Be thankful you are not driving in one of the big European cities built around plazas or squares, with five or more streets feeding into a roundabout. If you don't know which lane feeds to which street, you could be driving around in there for weeks. On top of that, in some of them the rule is that people in the RAB must yield to anyone entering the RAB. You can watch this in action from the top of the Arche de Triomphe. [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BliGIPQ_KHc]Inside the crazy Arc de Triomphe roundabout in Paris Shocking Traffic - YouTube[/ame] Frequently the result is... anarchy.

TV's roundabouts are pretty easy once you think of it as an intersection. I was a skeptic at first, but now I'm a believer.

I understand what you have said. However...if both of those cars who entered the RAB at the same time in different lanes staggered one another, how can an accident occur? Let's see how this would work...

Car in the inside lane slows down so is staggered with the car in the outside lane. Car in the outside lane is now ahead of the car in the inside lane. Car in the inside lane exits the RAB and the car in the outside proceeds to the next exit and leave the RAB.

OK...let's do that the other way around so the car in the outside lane slows down to stagger with the car in the inside lane. The car in the inside lane is now ahead of the car in the outside lane. The car in the inside lane exits the RAB to go straight and is ahead of the car in the outside lane. The car in the outside lane exits at the third exit after the car in the inside lane has already made his exit.

My whole point and understanding of how to remain safe in these RABs is that you must stagger with any other car in the RAB. NEVER drive side by side with another car and you should avoid any accident no matter if you exit at the first, second or third exit while driving in the outside lane.

Thanks for posting the video. I noticed the lanes are not marked in the road. How is that possibly safe to navigate? Don't think I'll be driving there.

This leaves too much up to chance. Since the drivers can't talk to each other, it's uncertain who is going to fall back. On the other hand, the existing rule is clear, and would always work if both drivers adhered to it.

my turn to get hit
 

I got hit this week by a lane changer. Knew it was a matter of time. Cut right in behind me without looking

Lucky just tapped the rear bumper and the scuff mark rubbed out.

I didn't think it was legal to change lanes while in the RAB. That seems dangerous to me. Good you are OK and not much damage to your vehicle.

I always fall back and will not allow another car to drive along side of me. I also do not ever enter a RAB at the same time as another car. I will always let the other car enter first and will motion to the driver to proceed before me. I drive very defensively while entering, driving in and exiting the RABs.

I don't allow another car to drive along side of me on the open road either. I will always either speed up or fall back so I am not in someone's blind spot.

You give a "GOOD" name to Jersey drivers! :clap2:

The design of traffic circles is fine, it's drivers that cause the problems. It doesn't matter if there are 10 cars or 0 cars in the circle, it is wrong to turn left from the right lane and wrong to turn right from the left lane ---- period..

You are correct. There is nothing left to say. These people who get in the right lane and go 3/4 of the way around the traffic circle are turning left from the right lane. They are a menace. I just don't get how people think its okay to do that. What rationale can they possibly have? In any event, I think the only way to stop such stupidity is a police presence at some of the worst roundabouts. Buena Vista and Camino Real comes to mind. Getting a ticket is something they might be able to grasp.

Sorry but must disagree. The circles are not configured like a normal divided road intersection. Of coarse, I would NEVER turn left from the right lane or make a right turn from the left lane on a regular roadway where the cross roads are perpendicular to each other. That is a sure way to have an accident.

The RABs here in TV has the driver veering to the right to exit all the time. Making a "left turn" from the right lane is not like making a left turn from the right lane at a normal intersection. In the RABs, even in the inner lane which in all intents and purposes is the "left" lane, the driver turns his wheel to the right to exit the RAB.

I have tried, (oh, have I tried) to enter the RAB in the inside lane at the Duval gate after heading north on Buena Vista. I make a "left turn" from Buena Vista but I have a devil of a time to move to the right lane after I've exited the RAB. There is such a short distance with the dotted line to cross to the right lane to go through the resident gate that it is very dangerous for me to try. If I don't change lanes in the dotted line area, I would have to cross over a solid white line. That is illegal too. I live in Duval so this is a daily occurrence for me.

I have observed over and over, folks approaching the Duval gate from northbound Buena Vista from the outer lane in the RAB. My husband always enters the RAB in the inside lane to make the "left turn" but he always crosses the solid white line move to the right lane for the resident entry. Either way, I guess we are both wrong.

I have to agree with the highlighted part of coffeebean's post. It is the law, so that's how I make a "left" turn, but several times I have encountered people coming up to the RAB and turning right, cutting me off when I'm about to make my turn. I think because I'm in the inside lane, they think I am continuing around the circle, when in fact, they have no clue what I'm about to do, and they're supposed to yield coming into to a RAB but don't.

Someone suggested using the visitor lane to go through a gate in that instance, so you don't have to cross over the white lines coffeebean is talking about. Can you use a card in the visitor lane? I would do that at the St. James entrance, which I use every day, if I didn't have to stop and push a button to get someone to buzz me through.

There is a card reader for the visitor lane at unmanned gates. It usually is farther from the gate than the resident one. At the manned gates, the attendant will let you through without the need to push a button.

