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.