[Duvalboomer]

Roundabouts are not any different than a normal 4 lane road (two lanes in each direction) if you are going straight you can do that from either lane, if you are turning right you need to be in the right lane of the roundabout, if you are making a left you need to be in the left lane. The problem comes when people are in the right lane and (make a left) travel 3/4 of the way around the roundabout, this is the same as making a left from the right lane

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by annaconner

Most sensible advice was given a few days ago - left hand lane for turning left, right hand lane for turning right. Both lanes can be used for straight through traffic unless otherwise directed on a sign or the road

This is correct until for the 15th time, you correctly enter the left lane at 6:00 planning to go straight and exit at 12:00, but some doofus enters the right lane at 6:00 beside or just behind you and at 1:00 decides to speed left in front of you t-bone style, to turn left (exit at 3:00), just as you're about to exit at 12.

It is a heart stopper!!

The only way to avoid that is to use the right lane to go straight, but that doesn't always prevent it either.

[Bogie Shooter]

All roundabout threads are like an echo............the posts just keep repeating.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Lauren Sweeny

I came up with idea to help guide my husband ( the driver) where we needed to exit while in the roundabout.
Look at the roundabout as if it was a clock face. The car is always going in at the 6 o'clock position. You can describe the place to turn (or exit ) as being 9 , or twelve or 3 o 'clock. I hope this helps.

I said this several times on this forum. People talk about right and left turns. All cars exiting a round-a-bout are making a right turn.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by hampton

I believe the safe answer for entering and exiting roundabouts should be that all roundabouts be one lane only that way there would be no issue with people turning in front of you to make an exit.

That would never work for too many reasons. But we don't even have to discuss it here because the fact of the matter is that every round-a-bout here is two lanes. That is what we have to deal with. Wishing for something that's never going to happen isn't going to help anyone.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

The first rule about roundabout safety has to be: DO NOT CHANGE LANES ONCE YOU'RE IN the roundabout.

Twice yesterday, while going north on Morse Blvd between Havana and the bridge across the lake to 466, people beside me in the roundabout decided to change lanes once in there, because apparently they "discovered" they wanted to exit at 9 o'clock after choosing the right lane when entering at 6 o'clock.

If I had not been watching them to see they were clueless, I'd have been killed before getting the chance to see the second doofus do that.

One of them was driving the most oversized, black Lincoln SUV that's so big and high off the ground that it could have run right over me in my car if I'd not been watching like a hawk so I could get out of their way. This person (who'd been creeping along like a little old lady) could not have maneuvered a tiny Smart Car safely, much less that giant truck.

Not true. There are broken lines within the round-a-bout. Changing lanes is perfectly legal and can be done safely just as if you are on a straight road. The rules for a round-a-bout are not different than for that of a straight road.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

This is correct until for the 15th time, you correctly enter the left lane at 6:00 planning to go straight and exit at 12:00, but some doofus enters the right lane at 6:00 beside or just behind you and at 1:00 decides to speed left in front of you t-bone style, to turn left (exit at 3:00), just as you're about to exit at 12. It is a heart stopper!!

The only way to avoid that is to use the right lane to go straight, but that doesn't always prevent it either.

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

I said this several times on this forum. People talk about right and left turns. All cars exiting a round-a-bout are making a right turn.

Originally Posted by ilovetv

The first rule about roundabout safety has to be: DO NOT CHANGE LANES ONCE YOU'RE IN the roundabout.

Twice yesterday, while going north on Morse Blvd between Havana and the bridge across the lake to 466, people beside me in the roundabout decided to change lanes once in there, because apparently they "discovered" they wanted to exit at 9 o'clock after choosing the right lane when entering at 6 o'clock.

If I had not been watching them to see they were clueless, I'd have been killed before getting the chance to see the second doofus do that.

One of them was driving the most oversized, black Lincoln SUV that's so big and high off the ground that it could have run right over me in my car if I'd not been watching like a hawk so I could get out of their way. This person (who'd been creeping along like a little old lady) could not have maneuvered a tiny Smart Car safely, much less that giant truck.