The ones that cut off your exit from the inside lane are entering the RAB incorrectly. No one should enter the RAB if there is a vehicle coming from the left in either lane.

The Duval gate is a manned gate. I do not want to go through the visitor side because I do not want to stop for the gate person each time.

Thanks for that info. I think that will be my plan from now on...use the visitor lane at St. James and watch out at the manned gates.

And watch out for coffeebean because she is doing it her way regardless of the rules. Good thing the majority of drivers obey the rules of the road or TV would look like a demolition derby!

Unfortunately a lot of drivers have a preconceived idea of what they think the rules should be and cannot be convinced otherwise. They will cite some situation that they think will support their position. If only they would take the time to obtain the brochure, study it until they understand it then follow the directions. It is not very difficult to do it right and certainly a lot safer for all of us.

That's a good point. Unless and until you can effect a law change, comply with it.

After traveling south on Morse, I make a "left turn" from the inner lane in the RAB and always use the visitors side of the unmanned gate to the entrance of Hemmingway. I will use the inner lane in the RABs when it doesn't jeopardize my exit from the RAB.

I don't know if you've noticed but there are plenty of drivers who also use the outside lane to go 3/4 of the way around the RAB after heading south on Buena Vista to go through the Duval gate. Park yourself outside the Duval gate on Buena Vista and you will see what I mean.

I'm a much safer driver than most folks around here. I have my car mirrors set so I have NO blind spots at all. There are several videos on YouTube demonstrating how to set your mirrors this way. I've had my mirrors set like this for a couple of years now and it feels like I have eyes in the back of my head all the time without ever having to crane my neck around to see if there is anyone in my blind spot. I have no blind spots in my car. This works REALLY well for the RABs.

Does that mean you will sometimes be using the outer lane to make a left-hand turn? What color car do you drive?

I have had my mirrors set up this way for ten years. And yes, it's a great aid. I still think it's unsafe to go 3/4 the way around in the right-hand lane. You may have eyes in the back of your head with this mirror set-up, but you nevertheless can't be looking in more than one direction at one time.

Plus... it's the traffic law. It's set up to keep everyone safe, not just one driver.

•2012 Florida Driver's Handbook - Florida Providers for Traffic Safety
http://www.fpts.us/documents/Florida...r_Handbook.pdf
5.15 -Roundabouts
Roundabouts are circular intersections with no traffic signal which improve traffic flow and reduce traffic
crashes. Roundabouts slow vehicle speed, give drivers more time to judge and react to other vehicles or
pedestrians. Drivers entering the roundabout must yield to traffic already in the circle and are directed in
one-way, counterclockwise direction. For multi-lane roundabouts, stay in the left lane to turn left and the right
lane to turn right, and all lanes to go through, unless otherwise directed by signs or pavement markings.
Stay in your lane within the roundabout and use your right turn signal to indicate your intention to exit.
Prior to entering or exiting the roundabout, drivers must yield to pedestrians in the crosswalks. Bicyclists
may take the lane in the roundabout, or use the sidewalk.

Attachment 9977

This is REALLY scary....................

On a positive note, I learned to go to Youtube and find out how to set my side mirrors correctly to avoid blind spots!:bowdown:

I'm giving up coffee!:ohdear:

Nah....not as scary as you think. I'm seasonal so I'm driving in TV during the winter months which is the busy season. The Duval gate is very quiet, much quieter than the RABs close to LSL or any of the busier RABs. I do abide by the law and use the inside lane to make a "left turn"when I'm navigating the busy RABs. No worries.

Guess that explains it all....................

stupidity knows no boundaries. this is also what you call a 'road hog'

I have experienced the same thing quite often. Especially on Buena Vista

Good post, Jerry. There is an interesting and important statement which bears attention and I highlighted it. The pavement markings are significant in those RAB's where the exit route is one lane. Please note there is no mention of lane changing in the RAB. However the pavement markings control lane changes.

Be careful, alert and STAGGER.

good roundabout thread, now over 100 posts and counting......................

It seems to be of interest to a lot of people. If just one of the posts clears up one persons misunderstanding it will have served its purpose well.

If only it would work that way. The posts are all opinions and each is a different way to get around. Some are totally wrong and if followed, one could end up in a bad accident.
It has been said many times before, on this and other threads. Just follow the signs that are posted before you enter the roundabout. How darn simple is that???

Apparently, from the many posts on the subject, not that simple in practice.

My objective in starting this post was to prompt a dialogue on the subject. Not just on the forum, but outside in everyday conversations. Hopefully, this will cause people to think about what they are doing, and maybe make a positive change. At least that is the hope.

Maybe you should look at the other threads on this topic. It has been dailogued to death.

Thanks for the suggestion. Judging from the activity, there is some dialogue still left in this subject,

It just happens to be the same dialogue over and over.................kinda like a dog poop thread.

To the moment, I count 9 posts by you, on this message thread. If you want it to die, which is clear to me, why are you promoting it with your postings on such a "dead" subject?

Its my job.