[NJblue]

Roundabouts can be a very good way to improve the flow of traffic. Where I used to live in NJ there was an intersection formed by the entrance to a community college and a county road. It used to be controlled by a traffic light and the result was massive lines of cars in all directions every hour when classes let out. It was also very dangerous ... I have personally come close to being hit several times by cars running the red light at high rate of speed. If actually hit, the result probably would be a fatality rather than just a fender bender. They replaced the traffic light with a rotary and now there are no more traffic jams and if accidents do occur, they are more likely to result in no bodily damage.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by chuckinca

Roundabouts are a no win situation . . . you're damned if you do it right and you're damned if you do it wrong!

Where else do make a right turn from the left lane (and hope that the guy in the right lane is turning right just before you do).


.

There you go. That's the scenerio that caused our near collision. If it weren't for my sister and I screaming to my husband and both drivers slamming on their brakes, we would have had an accident. I'll never forget the look the driver of the other car gave my husband...like my husband was wrong for exiting the roundabout the incorrect way. Actually, my husband was doing the exit lawfully, making a "left turn" from the left lane.

Here's something else to think about...If it is legal to drive in the right lane when going to your 1st exit (making a right turn), then who's to say where you entered the roundabout??? A driver could make a right turn from every entrance/exit in that roundabout.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

The roundabout laws state that you must yield to the traffic in both lanes before entering a roundabout. So I don’t see how a double lane roundabout improves traffic flow all that much over a single lane roundabout.

That said, I think the best solution is to make the roundabouts in TV a single lane and replace the inner lane with red brick pavers that creates a truck apron to allow big trucks to make wide turns when necessary to exit the roundabout.

Now, drivers would need to remember only one rule, yield to the traffic already in the roundabout.

The problems with the current design and complicated rules of roundabouts are never going to be resolved with wishful thinking about better driver education.

BINGO!!! That is the best solution for these roundabouts. Love this idea.

[tony]

I have traveled some pretty busy rotaries in the U.S. and abroad. Obviously you have to be careful, but none have been so troublesome for me as those in The Villages.

The difficulty I have in The Villages is that the rotaries seem so small. When I travel through them, I am all eyes.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

The round abouts are not that hard. One lane would not work as on Buena Vista and Morse you have two lanes coming into them and two lanes exiting from them. The only place to use one lane round abouts is on one lane roads. And they do improve traffic flow. If you can't drive in them, stay away from them. Follow the 4 simple rules and they work very well, improve traffic and yes, even reduce accidents.

If everyone would just try following the rules, more people would learn and everything would get better using them. Finding all the reasons to do something different because you do not understand how they work, makes you part of the problem. Stay alert and please learn to use them correctly.

I wouldn't mind having to merge to one lane BEFORE entering a roundabout. After exiting the roundabout, the left lane on the two lane roads could be utilized.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by memason

Traffic flows much better with roundabouts. Intersections force people to stop, which impedes the smooth flow of traffic. Even with the problems, discussed on this board, I would always vote to have a roundabout .vs an intersection. A roundabout is all about "yielding" and "merging"; same things we have to do to enter the turnpike...

Just a question.... Do we have the same yielding issues with golf carts at the tunnel entrances/exits?

I agree with you. I do appreciate the fact that one can drive around TV, primarily without stop signs and red lights. The flow of traffic is flawless with this system. I haven't been on all roads in TV but it seems that Canal Street has the only traffic lights I have encountered so far. There's something to be said about that.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

There you go. That's the scenerio that caused our near collision. If it weren't for my sister and I screaming to my husband and both drivers slamming on their brakes, we would have had an accident. I'll never forget the look the driver of the other car gave my husband...like my husband was wrong for exiting the roundabout the incorrect way. Actually, my husband was doing the exit lawfully, making a "left turn" from the left lane.

Here's something else to think about...If it is legal to drive in the right lane when going to your 1st exit (making a right turn), then who's to say where you entered the roundabout??? A driver could make a right turn from every entrance/exit in that roundabout.

