Roundabout question
 

I recently had a close (very close) encounter at a local roundabout. The other driver was extremely angry with me and I have been thinking about the event ever since. I thought I was doing the right thing but now am not so sure.

I intended to go straight through the roundabout. I entered using the inside lane and was about to exit using the inside lane. That's where the close encounter took place. The other driver was on my right in the outside lane and was slightly behind me. I didn't see her in my blind spot. She evidently intended to continue around the roundabout in the outside lane to another exit point.

Fortunately no one was hurt nor any damage done. But I have been wondering about this ever since. In the meantime, I only go straight through a roundabout in the outside lane.

So, if going straight through a roundabout using the inside lane, do you have to yield to someone to your right when exiting?

I hope I explained this clearly and would appreciate any advice. I try very hard to be a safe and considerate driver. It was very upsetting to me to be yelled at and I certainly don't want to be the cause of any accidents.

Hi

I just moved here and have had the same thing happen to me so I hope someone answers this question. I understood your question completely. I just drive really slow in the roundabouts and try to do everything slowly, looking everywhere. I, too, have had some unpleasant people make gestures, etc. I would like for all of them to remember that they were new here once too and maybe had the same problems we are having. A little kindness goes a long way.

roundabouts
 

If you're in the inside lane, you can either go straight or 3/4 of the way around the roundabout. If you're in the outside lane, you can either take the first exit on your right or you can go straight (but not 3/4). Alot of people think they know how to drive in the roundabouts and they honk at people even when they're in the wrong. The signs entering the roundabouts even show how to use them, but people apparently don't pay attention to them. Gets worse at snowbird time.

Your scenario is exactly why I prefer to use the outside lane whenever I’m going “straight through” a roundabout. However, you were not at fault, the other driver was at fault. She was either going further around in the outside lane than she should have, or else she didn’t yield to both lanes of traffic and stagger herself far enough behind you when she entered the roundabout.

Roundabouts
 

There are flyers available that explain the roundabouts. The signs before the roundabouts also diagram what each lane can do. I believe you (Joanniesmom) were correct. However, I always drive very defensively in the roundabouts and do not trust any driver there. If you notice the sign. When entering the roundabout, you would definitely use the outside lane if going immediately right or the first exit. If you are going straight, you can use either the inside or outside lane and exit in the straight/second exit - the brochure sates not to change lanes. If there is someone on the right, they should really be going right..unless they entered the roundabout from that first exit. However, they would not be that close to you as no one should enter the roundabout until all traffic is clear, so would have been farther behind you and watching you. If you are turning left or taking the third exit from the roundabout, you would definitely need to be in the inside lane.
Hope this is not too confusing. If you can find those roundabout flyers...it would help. I believe they are usually available at the rec centers in the information holder. I have seen them at Sea Breeze a few months ago. I keep them handy to give to company, so they are not too confused. Either way, for sure drive defensively. Don't think the other drivers really know the rules. I can make a .pdf file or the flyer and e-mail it if you send me your e-mail address. You can pm that to me. I don't know how to pm, but if you do, am sure it will get to me. Bottom line, from what you explained to me, you were driving correctly.

Those are the correct answers, however, this thread will not end here. Roundabout threads occur approximately every 6 months, there will be over 50 posts with nearly as many different ways to use a roundabout..................................:popco rn::popcorn:

lol This is true!

I've had the same thing happen to me many times, Joaniesmom. In a nutshell, the driver slightly behind you in the outside lane was going to make a Left Turn from the Right Lane!

Now, just what would happen if you were at a Stop light or Stop sign, and she made a left turn from the right hand lane?? Everyone knows this is wrong and would be cited by the police. But here, for some reason, some drivers think they can turn left from the right-hand lane and cut across your lane in front of you as you are exiting properly from the roundabout to go straight in the same direction as you were before entering it. They are wrong!

Like you, I always stay in the outer lane if heading straight thru the roundabout. And if I'm going to turn Left, I get into the LEFT lane upon entering the circle. I've had flashbacks as you have, replaying those almost-collisions in which we assumed the other driver has some common sense. But some don't.

