Navigating roundabouts
 

What are the rules of a roundabout and how do we get everyone on the same page? Every tine we are in the car, we either cut off someone or someone cuts us off. For example, when we are going South on Buena Vista and want to go into a Village on our left, if we are in the inside of the circle, we can't get out without crossing the people on the outside of the circle. If we are on the outside of the circle, the people on the inside go straight and cut us off. HELP!!!

Just before entering a rotary you will note a road sign. It notes each lane and the rotary exits allowed from the respective lane.

In addition, rule # 1 is: a car already in the rotary has right of way over a car that is about to enter.

We have rotaries in the Boston area...and a lot more rules, but the ones above are good for TV.

First, think of the roundabout as a standard intersection. To make a right turn, you would use the right lane. A left turn, use the left lane. To go straight, either lane. Second, never enter a roundabout if there is a vehicle already in the roundabout to your left in EITHER lane. Then you will not cut anyone off, nor should you be cut off (assuming the other drivers follow the rules). Since not everyone follows the rules, drive assuming they won't, and use your signals when exiting.

Well put!

perhaps the biggest problem which causes the most confusion is that practically no one ever uses their turn signals when in the roundabouts. I get upset when i am about to enter the roundabout and i see traffic to my left, no signal to indicate they are exiting the circle, so i must stop and wait. They then exit. This just screws up the flow of traffic.

"Sumter County Roundabout Brochure

"The Sumter County Board of County Commissioners in cooperation with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has developed an educational guide to navigating roundabouts in Sumter County. At the request of Sumter County officials, the District is providing this brochure for your information. If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact the Sumter County Public Works Department at 352-793-0240."

Scroll down the page at the following website to where you can click on a link to view the brochure.

Village Community Development Districts

Drive defensively.
 

Alas, we will never get everyone on the same page, even though there is a illustrated document that explains how to negotiate a roundabout.

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

In a nutshell, if you are going to take the first or second exit it is best to enter the roundabout in the right lane; if you are going to take the third or forth (u turn) exit it is best to enter the roundabout in the left lane.

However, even then there is the hazard of conflict at every exit from cars who entered from other approaches and are in different lanes with different destinations.

And even if we got everyone to read the brochure there would be those who either didn't understand it, didn't agree with it......or both.

Drive defensively.

Mideod's are the simplest, easiest to understand, and correct rules to follow. Thinking of the roundabout as an intersection makes the most sense when trying to understand what lane to be in.

And yielding to both lanes of the roundabout when entering is the correct thing to do. That way you will never enter a roundabout when another car is already in it on your left.

And no, we will all never be on the same page where roundabouts are concerned, so drive defensively and use your turn signals when exiting the roundabout.

That's why drivers should use the car's directional to signify the intent to exit! But that's another thread! ;)

I just close my eyes and floor it!

Okay -- here goes -- another opinion . . .

As we approach each circle, we always see the sign indicating how we should navigate it.

Then we get to the circle and there are dotted lines that belie exactly what the sign says. Anywhere in this country, a dotted line means that you can either pass, or change lanes, traffic permitting.

Our circles are very confusing and you never know what the other driver is doing or going to do.

These circles have no place here in TV. As circles go, they are too small and our residents are too old. If they don't have an accident, they cause one!

Worst rotary is going east on Stillwater to Morse to do a 270 to go North on Morse. Shortly after getting onto Morse there is a right lane bypass. This road design encourages drivers to use the incorrect outside lane to do the 270 so they will be in the right lane for the bypass. My guess is that well over 1/2 the drivers from Stillwater are in the wrong lane in that rotary.

Roundabouts
 

I absolutely agree, the roundabouts do not belong here and are dangerous.
If they insist on having circles, they should make the road to merge into one lane and just be ONE lane roundabouts. Sure it would slow traffic down, but that is better than having an accident.

Excuse me, what are directional signals.....

I know of some "close calls" on the round abouts but I wonder what the stastics are for actual accidents as opposed to any other intersection.

