The REAL problem with our roundabouts...
 

...and a big contributor to the confusion by some people (I know, I know...no one will actually admit to it :D) is the lack of consistency in signage AND striping. :oops:


Note the following photos (numbered from left to right).

1. 2 lanes entering from all 4 sides, 2 lanes all the way around the roundabout...but sign only shows one lane.

2. Same as sign in #1, but it actually narrows to 1 lane within the roundabout...but only for part of it.

3 & 4. Showing roundabout in photo #2.

5. Sign accurately showing two lanes around entire roundabout.

Great Job CNM
I think there are 2 threads going on this subject. Fast forward to 4:30. The creator does a pretty good job too.

Totally agree.
Also the overall strategy assumes everyone knows exactly where they are going heading into the circle. Not around here. Ever pay attention to how many people you see in golf carts pulled over looking at the map. I don't believe that would be isolated to only golf carts. I believe a reasonable solution would be to make them all one lane (wait before you jump) with the highest traveled street of each circle having auxiliary bypass lanes.

....and there's more! :D

Photos numbered L to R.

1. Another 2 lane sign.

2. Solid white line between outside and inside lane in roundabout in photo 1, meaning you shouldn't cross it...to continue around the roundabout.

3. Other side of roundabout in photo 1 & 2, that doesn't have solid white line and allows outside line to cut across inside line...even if the person is taking the exit.

4. Rainey Trail roundabout, with solid white line northbound and then narrows to one lane...on north side of roundabout.

5. The west exit to Rainy Trail, with solid white line indicating you have to be in right lane to exit.


To summarize, The Villages little schematic on what should be done in roundabouts doesn't match what they've actually done with the striping and signage. :oops:


As I've said many times however, I think narrowing ALL roundabouts to one lane in the locations shown in some of the photos...would go a long way to making things simpler. :shrug:

DANG!


You mean I wasted a couple of hours taking photos and editing them...and someone has already YouTubed it? :oops:


Thanks for the heads up on the video though, because listening to someone talk about it, instead of me just posting photos and referencing them...is probably easier for some folks to understand. :thumbup:

We all appreciate you doing the work. I posted what I youtubed in the other thread while you were working and you missed it.

I do look at the signs every-time and I missed it. The fact that the sign shows 1 lane and there are 2 is hard to believe it's been overlooked.

And, another weakness of the signs is that they are placed too close to the roundabouts. There isn't time to change lanes in traffic after reading a sign. The safest thing to do is to know where you are going before you start driving.

Nice job with photos and narrative. Maybe you should send to Sumter County Public Works.

Signage is definitely a problem but the second issue is the painted lane markings are also inconsistent. Why do some have the center lane striped to move all traffic the the outside lane (i.e. by Palmer CC)? There are numerous other examples.

I lived for six years in Europe, four years in the far East and went through a round-a-bout at least twice every workday for 20+ years in Virginia. They don't have a clue here about how properly marked round-a-bouts and properly educated drivers could make them very efficient for traffic flow.

According to the video there is 1 accident a week. It wouldn't hurt to have 2 sets of signs or just correct them and move them up. If I'm in the inside lane and someone is in the outside lane I go around again.

They would likely say that the first two signs are in Marion County.

I agree with the need for good markings, signage and driver education. But the roundabouts here are already pretty efficient...much more so than the alternatives.

I believe the only way to cure the problem is to merge to one lane before entering the round about

AND that would make traffic back up everywhere.

It isn't that hard.

Sorry, the real issue is people don't take the time to learn how to navigate.....the roadways are clearly marked for what lane goes in what direction.....and the dotted lines tell you where to change lanes. The signs are great if you are looking for a road name but should not be used on how to drive. We still have people making left turns from the right lanes and no signage will fix that. JMO

Go look at the photos of the signs again.

There are situations where you CAN make a left turn...from a right lane.

And a right turn...from the left lane.

Personally, I love the roundabouts in The Villages. They keep the traffic flowing well when negotiated properly.

I learned to drive roundabouts commuting in Virginia and on vacations in France so driving roundabouts is not new to me.

