[baustgen]

So, use the visitors gate. It's free.

[Challenger]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

I shutter at the thought of the unmitigated horror that would be stop signs on BVB or Morse

I like Round Abouts as opposed to perpendiculay intersections, controlled by stop signs or stop lights.

Yes you must be alert. You need to scan your mirrors , follow the basic rules and use common sense.

Intersections waste massive amounts of fuel, make serious high speed head on and Tbone collisions possible .

I vote for the circles

[KathieI]

Originally Posted by Challenger

I like Round Abouts as opposed to perpendiculay intersections, controlled by stop signs or stop lights.

Yes you must be alert. You need to scan your mirrors , follow the basic rules and use common sense.

Intersections waste massive amounts of fuel, make serious high speed head on and Tbone collisions possible .

I vote for the circles

Me too,,, and as far as your eyes darting around to make sure some idiot isn't going to slam into you when they are in the wrong,,, that's the way it is in big city driving. You always must be alert and on the defensive and anticipate what the next guy will be doing.

We all know that many people do not know what the word "Yield" means, so if they don't, I do and I slow down for them. Big deal... Better than a fender bender.

I think traffic lights and stop signs are not necessarily the answer, look how many accidents we have on the corner of Morse and 466A. It goes on and on.....

Roundabouts are so much more attractive with all the flowers and foliage than having a huge ugly traffic light or 4 way stop sign that no one understands how to get through.

[justjim]

I can't even come up with an "educated guess" to how many dollars I've spent in gasoline waiting for a traffic light to change. The roundabouts make "cents" (dollars) to me.

[kittygilchrist]

Can we refocus on the topic of danger getting from the left lane into the resident gate lane? Roundabouts aren't likely to change.
That leaves just us drivers to do the best we can.

As for me, if I'm negotiating a turn into a Village gate where I'm supposed to approach from the left lane, I will stay in the left lane and use the visitor gate. That's such a simple solution it seems it should go without saying.

[ScottRAB]

What do the lane use signs approaching the roundabout say. All motorists entering a modern roundabout must yield to all motorists in the circulatory roadway, both lanes. If you are on the inside lane and making a left turn, then you should be able to complete the left turn to exit. If the exit does not have two lanes, then the inside lane should taper out as you go around so it becomes the outside lane as you approach your 'left turn' exit.

[DDoug]

What gets me is when someone stops in the circle to let the other traffic go. Also I have always said these circles are to small diameter to be used properly. But I do agree just go in either side the card works both.

[dewilson58]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Can we refocus on the topic of danger getting from the left lane into the resident gate lane? Roundabouts aren't likely to change.
That leaves just us drivers to do the best we can.

As for me, if I'm negotiating a turn into a Village gate where I'm supposed to approach from the left lane, I will stay in the left lane and use the visitor gate. That's such a simple solution it seems it should go without saying.

Looks like you answered your own OP.

Nothing is perfect.

Defensive driving is always good.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

...As for me, if I'm negotiating a turn into a Village gate where I'm supposed to approach from the left lane, I will stay in the left lane and use the visitor gate. That's such a simple solution it seems it should go without saying.

Agree, Kitty. And to paraphrase what I believe George Carlin once said...it goes without saying. That's the reason I'm saying it. ;^)

[Bogie Shooter]

Can we agree that the roundabouts are what they are and are not going to change?

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

The following was confirmed yesterday by a Sumter Deputy: There is a problem with design of roundabout exits into to Village gates that makes one particular maneuver impossible to safely and legally perform.

To follow using a diagram, click the brochure below and follow using the right side diagram. Let's say you are a resident entering the traffic circle in the car that is lowest on the diagram, intending to turn left (taking the 3rd exit)...

So you are in the proper lane, the inside lane. As you approach the 3rd exit, you see that the inside lane carries you to the visitor gate. But you are a resident. How can you change lanes against traffic that may be merging behind you?

My answer is you can't without violating lane change rules and crossing the path of oncoming drivers. In those situations, I use the visitor gate. I've had several near crashes. The deputy said that when there is a crash, "I try to figure out who's at fault." throws his hands in the air; gives a wry chuckle...what else can he do..

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

That is exactly what I thought the first time I encountered those two lane round-a-bouts! They really should be single lane! No one in the Villages needs to be in that big of a rush.

[xkeowner]

I have lived overseas in countries with roundabouts for ten years of my life and they are a significantly more effective method to keep traffic moving versus stop lights/signs. The problem is with the residents here never being properly trained in navigating them and a County Commisioner's brochure designed to protect us from ourselves rather than effectively move traffic under the guidelines followed elsewhere. First note that most TV roundabout lanes are separated by dashed lines. This should be standardized at all roundabouts but is not, adding to the confusion. In all other locations I have been changing lanes within a roundabout is not only permitted, but encouraged. The same cautions and rules apply as changing lanes on a straight stretch of road (check lane, signal, etc.). To exit from the center lane to the residents lane move over safely using a turn signal to the outside lane as you pass the second exit. One must be be cautious of others incorrectly continuing all the way around the outside lane and also of drivers entering the roundabout rather than yielding to vehicles already in the roundabout.

Let the attacks begin.

[ajbrown]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Can we refocus on the topic of danger getting from the left lane into the resident gate lane? Roundabouts aren't likely to change.
That leaves just us drivers to do the best we can.

As for me, if I'm negotiating a turn into a Village gate where I'm supposed to approach from the left lane, I will stay in the left lane and use the visitor gate. That's such a simple solution it seems it should go without saying.

Your approach seems logical and is one of their best practices, so hard to argue with that. My question is who are you concerned about merging with after exiting round about?

From my experience I have never had an issue merging to the resident gate lane. As I posted earlier, there should be NO CAR in that right lane to merge with if I have safely exited the roundabout to a Village with gates.

No argument here, just trying to understand where you see the issue?

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Can we agree that the roundabouts are what they are and are not going to change?

Yes. And the roundabout lovers, of course, win. They're not going away (that would be the roundabouts, not the lovers). But can we agree that us roundabout haters who lose get to b**** ad nauseum? Because we will, every time the subject comes up.

Right, Bonanza?

[slipcovers]

Originally Posted by TNLAKEPANDA

That is exactly what I thought the first time I encountered those two lane round-a-bouts! They really should be single lane! No one in the Villages needs to be in that big of a rush.

I totally agree, they should be 1 lane. I have a large roundabout near me and I have watched how it works smoothly. Every car enters 1 lane, yielding, and exits smoothly on right. In TV there are small circles with 2 lanes. For instance, I usually go north on BV from 466a, go 3/4 around to take a right into St Charles. If I am supposed to be in the left lane, I have to cross over quickly to the right lane to enter St Charles. If I am going straight on BV, I am supposed to be in the right lane. It would be safer to stay in the right lane and go 3/4 around, right into St. Charles.

Cars today have blind spots, head rests, and slop up in the back, which makes it differcult to see oncoming traffic.