At the previous entrance!
Coffeebean, after you been here a while, you too will learn how to navigate the roundabouts.......that is if you survive driving only in the right hand lane.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by NJblue

Roundabouts can be a very good way to improve the flow of traffic. Where I used to live in NJ there was an intersection formed by the entrance to a community college and a county road. It used to be controlled by a traffic light and the result was massive lines of cars in all directions every hour when classes let out. It was also very dangerous ... I have personally come close to being hit several times by cars running the red light at high rate of speed. If actually hit, the result probably would be a fatality rather than just a fender bender. They replaced the traffic light with a rotary and now there are no more traffic jams and if accidents do occur, they are more likely to result in no bodily damage.

Hello former neighbor. DH and I currently live in Monmouth County and are seasonal in TV.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

At the previous entrance!
Coffeebean, after you been here a while, you too will learn how to navigate the roundabouts.......that is if you survive driving only in the right hand lane.

Bogie...

You really lost me with this. Please explain. Thanks.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

There you go. That's the scenerio that caused our near collision. If it weren't for my sister and I screaming to my husband and both drivers slamming on their brakes, we would have had an accident. I'll never forget the look the driver of the other car gave my husband...like my husband was wrong for exiting the roundabout the incorrect way. Actually, my husband was doing the exit lawfully, making a "left turn" from the left lane.

Here's something else to think about...If it is legal to drive in the right lane when going to your 1st exit (making a right turn), then who's to say where you entered the roundabout??? A driver could make a right turn from every entrance/exit in that roundabout.

You asked the question .....where you entered the roundabout. If you are making a right turn at your first exit, you had to enter at the previous entrance. Further, drivers could make a right turn from every entrance/first exit in that roundabout, from the right lane. Have you seen the pamphlet?

[Ooper]

I have seen 100's of posts on the proper procedure of navigating a roundabout and we still seem to be no closer to this solution than we were back in the 90's when the 1st roundabout was built. I have seem many recommendations, by drivers, observers and even the police. IMHO, I can only see one fool proof way of navigating a roundabout without the possibilty of getting into an accident. The sheriffs pamphlet does not even accomplish this. If everybody followed this simple procedure, I think it would solve all the problems. One simple rule... if you enter a roundabout with the intention of exiting on the first exit, then enter in the right hand lane and exit from the right hand lane. All others, need to enter the roundabout in the left hand lane, and exit on the left lane of the exit road without making a lane change. There would be no overlapping of exits and therefore, no accidents. If somebody can find fault with this, please post a reply so we can all learn. Even with the sheriffs suggestion of staying in the right lane for up to 2 exits, there could be possibilities of somebody from a previous entrance cutting you off if you do not exit on the first exit. There are some roundabouts in TV with 3 exits, some with 4, and even with 5. Sometimes, "going straight" thru a roundabout, does not necessarilly mean "going staright". But most important of all, and safest, yield to anybody in the roundabout to begin with, and always keep your eyes moving.

[Talk Host]

Anytime you exit a roundabout from the left lane in The Villages, you stand a good change of engaging another vehicle in the right lane which is going all the way around.

[Taj44]

Coffeebean, if you stay in the right lane to make a left turn at 270 degrees, you will be potentially causing an accident to those in the left lane who are going straight. No matter how "comfortable" it makes you feel, you are engaging in a dangerous driving practice.

[rockaway]

Originally Posted by Taj44

Coffeebean, if you stay in the right lane to make a left turn at 270 degrees, you will be potentially causing an accident to those in the left lane who are going straight. No matter how "comfortable" it makes you feel, you are engaging in a dangerous driving practice.

Coffeebean obviously only cares about her own "comfort" and not
about the safety of her fellow Villages.
It is sad to know that there are people among us
( i am sure she is not the only one) who feel this way.

[memason]

Originally Posted by rockaway

Coffeebean obviously only cares about her own "comfort" and not
about the safety of her fellow Villages.
It is sad to know that there are people among us
( i am sure she is not the only one) who feel this way.

OK, now the Engineer in me is coming out. Luckily, if I am in the left lane, in a roundabout and exit in front of someone going around in the right lane, the damage will be minimal. Certainly, no one is gonna die, from such a collision. Both cars will be going the approximate same direction, therefore, little damage (simple vector analysis). This assumes we are both already in the roundabout.

Since the right lane cruiser will be ticketed for improper lane usage , their insurance will get to pay to repair my car, as well as pay for my rental car or any other bodily harm incurred.

In the end, it's ok to "color outside the lines" and I often do, but depending upon the situation, it could get expensive.