[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by VillagesFlorida

I agree totally! The Villages is NOT the place for roundabouts. Too many of us have neck and shoulder problems that prevent us from turning our heads quickly to check for traffic. Eyesight can be diminished by now and some will even be experiencing much slower reaction times while driving. This is an elderly community, no matter how many of us do not feel old. Why was no thought given to how confusing a roundabout can be for seniors? Why is there a "left lane" in a roundabout when there is never a "left turn"? Perhaps roundabouts work in other parts of the world or in areas where there isn't an elderly population. Expecting a group of people, whose average age is over 66, to be able to navigate through these 2-lane circles is unrealistic. Add in the many, many visitors who come here every year who are not familiar with our streets, let alone roundabouts. Add in the "locals" AND residents whose mission it is to get from one area in The Villages to another in the shortest possible time. When I look at the big picture I see nothing but a recipe for disaster. If there HAD to be roundabouts here one lane would have been sufficient and would have prevented many, many of the accidents and near-misses we are experiencing every day. How easy it would be if all we had to do was yield to those in the roundabout and enter when it is safe to do so. All vehicles would be in the one and only "right lane" so there would be no cutting off as drivers try to exit from a left lane. The crux of the roundabout problem boils down to one main issue: Having a left lane when there are NO left turns, anywhere. I am no engineer but this makes absolutely no sense to me. All roundabouts need to be reworked to eliminate the left lane. We all would feel a whole lot safer and our visitors and guests would have a much easier time driving in this community. I realize from reading the many posts here that some residents feel that roundabouts are not a problem. They are a huge problem when you consider the age of our population and the fact that this is a retirement community. If you are lucky enough to have the reflexes, eyesight, and mental capacity that you had at 30 you are very fortunate and you are in a very tiny minority. The fact is that most of us are dealing with the problems of aging. Putting us in a roundabout, in a left lane that leads to no left turn is asking for accidents and injuries.

The roundabouts are not going to be changed. The two lanes were a county requirement due to the density of the development. Roundabouts are increasing around the country. There are just a few basic tenets to negotiating a roundabout.

1.. Entering: Enter a roundabout in the proper lane for the direction you will be heading. Right lane for right turn or straight (continuing on the current road). Left lane for continuing or turning left (3rd exit). Same as a regular intersection. Never enter a roundabout when there is traffic to your left, even if one lane is clear. Always approach a roundabout with the expectation you will have to yield, not that you will yield only if you absolutely have to.

2. In the roundabout: Do not change lanes except to exit at the third exit, which usually requires crossing the outside lane. Use your signals in case someone doesn't follow the rules above. Your side mirror is your friend.

3. Take it slow and watch for the other guy. Just basic defensive driving.

[buzzy]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

5/4% of people don't understand fractions.

That's a real gem.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

In the past I've seen lots of people (in the right hand lane) make that 3/4 left on me and I'm careful to look for it. But tonight someone made a 1/4 right on me from the inside lane. Took all my willpower not to intentionally drive him into oncoming traffic!!

From now on I enter alone!

How did you get that close to the offending driver? Yield?

[HelenLCSW]

Originally Posted by mikeod

The roundabouts are not going to be changed. The two lanes were a county requirement due to the density of the development. Roundabouts are increasing around the country. There are just a few basic tenets to negotiating a roundabout.

1.. Entering: Enter a roundabout in the proper lane for the direction you will be heading. Right lane for right turn or straight (continuing on the current road). Left lane for continuing or turning left (3rd exit). Same as a regular intersection. Never enter a roundabout when there is traffic to your left, even if one lane is clear. Always approach a roundabout with the expectation you will have to yield, not that you will yield only if you absolutely have to.

2. In the roundabout: Do not change lanes except to exit at the third exit, which usually requires crossing the outside lane. Use your signals in case
someone doesn't follow the rules above. Your side mirror is your friend.

3. Take it slow and watch for the other guy. Just basic defensive driving.

Good advice

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by mikeod

The roundabouts are not going to be changed. The two lanes were a county requirement due to the density of the development. Roundabouts are increasing around the country. There are just a few basic tenets to negotiating a roundabout.

1.. Entering: Enter a roundabout in the proper lane for the direction you will be heading. Right lane for right turn or straight (continuing on the current road). Left lane for continuing or turning left (3rd exit). Same as a regular intersection. Never enter a roundabout when there is traffic to your left, even if one lane is clear. Always approach a roundabout with the expectation you will have to yield, not that you will yield only if you absolutely have to.