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Not true. There are broken lines within the round-a-bout. Changing lanes is perfectly legal and can be done safely just as if you are on a straight road. The rules for a round-a-bout are not different than for that of a straight road.

If seasoned and experienced Villagers can't agree on the roundabout rules, how can we expect visitors and short-term renters to get it right?

Bottom line, if we all drive defensively and with extreme caution, all will be good.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Not true. There are broken lines within the round-a-bout. Changing lanes is perfectly legal and can be done safely just as if you are on a straight road. The rules for a round-a-bout are not different than for that of a straight road.

According to the sheriff, changing lanes within a roundabout is not kosher. Those broken lines are placed to let you know that a car (within the roundabout) is allowed to cross the "flow" of traffic. ie.; You are inside lane exiting at noon. Car enters from 3:00 intending to exit at your 9:00 (his noon). If your white line was solid all the way through your flow to noon, it would imply that no one was to cross that line. Yet, of course, the guy that entered from your right needs to cross that line, so it is broken.

There is not room or time to change lanes within the roundabout and you can be ticketed for doing so.

[ilovetv]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

Not true. There are broken lines within the round-a-bout. Changing lanes is perfectly legal and can be done safely just as if you are on a straight road. The rules for a round-a-bout are not different than for that of a straight road.

NO. Look at the Roundabout Brochure by Sumter County:

On the first page of the color brochure, left-hand column, under "Navigating Roundabouts"...

In red ink it says: "Do not change lanes in a roundabout."

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

[Mikeod]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

NO. Look at the Roundabout Brochure by Sumter County:

On the first page of the color brochure, left-hand column, under "Navigating Roundabouts"...

In red ink it says: "Do not change lanes in a roundabout."

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

I agree. IMO the lane markings within the roundabout are a problem themselves. The best way to navigate is to follow the signs posted before the roundabout and paraphrased in several posts. Left lane for straight through and left turn. Right lane for straight through or right turn. If you follow those rules and yield to ALL traffic in the roundabout to your left ( that means not pulling into the outside lane beside a car already in the roundabout in the inside lane) you'll be fine.

And referring to exiting the roundabout as a right turn just adds to the confusion out there. Exiting is just exiting.

[Bogie Shooter]

Even more about roundabouts.

[DonH57]

It's Roundabout day here in The Villages.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by ilovetv

NO. Look at the Roundabout Brochure by Sumter County:

On the first page of the color brochure, left-hand column, under "Navigating Roundabouts"...

In red ink it says: "Do not change lanes in a roundabout."

http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf

Well, The Villages can put whatever they want into their brochures. Here is a statement copied from the Florida Motor Vehicle Code:

Broken White Line
A broken white line separates two lanes traveling in the same direction. Once you have signaled, and if it is safe to do so, you may cross this line when changing lanes.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by mikeod

I agree. IMO the lane markings within the roundabout are a problem themselves. The best way to navigate is to follow the signs posted before the roundabout and paraphrased in several posts. Left lane for straight through and left turn. Right lane for straight through or right turn. If you follow those rules and yield to ALL traffic in the roundabout to your left ( that means not pulling into the outside lane beside a car already in the roundabout in the inside lane) you'll be fine.

And referring to exiting the roundabout as a right turn just adds to the confusion out there. Exiting is just exiting.

Bingo! Make this a traffic sticky.

[Wandatime]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

I agree that in a perfect world, people unfamiliar to roundabouts would educate themselves. In our world, that probably won't happen. Especially with monthly renters or visitors, who are often in a rush. No use complaining. All we can do is drive defensively and always expect sudden inexplicable moves.

Exactly. I told my husband when we moved here that, in order to avoid an accident, assume everyone is either an idiot or feel they are entitled to your lane. In other words, drive defensively. Very defensively. I'd rather cede the road and avoid an accident than be right and have a mangled car.