[msendo]

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.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by CFrance

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.

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.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by mikeod

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!)

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.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by msendo

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.

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.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Chazz

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.

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?)

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by Ooper

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

[Chazz]

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?)

Beautiful in its simplicity!

[Ooper]

Originally Posted by JoeC1947

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

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

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by Ooper

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.

[2 Oldcrabs]

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.

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by Chazz

Beautiful in its simplicity!

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?)

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Ooper

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

Oops. Double post.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Ooper

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

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by CFrance

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.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Ooper

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

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.