

Really hope someone gets this straight before I get to TV! I sure dont want to cause an accident!

[Barefoot]

Here is the way I handle round-abouts, I take my golf cart everywhere to avoid them! :yikes:

[Taltarzac]

Here is the way I handle round-abouts, I take my golf cart everywhere to avoid them! :yikes:




Except that at the Morse Circle you have to pass in front of cars and other vehicles when crossing the streets bordering the roundabout.

[fiddlemyre]

For a carefully planned community,The Village roundabouts are an accident waiting to happen. It amazes me that this design flaw continues from one year to the next without correction. The phone book assumes that everyone understands all the rules and abides by them. This is not the case. The main problem is aggressive drivers enter from the left lane, continue to be overly aggressive and pull in front of the car in the right lane without looking. The burden of safety is strictly on the innocent driver in the right lane when the other car pulls in front to exit. Sad to say everyone thinks they are right. The solution to the problem is that given their small size, only allow one lane of traffic to enter circle. There is absolutely no need for the left lane other than to accommodate trucks. Minnesota and Wisconsin have solved this problem by making the inner lane tapered towards the inside and providing a brick or rubble surface finish. Result zero accidents, everyone gets the message.

[21345]

::)
In 2003, I wrote articles for our Calumet Grove website. I interviewed the Sumter and Marion County sherriffs; also the Florida Highway Patrol. They all said that we are supposed to drive into the traffic circles in the right lane and stay in the right lane until whichever point on the traffic circle we turn right. All three officers told me that "It is NEVER legal to turn right from the left lane. Likewise, it is NEVER legal to turn left from the right lane...so we must "merge" from the golf cart lane into the automobile traffic lane to turn left on the streets where golf carts and cautomobiles share the road. And, vice versa with automobiles merging into the right (golf cart lane) before the corner.

That's why TV is doing all the merging of "golf cart lanes" iwith "automobile traffic lanes" before corners where golf carts and automobiles share the road.

They explained that European traffic circles are much bigger than our aat TV. In Europe they may get into the innner circle but change lanes to the outer circle before turning out. Remember Chevy Chase driving again and again around the inner lane of the traffic circle in "European Vacation"? He couldn't get out of the inner lane because he needed to merge into to the bumper-to-bumper traffic of the outer lane before he could turn out of the traffic circle.

BUT...the way THEY (TV?) painted the lanes on Buena Vista at the Stillwater traffic circle flies in the face of everything I've written in my first two paragraphs.

This is a scary issue that causes a lot of finger gestures currently. I believe I'm right, but I could be right with a crunched bumper or worse? This needs to be clarified OFFICIALLY with well-designed signs at EVERY traffic circle!!!!

On the "golf cart path at Churchill/Belmont/Pimlico" is a sign that says "no car traffic". The next sign tells the "golf cars" to go right. Huh?

May I suggest that we try for learer terminology? "Automobiles" always drive on roads; not on "golf cart paths". Sometimes "golf carts" share the roads with "automobiles". "Golf cart paths" are NOT for automobiles.