Unfortunately, there will be some people who don't follow the rules; partly out of ignorance, and partly because they seldom face consequences. For the rest of us, we have to drive defensively. I drive with the assumption that other drivers will probably do something unsafe, or illegal. When they don't, I'm relieved; when they do, I'm usually prepared.

That may be true but I've seen one car speed up and wind up right along side another car. I've witnessed this as I'm waiting to enter the RAB. I would hope that most drivers realize it is not a good idea to drive along side another car in the RABs.

How about traffic lights at round about entrances and a concrete construction barrier to separate the lanes. In the center would be an elevated control tower with a traffic controller that would operate the lights as needed.
Or instead of the traffic lights gates could be used.

Larger trucks, such as moving vans, use both lanes in a round-a-bout because of their length. Barriers separating lanes would not work.

I was in a RAB today, in the left lane because I entered from Buena Vista going north and needed to exit onto St. Charles going west (in other words, if this were an intersection, I was making a left-hand turn, so needed to be in the inside lane). A car came along on the right of me and exited west onto St. Charles too, almost cutting me off, because. But here's my question... if that car were going straight from the east side of St. Charles, around the RAB to the west side of St. Charles, it was legal, correct?

If so, you could be on the inside lane, turning left, end up t-boning someone, and you would be at fault.

Didn't do so hot in the roundabounts on my first visit to TV. Yes, you're right, I didn't understand it, but definitely NOT stupid. Got the hang of it by my second visit, and will be absolutely fine when I visit in March.

The car coming from the east side of St. Charles to go west should not enter the roundabout until you have passed that point. If they speed up to pull alongside you and prevent you exiting to the resident side of the gate, I would just use the visitor side. Fortunately, that is more rare than the one going 3/4 of the way around in the outside lane.

That is what happened. The car came out of nowhere, so it either entered behind me from Buena Vista and sped up past me on the outside lane by the time we got to St. Charles, or it came from St. Charles, passedm e on the outside, and exited onto St. Charles, cutting me off. The visitor lane was coned off for some reason, so couldn't use that. I just wondered who was right and who was wrong. (It was a big ole Caddylac, and I'm just a little bitty Chrysler 200 with a golf ball dent. Poor me, vote for me!):clap2:

I have thought about using visitor lanes in those situations, especially when someone coming from the opposite direction decides to enter the RAB as you are coming around in the left lane intending to exit. That seems to be dicey especially at BV and St Charles, the southernmost intersection of those two. There was an accident there last week where someone was t-boned at the St James gate.

I think many of us didn't get it right, when we first experienced them. I count myself amongst that group. Until fairly recently, there weren't the informative pictorial signs that there are now, either. Glad you've got the hang of it. :coolsmiley:

For me, it was someone on this forum who taught me how to think about a RAB, when I was new and whining. I don't remember who it was, so you can all take credit. It was the person who said think abut the RAB as a four-way intersection of two-lane roads. If you're going straight you can be in either lane, if you're turning right, you should be in the right-hand lane, and if you're turning left, be in the left-hand lane. Easy peasy, and thank you, whoever you were. (Who were you?)

I think he was joking or at least I hope he was..

Beautiful in its simplicity! :coolsmiley:

Why would I be joking? Think of a large truck such as a moving van or long trailer. The driver must negotiate round-a-bout in the outer lane. The trailer will be following with a reduced radius effectively trailing, at least, partially in the inside lane, depending on the length of the trailer.

http://www.ite.org/traffic/documents/jb09ba40.pdf

Not you. I was referring to the poster who suggested the use of concrete barriers. I think he was joking. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that would never work.

Train them!
 

I was at a Defensive Driving course for Seniors at the AAA office. The instructor did not know how to drive the RAB. She has lived here for about 5 years!!! Maybe sales people should show a film on how to drive a RAB before they show any homes. Could do the same thing for LSV. The Daily Sun could put something in every Sunday's edition. TOTV could have a video in the "top bar" for future vistors. There are many people "lost" when they first get here and do not read or understand the signs at the RAB. :boxing2:

:bigbow:Originally Posted by CFrance
For me, it was someone on this forum who taught me how to think about a RAB, when I was new and whining. I don't remember who it was, so you can all take credit. It was the person who said think abut the RAB as a four-way intersection of two-lane roads. If you're going straight you can be in either lane, if you're turning right, you should be in the right-hand lane, and if you're turning left, be in the left-hand lane. Easy peasy, and thank you, whoever you were. (Who were you?)

Oops. Double post.

