More on Roundabouts
 

http://www.economist.com/node/215387...whatgoesaround

The link takes you to yet another "roundabout" tale, a relaxing read.

Just returned from Sidonia AZ and they have gone to all roundabouts. Traffic moves significantly better then when they had traffic lights. They reduce accidents, save fuel, move traffic better, and are less maintenance then traffic lights. Should be required for all new construction. Everyone should be happy we have them.

I understand what you are saying... But I still went to U Tube to learn how to drive in them. When I was down last week my sales rep almost got creamed in one as someone didn't know how to drive it. There is a trick to them.

This is an example of what I'm talking about!!!

http://youtu.be/Jesf4xFOg1Q

Easy Peasy!!!
 

Last week a woman in the traffic circle traveling ahead of us stopped to wave a vehicle in to the circle. I hope she reads the roundabout brochure soon.:sigh:

omg

The one thing that I notice in the OP's link is the lack of anything blocking the drivers vision around the roundabout. I know the landscaping is nice but a better view of what is coming around would be nice.

VG

Just slow down!

Ahhhhh.... I love the roundabouts. This time of year, driving through TV is always good for a chuckle or two at the roundabouts. There are so few in the US, most drivers just have no clue how to properly navigate...

No problem there, I just like to see what is coming at me. My approach to roundabouts is to drive them properly and ALWAYS know where the other driver is at and watch for them to make a mistake. Up north where I grew up I lived a few miles from a roundabout that has 8 roads leading into it. Going through there at rush hour you learned real quick to always look out for the other guy as they will be the one to do something stupid.

And a side note, I never have had a moving traffic ticket in my life and not planning to start now.

VG

Mayhem
Roundabouts. When in doubt, just go straight.

I really fail to understand how anyone can claim they don't know how to use a roundabout. It is exactly the same as a traffic light. If you want to turn right at a light, you use the right hand lane. If you want to turn left at a light you use the left hand lane. If you want to go straight through you use either lane. And you always yield to someone already in the intersection. Roundabouts work exactly the same way. Those that can't follow those simple rules are probably a problem any where they drive.

Exactly! Let's be honest here....knowing HOW to drive is not a requirement to get a drivers license anymore... The folks that can't figure out a roundabout are also the same people running stop signs, hanging over in the cart lane, turning right on a red light without stopping, cruising [sometimes below the speed limit] in the left lane...you name it.

Just saying.....

Driving in Rotaries in Boston is really exciting, especially when it is dark, snowing and wind blowing at rush hour !! The rotaries in TV are a piece of cake.....but because there are so many here who have not had prior experience, watch out for yourself, but don't ever stop in the rotary!

Don't spoil the fun by making it simple now. People on this site like to think it's more rocket science than it is:)

What? You mean I bought that STK Rocket Science Diploma from QVC for nothing?

Dude, that's funny stuff. :a20:

Okay, just how long have you had that one in your back pocket waiting to use it??? :a20:

:1rotfl::1rotfl::1rotfl:

No kidding.. Skyguy cracks me up with these!!!

It seems easy if you are used to them, but I wouldn't think to exit a roundabout from an inside lane. That's where the rep almost got creamed. The guy (it's always a guy if the driver is bad... right?) in the outside lane wasn't going to exit and she exited from the inside lane.

Now.. I get it, but I would have thought you would have to be in an outside lane to exit.

Get it? :loco:

Now... I think I will go back to bed as I have a headache!

Well now, I didn't run stop signs or hang in the cart lane but I sure had a hard time in the roundabouts on our short visit to TV. This Virginian hasn't seen the likes of them so maybe a little understanding for some of your visitors would boost the "Friendliest Home Town" thingy. Just saying.......:wave:

If you bought it for nothing then you got your money's worth. Quit complaining...

Not sure what you want us to do for you visitors. If you are here and have a computer, the Community Development site has a brochure that you can read and learn how to drive in a round-a-bout.
Here it is......
http://www.districtgov.org/PdfView/P...daboutBrochure - FINAL070908.pdf'&ql=standard

You missed my point. Thought a little understanding for visitors instead of criticism by the other poster.

I know what you mean! I experienced TV for the first time past weekend, and even after reading all the "roundabout" stories, the initial visual effect of seeing all the cars and golf carts zipping around is kind of overwhelming and distracting. Did my best to stay focused, don't go too fast or too slow, but was hoping for patience and kindness from other drivers.

