Round abouts

[Byte1]

Are you aware of the laws regarding a solid line vs a dotted/dashed line separating the lanes?

In regular traffic, you are not supposed to change lanes where the line is solid. Yes, you can change lanes at a dotted/dashed line, but only when safe.

The car in the inside lane does not have to cross any lines to continue thru the r-a-b. The car in the outside lane MUST change lanes in order to continue going around. Hence, THEY are the ones who must yield to the inside lane traffic.

I can only explain it to you. I can't "understand" it for you...

Good point (even if a bit snarky) :D . Obviously, the solid line in each turn is to prevent the inside left turning vehicle from crossing over to the right exiting lane. Meaning, the inner veh that is exiting must stay in the left lane when exiting so as not to encroach on right lane veh exiting. That does not prevent the outer/right lane vehicle from continuing around the circle. The solid lane is on the left side, not the right side. The dashed lane on the right side allows the right lane to continue. But, you DO make a very good point that no one else has mentioned about the lane changes. BUT, as you know traffic laws state that one that wishes to make a turn must yield to traffic continuing straight. Remember, all traffic wishing to enter RB has to pass a yield sign, whereas there are NO yield signs in the circle for those wishing to exit. Like I said before, I drive defensively, NOT according to my having the right of way. I am going to make every effort NOT to collide with another vehicle, regardless of which vehicle having the right of way. If you wish to claim the right of way and cross over into another veh's path, then you are taking a chance that someone is going to be injured.
Just a side point; when you approach a four way traffic light where the green turn arrow has gone out and there is a green light for both you and the oncoming traffic, you are allowed to make a left turn from the turn lane, but you do not have the right of way to turn into oncoming traffic that also has a green light. I know, not pertinent to the actual subject of RBs.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

"Everyone? "
I have seen a few that didn't.

I didn't when I first came to the Villages, and people were telling me here on this website that you had to be in the inside lane in order to take a left in the roundabout. It made no sense to me at all. Because I'd never experienced roundabouts with more than one lane. We had single-lane traffic circles up north, where you go "around" (since it's a circle), and then exit to your RIGHT, once you get to the exit where you want to exit. That was always the explanation, verbally and in text. You exit to your right. Always.

And here, even with multi-lane roundabouts, you are still exiting to your RIGHT. But a 3/4 turn around the circle is called a left exit, and you're exiting to your left.

I can see how it can be confusing to newcomers or people who are reading these threads who haven't even come here yet. I can see it because it was confusing to me, and it's OBVIOUSLY confusing to many other people as well. If it wasn't confusing, there wouldn't be so many threads every year about how people are confused.

These threads about the confusion have been posted since long before I ever started posting, have existed in threads I haven't posted in even after I joined, and no doubt will continue to be posted long after I'm gone. So no, it's not a me thing.

Now, I know what everyone means, but I translate what they say, into what they mean. And they have a problem with the translation even though the translation is the more accurate statement: You exit to your RIGHT, no matter which exit you are taking. You enter whichever lane you enter. If you're taking your first exit, you must enter in your right lane, and exit to your right, into the right lane. If you're taking your second exit, you can enter from either lane, but must remain in that lane until after you exit the circle. If you're exiting 3/4 around the circle, you must enter the circle in the inside lane, remain in that lane, and when your exit approaches, you exit to your right, while in the inside lane.

You cannot exit to your left. There are no left exits. There's 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns around a circle, with exits off to the right of each exit point.

[Gator_Girl]

You aren't allowed to change lanes WHILE you are in a roundabout. That's against the rules. If you're going 3/4 of the way around the circle, you are required to enter on the inside lane. And you are required to exit from the same lane. The person coming in from the next entry point ahead of you should be watching for you, because YOU have the right of way. If you cut them off to turn, then it's their fault, because they were supposed to wait until you had passed the exit (or exited) before they entered.

100% correct

[JMintzer]

Good point (even if a bit snarky) :D . Obviously, the solid line in each turn is to prevent the inside left turning vehicle from crossing over to the right exiting lane. Meaning, the inner veh that is exiting must stay in the left lane when exiting so as not to encroach on right lane veh exiting. That does not prevent the outer/right lane vehicle from continuing around the circle. The solid lane is on the left side, not the right side. The dashed lane on the right side allows the right lane to continue. But, you DO make a very good point that no one else has mentioned about the lane changes. BUT, as you know traffic laws state that one that wishes to make a turn must yield to traffic continuing straight. Remember, all traffic wishing to enter RB has to pass a yield sign, whereas there are NO yield signs in the circle for those wishing to exit. Like I said before, I drive defensively, NOT according to my having the right of way. I am going to make every effort NOT to collide with another vehicle, regardless of which vehicle having the right of way. If you wish to claim the right of way and cross over into another veh's path, then you are taking a chance that someone is going to be injured.
Just a side point; when you approach a four way traffic light where the green turn arrow has gone out and there is a green light for both you and the oncoming traffic, you are allowed to make a left turn from the turn lane, but you do not have the right of way to turn into oncoming traffic that also has a green light. I know, not pertinent to the actual subject of RBs.