This drawing should help to reassure you that you did it right.
Attachment 7345

I think you were not at fault. The signs before every roundabout indicate what lane you should use in order to leave the roundabout at the three (generally) exits. If you were going 180 degrees around the circle, you could be in either lane. Assuming the other driver entered the roundabout with you, but in the outside lane, that driver should not have expected to have the 'right-of-way' to continue to the third exit.

Indydealmaker...Thank you for providing the drawing. A picture is worth a thousand words. I was trying to figure out how one would take a left turn in a roundabout. I now understand what was being said. I grew up in MA where there are many roundabouts, which we call rotaries. I do not recall ever seeing signs up there regarding what lane to use. I think if you grow up with it, it almost becomes second nature.

The problem I see here is if the other driver has entered the roundabout at your first exit. They are then going straight through from their angle. I always look to my right when exiting from the left hand lane and yield to any traffic that is there.

Don't forget to use your turn signals when exiting the roundabouts. That way the person behind you will not be suprised when you "cut across their bow."

Sorry but that doesn't make sense to me. If the car in the outside lane just entered the circle they would still need to give way to the car in the circle. You stopping to yield to them stops the flow of traffic and could cause a rear ending for you. JMO.

Right or wrong
 

Whichever way a person chooses to negotiate the traffic circles, the most important thing (IMHO) is to use your signals. If I know where a person is going I can work with it, if I have no idea what you are going to do on the road we are both in trouble!

You should NEVER EVER stop in the round-about. If there is a car beside you and you can't make the exit, continue on around and make your exit on the next time around.

Some of the worst offenders I have seen are the contractors pulling trailers. They always stay in the right lane no matter where they are going. Watch out for them!

The roundabout at Camino Real and Morse where it turns into Paige Place is another problem area. I was in the outside lane on Camino Real going around to go straight on Paige when a car passed me on the inside and cut me off to turn on Paige. Remember that Paige is a single lane. I laid on the horn as I had to stop in the roundabout and was flipped off for my effort.

left-staight-right
 

What if you're in the outside lane wanting to go sraight thru the roundabout and a car in the inside lane right beside you wants to exit to the right? Many times cars have cut in front of me exiting as I was prepared to go straight? I've yielded to them but who has the rightaway?

I apologize in advance if the following paragraph gives someone a headache...;)

I'd still like to see an answer to Dr B's question ... If you imagine the roundabout as a clock and Inside Ivan enters at 6 o'clock in the inside lane intending to exit at 12 o'clock and Outside Ollie enters in the outside lane at 3 o'clock intending to exit at 9 o'clock, they both can hit 12 o'clock at the same time and they both think they have the right of way. Obviously someone must have the "Right of Way" (and yes, I know, you can still get killed even though you have it, but still, it should be defined somewhere) I don't understand DandyGirl's response, because I don't understand why someone entering in the outside lane would "need to give right of way" to someone in the INSIDE lane... I personally just do what Dr B does - I try to make sure nobody's beside me when I exit at 12 o'clock, but with The Villages becoming more populated, this sometimes is difficult. (I used to just use the outside lane for my "straight thru" runs, until it dawned on me, I'm just making myself into an Outside Ollie and i can still get creamed at the 3 o'clock exit by an Inside Ivan who entered at 9 o'clock)..

To all who are driving and trying to do the right thing - do not stop in the roundabout! I have seen this when people are "afraid" someone might enter and not yield. It might mean you get rear-ended! Be ready to brake if necessary but don't stop in anticipation!

This is exactly the reason that some people are confused. The very first rule, and arguably the most important, is to yield to ALL traffic that is already in the circle before you enter. So the scenario you paint could not happen if they were yielding properly.

See previous response. Can't happen if you yield to ALL traffic.

It is actually very simple - do not enter the roundabout if EITHER one of the lanes in front of you, as you enter, has a car in it. And yes I have seen people enter when only ONE of the lanes is clear. It must be both lanes clear to enter. Then your scenario can not happen. Hope this helps. Just study the diagram given earlier. It is very clear.

If there is indeed a car on the inside of you then they must have entered on the inside of you (right?). So in that case they can not take the immediate right. Again, see the diagram.