2. In the roundabout: Do not change lanes except to exit at the third exit, which usually requires crossing the outside lane. Use your signals in case someone doesn't follow the rules above. Your side mirror is your friend.

3. Take it slow and watch for the other guy. Just basic defensive driving.

Hundreds of views and posts regarding roundabouts and it comes to this.
A very simple and understandable explanation. All the other offerings are a waste of time. Good Job!

[Halle]

Originally Posted by mikeod

The roundabouts are not going to be changed. The two lanes were a county requirement due to the density of the development. Roundabouts are increasing around the country. There are just a few basic tenets to negotiating a roundabout.

1.. Entering: Enter a roundabout in the proper lane for the direction you will be heading. Right lane for right turn or straight (continuing on the current road). Left lane for continuing or turning left (3rd exit). Same as a regular intersection. Never enter a roundabout when there is traffic to your left, even if one lane is clear. Always approach a roundabout with the expectation you will have to yield, not that you will yield only if you absolutely have to.

2. In the roundabout: Do not change lanes except to exit at the third exit, which usually requires crossing the outside lane. Use your signals in case someone doesn't follow the rules above. Your side mirror is your friend.

3. Take it slow and watch for the other guy. Just basic defensive driving.

Very easy to understand, now if we can just convince people to follow the rules and not do what feels right to them even if it is against the rules.

[Russ_Boston]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

How did you get that close to the offending driver? Yield?

We entered the roundabout (when clear) together. He immediately took the first right from the inside lane (a no -no - see Mike's great explanation above if you are not sure). That's why I said I'll enter alone from now on. Let the other guy go first.

[collie1228]

I know I'm repeating myself as I've made this point before, but why would anyone want to use the left lane in the roundabout if they are going straight ahead (continuing on the same road)? I know the rules say either left or right lanes are optional in that situation, but I always stay in the right lane when going straight ahead. This way I never have to worry about anyone to my right as long as I've yielded to any other vehicle in the circle. I find my biggest problems with roundabouts is that I don't always pay enough attention to my speed when entering. When I'm paying attention my speed at entrance, I never seem to have any problem negotiating them.

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by collie1228

I know I'm repeating myself as I've made this point before, but why would anyone want to use the left lane in the roundabout if they are going straight ahead (continuing on the same road)? I know the rules say either left or right lanes are optional in that situation, but I always stay in the right lane when going straight ahead. This way I never have to worry about anyone to my right as long as I've yielded to any other vehicle in the circle. I find my biggest problems with roundabouts is that I don't always pay enough attention to my speed when entering. When I'm paying attention my speed at entrance, I never seem to have any problem negotiating them.

I agree. I usually try to be in the right lane if I'm going straight so I won't have to worry about someone trying to exit at the third exit (a left turn). However, especially when going south there sometimes are cars filling the right lane and I can't safely get over to the right before the roundabout. Then I usually slow so the car to my right is in front and I can make sure they are also going straight or hit the brakes if they cut in front of me.

I will admit that roundabouts require a little forethought as you approach.

[Russ_Boston]

I was in the right hand lane when entering and the guy I entered with went dead right at the first exit! If entering with someone else you just have to assume that they have no idea!

[EdV]

Originally Posted by cappyjon431

ALWAYS be on the lookout, but just remember: 5/4% of people don't understand fractions.

I think you've underestimated here. 5/4% of 80,000 is only 1000.

[cappyjon431]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

I think you've underestimated here. 5/4% of 80,000 is only 1000.

Oops. I think I accidently included the percent sign.

[getdul981]

Originally Posted by EdVinMass

I think you've underestimated here. 5/4% of 80,000 is only 1000.

Sooo, you're saying that 395/4% actually DO understand fractions???

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

I was in the right hand lane when entering and the guy I entered with went dead right at the first exit! If entering with someone else you just have to assume that they have no idea!

Boston driver?

I remember Joe Green (in his flying machine) on WBZ radio wanting to drop balloons with red paint on some of the idiots he saw on the Southeast "distressway" many years ago. I still like that concept. When you see a car with red paint all over it, stay away!

[Longrider49]

Originally Posted by brostholder

The two biggest problems that I have noticed are 1)the people who want to make a left and feel the best way to do it is to go three-quarters around in the right lane, and 2)the people who are just entering the roundabout and intend to go straight from the right lane and don't understand that the car they see already in the roundabout in the left lane is going to exit. When entering, one should yield to cars in the right AND left lanes!

This is one of the biggest infractions I have noted. Again I reiterate passing in the roundabout itself is probably ill advised.