You actually believe that the solid lines are only for the inside lanes and that the outside lanes can do whatever they wish?

Yes you can cross a dashed line. But ONLY when safe. If there is a car there you DO NOT have the right of way to cross that line.

In most r-a-bs the two lanes drop to one (the outside lane disappears) as you pass the 12:00 position, going to the 9:00 exit. The inside lane has the right of way in that situation.

One would think a former LEO would know this simple rule...

[JMintzer]

I didn't when I first came to the Villages, and people were telling me here on this website that you had to be in the inside lane in order to take a left in the roundabout. It made no sense to me at all. Because I'd never experienced roundabouts with more than one lane. We had single-lane traffic circles up north, where you go "around" (since it's a circle), and then exit to your RIGHT, once you get to the exit where you want to exit. That was always the explanation, verbally and in text. You exit to your right. Always.

And here, even with multi-lane roundabouts, you are still exiting to your RIGHT. But a 3/4 turn around the circle is called a left exit, and you're exiting to your left.

I can see how it can be confusing to newcomers or people who are reading these threads who haven't even come here yet. I can see it because it was confusing to me, and it's OBVIOUSLY confusing to many other people as well. If it wasn't confusing, there wouldn't be so many threads every year about how people are confused.

These threads about the confusion have been posted since long before I ever started posting, have existed in threads I haven't posted in even after I joined, and no doubt will continue to be posted long after I'm gone. So no, it's not a me thing.

Now, I know what everyone means, but I translate what they say, into what they mean. And they have a problem with the translation even though the translation is the more accurate statement: You exit to your RIGHT, no matter which exit you are taking. You enter whichever lane you enter. If you're taking your first exit, you must enter in your right lane, and exit to your right, into the right lane. If you're taking your second exit, you can enter from either lane, but must remain in that lane until after you exit the circle. If you're exiting 3/4 around the circle, you must enter the circle in the inside lane, remain in that lane, and when your exit approaches, you exit to your right, while in the inside lane.

You cannot exit to your left. There are no left exits. There's 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 turns around a circle, with exits off to the right of each exit point.

And there it is... Pedantic nonsense...

[JMintzer]

100% correct

Actually, you can. But ONLY where there is a dashed line and ONLY when it's safe, and you're yielding to traffic in the other lane...

[Number 10 GI]

A former law enforcement officer should know what "traffic control devices" are. They are stop signs, stop lights, yield signs, yellow painted lines, solid white painted lines and dotted white painted lines, etc. The sign at the entrance to the RB shows what lanes to use. It is a traffic control device, and you are subject to being ticketed if you don't comply. The sign clearly shows that the outside lane can only go straight ahead, not continue around the RB if you miss your turn. In this thread there have been color pictures even, and videos that explain this.

[Byte1]

You actually believe that the solid lines are only for the inside lanes and that the outside lanes can do whatever they wish?

Yes you can cross a dashed line. But ONLY when safe. If there is a car there you DO NOT have the right of way to cross that line.

In most r-a-bs the two lanes drop to one (the outside lane disappears) as you pass the 12:00 position, going to the 9:00 exit. The inside lane has the right of way in that situation.

One would think a former LEO would know this simple rule...

Ouch! :o

See post #225

[dewilson58]

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

I'm betting 300 will come and go.

[Byte1]

If there are two vehicles traveling side to side around the circle and the one of the left wishes to turn off the circle and the one on the right wishes to continue to the next exit, do you really think that you are going to cut over in front of the guy on the right? Most of the time, those that are turning do not even use their turn signals. The guy on the right may or may not be turning. If it is my veh in the left lane, I am going to allow the guy on the right to get ahead of me and then I will make the right turn. Entering the RB there are yield signs when it is obvious that you do not enter while someone is coming. Maybe they should put yield signs at the exits?
Whether one view is right or wrong, you can't go wrong if you drive defensively and alert to what others are doing.

[Bogie Shooter]

And the hole gets deeper.🤦*♂️

[Bill14564]

]If there are two vehicles traveling side to side around the circle and the one of the left wishes to turn off the circle and the one on the right wishes to continue to the next exit, do you really think that you are going to cut over in front of the guy on the right? [/B]Most of the time, those that are turning do not even use their turn signals. The guy on the right may or may not be turning. If it is my veh in the left lane, I am going to allow the guy on the right to get ahead of me and then I will make the right turn. Entering the RB there are yield signs when it is obvious that you do not enter while someone is coming. Maybe they should put yield signs at the exits?
Whether one view is right or wrong, you can't go wrong if you drive defensively and alert to what others are doing.

By the time this happens, the guy on the right has either:
1. Not yielded for you before entering the circle at the exit you just passed
2. Entered with you which is okay but then not paid any attention to how one is supposed to drive in the circle
The driver in the outside lane is in the wrong and has caused any problems that result.

What would I do?
- Chances are I would not see him and would begin to turn in front of him. What happens next would be up to him
- If I did see him I would still begin my turn while watching to see how he reacts. Hopefully, he will correct his mistake and exit the circle and all will be well
- If he chooses to run into me then I would take pictures and call 911 - probably in that order.