[coffeebean]

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?

[JoeC1947]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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?

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.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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?

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.

[Bogie Shooter]

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.



Roundabout question

Who knows how to drive on the round-a-bouts?

roundabouts

New Roundabout Signs

More on Roundabouts

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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?

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by mikeod

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.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by CFrance

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. Inside the crazy Arc de Triomphe roundabout in Paris Shocking Traffic - YouTube 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.

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.

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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.

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.

[CarGuys]

Originally Posted by OldDave

Cannot have a roundabout discussion without me. OK, I'm done.

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by CarGuys

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.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by buzzy

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.

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.

[Chazz]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

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!

[tzangrilli]

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..

[mickey100]

Originally Posted by tzangrilli

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.