Perfect answer Kathie!

:agree:
Excellent suggestions, and I also agree that driving extremely defensively is the only way to go here in The Villages (or anywhere, really). I have avoided several accidents recently because I would rather YIELD to someone in the wrong than get hit being in the right! :pepper2::pepper2:

I can only assume it's new residents or part time residents who are confused and not sure of where they want to go.

Just let 'em go! much better to allow somebody to get where they want to go than get hit. so what? maybe next time they won't do it.......

I learned something today...
 

Russ - thanks. :bowdown: I have never heard (or at least never processed) that you shouldn't enter the roundabout when somebody is in either lane approaching you - that should alleviate the problem (If we can get everybody to do it :undecided:)

KathyI's rules are good, too. - if nobody's near you when you try to turn, it's pretty hard to get clobbered...

As I think about this, I think in the future when I want to go straight thru the roundabout, I'm gonna try to be in the inside lane. That will force me to use Russ's rule about not entering when either lane is occupied and will give me the option of making another revolution with no worries if somebody does come up beside me and I'm not feeling good about whether they're gonna exit with me or keep going around...

I love it when a plan comes together :pepper2:

That's what I was wondering about. It was all perfectly clear to me until I started thinking about folks going straight through starting from the first exit to my right.

The whole thing gives me a headache. I'll be fine staying in the outside lane unless, unfortunately, I have to make a left turn!

Let me answer your concern in a way that I don't think anyone has yet to mention. If the vehicle in the right lane had hit you, they would have found out the hard way that they were in the wrong when they were given a citation for failure to yield the right of way to you.

p.s. On Saturday I noticed a commercial vehicle that presumably exited from the Hemingway gate near Havana CC that did a 360, or possibly a 450 (full circle and a quarter from Morse SB) entirely in the outside lane, then entered the Hemingway gate station and then make a left into Havana. Good thing we weren't a few seconds sooner in entering from the Hadley gate or we could have possibly gotten hit!

33 posts and counting.

roundabout brochure
http://sumtercountyfl.gov/DocumentView.aspx?DID=3939

I am from Boston and we have a lot roundabouts. WHEN U ENTER STAY TO THE RIGHT UNTIL U EXIT AND THEN U WILL BE SAFE. U SHOULD NEVER MAKE RIGHT TURN FROMTHE LEFT SIDE OF THE CIRCLE
DRD

Even in all CAPS, this is all wrong!

In that instance, the party entering from your right is not supposed to enter the roundabout until you have passed them and they are not supposed to ever pass anyone IN the circle. That would allow them to see your right turn signal and honor your right of way.

Think about that for a second.
That would only work for a single lane circle.
In the event of two lanes, the left lane could only go round and round for ever like Chevy Chase in European Vacation.:shrug:

I found the easiest way is to imagine a 4-way stop instead of a round circle. Each side has two lanes. If you were to make a right turn or to go straight you would of used the right lane at a 4-way stop. If you are making a left turn you would of been in the left turn. Same rules apply to a roundabout. So when you go to the third exit in the outside (right lane), you've made an illegal left turn and have put yourself in jeopardy of being T-boned by a car on the inside lane going straight. That's the one difference, the option of going straight can be made from either lane. However, if you apply all the 4-way stop rules you shouldn't have a problem.

It's not just me
 

I responded to another thread about the recent accidents and driving in TV a little bit ago. I had not seen this thread. I did go on and on about the same round about isses raised here.

I think the one thing this post proves is just how confusing the round abouts are here. You simply cannot understand a circle that lets people turn right from left lanes. It would be much better to reduce all the traffic a single lane for the round abouts, but I'm guessing in January you would have chaos.

I have to agree with what drd said, that is how roundabouts work in most of the world. Also, in general two lane roundabouts exist in places where they are much larger and there is room to change lanes between exits. You stay in the inside lane until you are near your turn and then change to the right lane, with those behind you in the right lane generally turning at the exit you just passed. These in TV are so small, you're always at an exit. Essentially the left lane really doesn't have a function, other than to clog things up.

I wish we had a traffic engineer on here who could shed some light about how these could actually function smoothly.