I have no doubt tzangrilli was just joking about the barriers and everything else that was mentioned in the post.

This is why it is so important to not be side by side with another car. You can get cut off sometimes but that does not cause an accident. Staggering with any car that is anywhere near you is the only way to avoid a T-bone accident.

Wasn't the joke about the concrete barriers??? Not the moving vans using two lanes. Longer vehicles such as moving vans have no choice but to use both lanes in a RAB.

Excellent point, Ooper. Pickups pulling lawn equipment trailers or golf cart delivery trailers are also a hazard. They are nearly as wide as a semi trailer and sometimes driven by a less-than-professional driver.

According to the rules of RAB navigation, if you are going straight you can use either right or left lane. In my eleven years plus of navigating our RABs I find it safer to stay in the right lane if I am going straight. I have seen too many instances of drivers who intend to go 270 degrees stay in the right lane and cut in front of the driver in the left lane who is going straight. Both cars may be going at a relatively slow speed (20MPH?) and in the same direction but there can be considerable damage.

Keep in mind we have any drivers from out of state who may have never seen a RAB. The signs are pretty clear but some people are slow learners.

One Thing Is For Certain
 

One thing is for certain that the discussion on this thread will finally get everyone going in the same direction. OH wait we have had this same discussion every year that TOTV has been online. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm

Some subjects on this forum bear repeating. There are new members who may benefit.

The title of this thread makes it clear it is about roundabouts so those informed on the subject may not waste time reading.

There are longtime members for whom a friendly reminder wouldn't hurt.

I hope he was kidding about the barriers... lol

I follow the posted signs, of course I'm normally going north to south through the roundabouts anyway. So either lane works for that :) I look at it this way...you don't know how to drive them, hope you're insured if you hit me. Go to the Villages district site and study up on how to drive them...they got a nice little brochure there for you incase the signage isn't clear enough.

Slow or Glacial?:duck:

If You Can Use Either Lane Then What About This?
 

Lane Surfing in roundabouts
 

Roundabout are dangerous and you always have to keep your eyes open.

I believe they are doing this to cut down on the tire wear that roundabouts cause. I have over heard conversations at some the tire stores that the roundabouts are causing tires to wear out before their time.

The first rule of navigating RABs is the vehicle entering gives way to the vehicle in the RAB. In your example the vehicle entering from the east must allow the northbound vehicle to exit from the left lane as it already occupies it. He should not enter until the northbound vehicle has passed.

Lack of observing the rules in your example are a big reason there are collisions in the RABs.

Your decision to always use the right lane is a wise one.

Probably a good idea to avoid any streets that have a cross street with a stop sign because if someone runs the stop sign you might get hit. Same thing with streets with a traffic light. Someone going thru a red light might run into you even if the light is green in your direction.

That makes for a lot of places I can't go!

Going straight is fine, but in your example, if the person coming from the east is stupid enough to hit you in the left lane by not yeilding to your right of way, what makes you think he won't hit you if you are in the right lane?

sigh.

(I think staying in the right lane for straight through makes a lot of sense.)

Please explain to me why a driver can not go 3/4 of the way around the RAB in the right lane if all cars waiting to enter the RAB yield to the car going 3/4 of the way around. I'm on my 4th season here and I'm still trying to understand why this is such a no no. If all cars stagger with one another while in the RAB and if all cars yield to cars already in the RAB, how can an accident occur?

Because.......

1) It's the law it's not a suggestion.

2) A car traveling in the same direction as you can enter alongside of you in the left lane and go halfway around and go straight.

3) There is no law that requires cars to stagger.

Just follow the instructions on the signs.

OK. Look at this common scenario. Two cars side by side waiting to enter the RAB. Traffic clears and both cars enter the roundabout in their respective lanes. The one in the left lane intends to go straight through, which is permitted. The one on the right intends to go 3/4 of the way around, which is prohibited and which you feel should be OK. Guess what happens halfway around the RAB. The car in the left lane is blocked by the car in the right lane cutting in front and, unless that driver anticipates someone doing the wrong thing, there is a collision. That's why the right lane can only go right or straight ahead. The signs are clear.

To use the example of a regular intersection, what you are doing is making a left turn from the right lane. Definitely a no-no.

It's a no-no to stay in the right lane all the way around the circle. You run the risk of T-boning a car that is properly using the left lane and making a right exit.

If the above 75+ posts don't help you understand how to drive in a roundabout, here are hundreds more........................BTW they all say the same thing.



https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...uestion-65256/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...d-bouts-56807/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-56058/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...t-signs-48589/

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/fo...dabouts-45264/