[rubicon]

Every time this topic comes up the responses clearly establish that many people are just totally confused.

So the simple answer is to use your turn signal to alert drivers behind you of your intent. However it may be of little help to those drivers along side of you and /or those drivers distracted by cell phones their personal thoughts, etc.

[Yorio]

Don't know if it's my second glass of wine but I am totally confused as I try to imagine what I must do at the round about. My mind is going round and round around the round about. It seems like even what I have been doing is right, don't count on it. I may still have an accident. My principle fails compared to what others are planning to do around the the round about.

[jblum315]

I have never had a problem with the roundabouts. Maybe it's because in Richmond, Va. where I grew up there were a few roundabouts, and the adults driving weren't nervous or uncertain about navigating them. Plus the traffic was much heavier there than it ever is here. I hope my words don't come back and bite me in the a**.

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by jblum315

I have never had a problem with the roundabouts. Maybe it's because in Richmond, Va. where I grew up there were a few roundabouts, and the adults driving weren't nervous or uncertain about navigating them. Plus the traffic was much heavier there than it ever is here. I hope my words don't come back and bite me in the a**.

I also grew up with a roundabout close by-- two blocks from my house (in Coral Gables, FL) and when I moved overseas (especially in the Bahamas, where they drive on the WRONG side of the street) I experienced them as well. Now I am very comfortable with them, although I always keep in the back of my mind that others might not feel comfortable with 'em.

[DENNIS G]

Originally Posted by red tail

if i enter the roundabout in the right lane and follow it to first right i am essentially following the curve not actualy turning a corner ! it would be interesting to see if that would result in a ticket.

That is still considered a right turn and not a curve to the right because the road continues as if it were straight.

[Bobcuse]

Originally Posted by quirky3

When you have a chance, please look up the "roundabout rules". I was so surprised the first time I realized that if you are exiting on the 3rd right turn, you enter and exit from the left hand lane.

I completely understand the roundabout rules which say to enter and exit the 3rd right turn from the inside lane, but staying in that inside lane as you are exiting according to these rules means that it will take you in the path of the outside lane to exit. If someone is in the outside lane (possibly in your blind spot) and is not exiting the roundabout until the next exit, you are in danger of a collision despite the fact that both drivers are "following the rules". Ergo....use your signal and hold your breath. Better yet....never go inside lane for any reason.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Bobcuse

I completely understand the roundabout rules which say to enter and exit the 3rd right turn from the inside lane, but staying in that inside lane as you are exiting according to these rules means that it will take you in the path of the outside lane to exit. If someone is in the outside lane (possibly in your blind spot) and is not exiting the roundabout until the next exit, you are in danger of a collision despite the fact that both drivers are "following the rules". Ergo....use your signal and hold your breath. Better yet....never go inside lane for any reason.

Your reasoning is exactly the cause of most accidents:

1. You say "if someone is in the outside lane (when you want the 3/4 turn)" - There can be no one in the outside lane unless they entered the roundabout when it wasn't clear (i.e. you were there) or they entered with you in the outside lane and didn't exit at the 1/4 or 1/2 turn as they are supposed to.

2. You say "never go inside lane for any reason". - How can you make a 3/4 turn if you don't go inside? If you stay outside you are not supposed to do anything except 1/4 turn or 1/2 turn.

3. You say "even though both drivers are following the rules". - No they are not.

The rules are actually very simple. Please refer to the diagram on the district page. http://www.districtgov.org/PdfView/P...27&ql=standard

The only three options you have are in pictures on the page. You could replace all the pictures with these two rules: If you enter (making sure to yield to traffic already in the circle) in the inside lane you can do anything you want except exit at the first 1/4 right. If you enter in the outside lane you can only do two things: 1/4 right or 1/2 (i.e. straight through).

And to answer the question about blinkers I would say that I do use them if I see others about to enter - but I would never, as a driver, rely on someone's blinker to really signal their intention. I've only been in TV a short while but I think I've seen every error that could be made. I'm very cautious in this things.

[drdodge]

any exit from a roundabout requires a right turn, you cannot make a left turn from a circle. there is no road to the left
drd

[getdul981]

Regarding the original question. I TRY to always us signals whenever I change lanes and exit a roundaboutl. I can't say that I absolutely always do, but I try. As far as that goes, I never trust anyone that is approaching and has a signal on. If I see them turn it on as I'm looking toward them, I'm a little more trusting that they are actually going to turn. There's too many people running around here with their signals lights in a always on mode.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by drdodge

any exit from a roundabout requires a right turn, you cannot make a left turn from a circle. there is no road to the left
drd

Quite true, but the concept we are trying to instill is that a roundabout is similar to a regular intersection. You wouldn't make a right turn at an intersection from the left lane, and you wouldn't make a left turn from the right lane. Either lane can continue straight. Most of the problems I have seen at the roundabouts involve someone trying to take the third exit (left turn) while traveling all the way around in the outside lane. Then the person in the left lane who intends to continue straight suddenly has a car right in front of them. Yikes!

[getdul981]

Has anyone ever continued on around the roundabout because there was a car beside you when you wanted to make your turn? Remember Chevy Chase in European Vacation? (Hey Russ, there's Big Ben)

[Yorio]

It seems like the person who is confused as to what to do in the round about is the same person who doesn't read the one way sign in parking areas specifically shown on the road. There is an outside and an inside lane in the round about. The outside lane on the road only shows a straight sign which means you can't go around the round about but has to follow the main road as though it is a straight road. There should not be any cars coming from the right lane at any time as one travels on the inner lane. Developers did not show road signs to the right because it was a given and that there will not be cars coming from the right. In the inner lane there is a turn left sign so technically you can go round and round around the round about until kingdom come.

[Bill-n-Brillo]

(....................wait for it.......................)

Bill

[drdodge]

you say something trying to make a left turn, There are no left turns from a circle only right turns
drd

[RichieB]

Originally Posted by Yorio

In the inner lane there is a turn left sign so technically you can go round and round around the round about until kingdom come.

Imagine doing THAT until kingdom come, or you run out of gas, whichever comes first