Roundabouts: A Safer Choice - FHWA Safety Program

Here you are:

Compared to other types of intersections, roundabouts have demonstrated safety and other benefits.

Roundabouts:
•Improve safety ◦More than 90% reduction in fatalities*
◦76% reduction in injuries**
◦35% reduction in all crashes**
◦Slower speeds are generally safer for pedestrians

It's not a "rule", but to minimize conflict, just adjust your position/speed as you enter the roundabout so you don't drive right next to another vehicle. It takes little effort once you get used to it and it eliminates the conflicts.

Something Detroit takes out of any car to be sold in Michigan.

The following threads are previous discussions/debates/arguments on roundabouts. If you want the answer to your question you must read all of the posts. This is best done while enjoying a bottle of scotch! You see, most of us who have been around TOTV for awhile, don't take any new roundabout thread seriously.:wine:
BTW the last thread has 129 posts if you want to start at the bottom and work your way up.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabout-108019/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-98716/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ht-lane-96132/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...illages-93123/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-92021/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...p-signs-90733/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ndabout-77717/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...uestion-71088/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-72570/
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-69793/

For crying out loud just read the signs. It is so easy.

Yes. Only follow the signs. The lane markings only confuse the situation. The guide published by the sheriff tells the story and the signs agree with the guide.

IMO, the number is more like 80%. It really makes it hard to exit the Caroline gate and sets up conflict when the inside vehicle wants to make a legal exit into Caroline. But the truth is that if you navigate it correctly in the inside lane there is sufficient time to merge right and take the bypass. If that move is blocked by someone ignoring the rules, you just don't use the bypass. Better that than causing a crash by also ignoring the rules.

I always thought the dotted lines were there to allow people entering the roundabout from the street to migrate to the inside (left) lane if they're going 3/4 the way around, and to merge back into the right lane when exiting, to get to the residents' gate. Once inside the roundabout, there's no lane changing till you exit.

What they should have done was make the visitors' gate the residents' gate, and vice versa.

100% correct. I signal both when entering and exiting.

However, the other day I was approaching a roundabout in the left lane, with my left signal flashing, and planning to go 3/4 of the way around. As I was paused at the entrance for traffic already in the roundabout, a car saw me there and stopped in the roundabout to see what I was going to do. Apparently he thought that I might make an immediate left into oncoming traffic. I waved him past, and then entered.

I can see where that would be confusing to somebody in the roundabout. I wouldn't signal left at all. Enter the roundabout in the lane you want, not signaling at all, go 3/4 the way around and signal right as you approach your exit. All exits are to the right in a roundabout.

The cars approaching the roundabout yield sign just need to know your intention to make a turn.

Buzzy, cars have been known to go the wrong way in a roundabout.
The next time you see Fireboy, ask him about the time he met a lady going the wrong way.
She shook her fist at him. :laugh:

Actually, I think half an hour is reasonable from Brownwood to Spanish Springs.
If you wish to avoid roundabouts, why not take CR 301 North to CR 466.

:agree:

If you are turning left and you are in the left lane of the circle, you have the right of way to the people entering the circle from your right. they are supposed to stop and let you get in the right lane and exit the circle . I am not saying they always do, so you must always drive defensively.

You are not 'cutting them off".

Imagine how long it would take if every roundabout was a stop sign.

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentCenter/Home/View/3939

Bingo!

Are you saying that you drive 3/4 around the circle in the left lane and then change to the right lane to exit ? You should still exit in the left lane and still be in the left lane after you exit.

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

OK, this is a good example of the problem.
Right here.
If seasoned posters (both of whom I respect) don't agree on the correct way to drive a roundabout,
then think about how confusing it must be for renters or infrequent drivers,
or for the rest of us that aren't too bright! :ohdear:

Actually you're about right. Because without the "damn circles", the same route would take much longer.

Actually, according to the yield sign, no need for them to stop, because they are not even supposed to be entering the circle, because the yield sign means yield to both lanes of the traffic circle. If they're already in the circle, they should be either in front of you or behind you, not beside you and not overtaking you.