The problem is not the roundabouts. It is the drivers who are unaccustomed to them.

Does the admonishment "You can't teach an old dog new tricks." ring a bell?

Here are 3 threads with 197 posts. I doubt you can post anything on this thread that has not been said many, many times before.
Roundabout threads are just as boring as dog poop threads.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ht=roundabouts
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ht=roundabouts
https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...ht=roundabouts



We also complain about the gates being knocked down. Sometimes they are up with out coming down between vehicles...sometimes not. Sometimes,they pop up quickly, sometimes not. The timing on the gates is erratic and undependable. There is certainly a lack of consistency throuhout the round abouts and gates. I have never hit a gate but have often had to wonder if it was up for all or going to come down between vehicles. The gate exiting Morse at 466 is one of the worst.

I, for one, like the roundabouts...someone said no matter what "they" did there would always be those who would hate them and still do stupid things navigating them. Up north, where we came from,, they have the one-lane roundabouts and I used to hear the same complaints.

Don’t buy it, CNM. Not in a TV roundabout. Let’s see the picture(s). :)

And reduce the capacity of the roundabouts and all connecting roads enormously...a total disaster.

I would, but it's dark outside now...and my camera flash isn't that strong. :D

Thanks again for the YouTube link, but your assertion that "all" appreciate my work/pic's...might not be quite accurate. :D


I had noticed them quite a while back and then the other thread (and a wonderful weather day)...made me decide to go on a little cart ride and take photos.

I'm thinking the 'screw-up' in the signs is due to being in a separate county (Marion VS Sumter)... and no one is willing to pay to correct them.

But who knows, maybe the 'Designated Developer Lurker' (:1rotfl:) will see the thread(s)...and decide to change the signs? :shrug:

When a bypass is around a roundabout and there is no through traffic you can make a left turn from both lanes, but, as I mentioned, if you look at the markings on the roadway, the inside lane is straight or left, the outside lane is right and straight in the majority. I would like to see your photo's of a roadway marking that allows a right turn from the left lane. When those accidents happen, the police ticket based on the roadway markings which is what we should be looking at....the road. Treat a roundabout like a four way intersection and you should be safer...IMO

I asked you to go back and look at my photos...but I'll make it even easier.

A right turn...from the left lane. :oops:

You're welcome. :ho:



(PB...help!) :D

Like I said just repeating old posts........................

I personally do not look very close to the signs because I know a roundabout is coming up so I stay right when I want to leave next exit and stay left going around, always using the blinker when get out to the right or stay at left going around. People behind me should know what I want to do and also paying attention for cars beside me. I survived roundabout like Trafalgar Square and Arc de Triomphe with 6/7 lanes and 7 exits several times. There are no signs at all, only exit signs. If somebody has an accident at Arc de Triomphe roundabout, NO insurance will cover it, it is on your own risk.
At that way I learned it -the hard way- using roundabouts.

I don't understand why folks insist on changing lanes in the roundabout, or by being in one lane and shifting to the other while they are exiting...stay in your lane all the way through the roundabout please...

great first post----staying in your lane is always good advice

I see what you did there. :D

If you think those are right turns, then we have indeed identified the real problem.

So what are they? :1rotfl:

I'll agree with one thing you've said, though certainly not the same conclusion...we have definitely identified the real problem. :ho:

One is classified as going straight and the other is classified as a left turn. The only right turn possible is onto Glenview Rd.

LOL :D


Turn your steering wheel to the left, or even leave it straight...and tell us how that works out for you. :ho:

These posts on the round a bouts are endless
 

If, you read any of them you must come to the same conclusion I have.

The chance of people KNOWING the proper,"SAFE" procedure is at best highly unlikely.

In that SMALL GROUP who know, the ones that will follow the law are unfortunately NOTHING YOU CAN BET YOUR LIFE ON.

The best sign I've seen is the one that states '20 MPH' and the best advice is... "be paranoid of everyone while in the circle of death and don't let anyone next to you." :D

No the real problem with round-a-bouts is that there a lot more dummies than most realize.

It's too easy to get and keep a license. Crazy easy.

Bingo.