But, MeMason was right.

How so? My difficulty with roundabout made me run stop signs? I don't get the broad brush branding.

Sorry....not sure why you took my post so personal . . . It was not directed at anyone specific.

http://www.districtgov.org/PdfView/P...daboutBrochure

doesn't work-it is a shame as a newbie I found the roundabouts with 2 lanes to be new and difficult-very uncomfortable when driving a rental car one is not used to.

The link didn't work.

Even if 75% of the people get it... If 25% don't... they will surly hit the 75%.

It was the two lanes the confused me. You get off the roundabout from the inside lane if you are going past an exit. Who would know that?

Been here a couple of weeks. Two close calls. One when the lane merged into one and the car in the ourside lane went across my path to keep going left from the outside lane and another time (today) when a truck exited from the inside lane infront of me when I was going around to the next exit. The CDD brochure advises the turns that can be made from which lane and the use of a right turn signal when exiting. Haven't seen much use of turn signals in the roundabouts. A little caution and courtesy would go a long way and one of my own peeves: I don't thing k the roundabouts are the best place to pass IMHO.

And thus where it gets confusing. In a roundabout, if you are not making a right hand turn, you should go to the inside lane and exit from there. If you are in the right hand lane... You must get off at the next exit.

http://youtu.be/qVh04m6xHxw

You're right, but some will just never get it. Twice this past week, I was almost creamed by 2 drivers( in different instances) and it would have been horrendous if I had not been watching them very closely. In both cases:

I was going north on Buena Vista, north of Rainey Trail. As I approached the circle at Winifred entrance, I was going to keep heading straight on BV and so I entered the circle in the left (inner) lane. The driver next to me on the right, also heading north on BV, entered the circle beside me on my right, sped up rounding the curve, and as I started to exit at 180 degrees with my signal on, the driver beside me shot leftward in front of me to turn left FROM THE RIGHT (outer) lane. It was heart stopping and happened twice in a week. Thank God I knew to be on the lookout for such dangers!

Why can't people get it that you don't turn left from the right lane? Especially when the big arrows on the pavement in the lanes clearly indicate in advance which ones are used for a right or left turn.....

It's really not difficult if you think of the roundabout like a regular intersection. You wouldn't make a left turn from the right lane at a regular intersection, right? Nor a right turn from the left lane. Approaching a roundabout you need to get or be in the proper lane for the direction you will go exiting the roundabout. Right lane for straight or right turn (first exit). Left lane for straight or left turn (third exit).

But the most important thing is to not enter a roundabout when another vehicle is already in it, even if the right (outside) lane is empty since you don't know where that vehicle is exiting. People entering the roundabout that way and those who make left turns (third exit) from the outside (right) lane are the reasons for most close calls, IMO. The next reason is those who don't yield to another vehicle in the roundabout.

And, yes, you can exit from the inside lane when making a left turn (third exit). There should not be another car beside you assuming no one has entered the roundabout improperly or is making an improper left turn from the right lane, since any car in the right lane entering the roundabout should either have taken the first exit (right turn) or second exit (straight ahead).

Use your signals. On my trips to the UK, it is common to use signals in roundabouts to let others know where you are going/exiting.

Not true. Why is this so hard? If you are in the right lane you must exit at the first OR second exit. The left hand lane must exit the second OR third exit. You folks make this to difficult. It is really easy. Once more, it is just like a traffic light with four lanes in each direction. If you want to turn right, enter from the right lane and exit at the first exit. If you want to go left, enter from the left and exit from the left at the third exit. If you want to go straight through, enter either lane and exit from the lane you enter. EXACTLY as you would do with a traffic light.

I have noticed that some people are obviously confused or misinformed when they are wanting to take the third exit from the inside circle lane into a gate entrance. They always want to try to merge on into the right hand lane so that they can go through the "resident" gate. Many are unaware that a "resident" can enter through either side.

The two biggest problems that I have noticed are 1)the people who want to make a left and feel the best way to do it is to go three-quarters around in the right lane, and 2)the people who are just entering the roundabout and intend to go straight from the right lane and don't understand that the car they see already in the roundabout in the left lane is going to exit. When entering, one should yield to cars in the right AND left lanes!

A thread about the roundabouts comes up every 3-5 months. The same complaints, theories, opinions, suggestions, etc. are posted. People vent and whine but, things will not change.
Do a search, there are hundreds of posts and thousands of views, enjoy!