[Two Bills]

This song should be the anthem for roundabout threads on TOTV.

"There must be some way out of here"
Said the joker to the thief
"There's too much confusion
I can't get no relief"
Bob Dylan

Or.

Round round, get around
I get around
Yeah
(Get around round round, I get around)
I get around
(Get around round ..................
Beach Boys.

[Byte1]

This is getting funny. Apparently, if you are entering the circle to go straight and you are in the right lane, if a car already in the circle that might wish to make a right turn right after you enter, may do so and you are wrong if you hit him crossing in front of you. What crazy thinking came up with that kind of idea? ANyone crossing in front of me from the left lane to make a right turn and causes an accident better be able to explain that in court, because common sense says that you do not cross in front of anyone that's going straight in order for you to turn. I do not care what diagram is posted on a sign, that's just not common sense. Take the circle out and make it a four way stop. Right lane will go straight or turn right and left lane will go straight or turn left, period. I said we should have one lane in circles but folks thought that would make it too difficult to maneuver with two lanes entering and exiting the circle. No one is ever going to agree on how the circles must be traversed, so just get rid of them. Common sense says that the car in the right lane should always have the right of way when making a right turn. Going straight is still making a right turn from a circle and going in the left direction is still making a right turn from the circle. If you do not think so, try using your left turn signal when leaving the circle and see what happens. The only/ONLY way to make a left turn from these circles is if you traversed the circle going the wrong way (counter-clockwise). If you think you are right and attempt to make a turn in front of the car in the right lane that is going past your turn, then be prepared to visit the body shop (if you are lucky).

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Byte1

This is getting funny. Apparently, if you are entering the circle to go straight and you are in the right lane, if a car already in the circle that might wish to make a right turn right after you enter, may do so and you are wrong if you hit him crossing in front of you. What crazy thinking came up with that kind of idea? ANyone crossing in front of me from the left lane to make a right turn and causes an accident better be able to explain that in court, because common sense says that you do not cross in front of anyone that's going straight in order for you to turn. I do not care what diagram is posted on a sign, that's just not common sense. Take the circle out and make it a four way stop. Right lane will go straight or turn right and left lane will go straight or turn left, period. I said we should have one lane in circles but folks thought that would make it too difficult to maneuver with two lanes entering and exiting the circle. No one is ever going to agree on how the circles must be traversed, so just get rid of them. Common sense says that the car in the right lane should always have the right of way when making a right turn. Going straight is still making a right turn from a circle and going in the left direction is still making a right turn from the circle. If you do not think so, try using your left turn signal when leaving the circle and see what happens. The only/ONLY way to make a left turn from these circles is if you traversed the circle going the wrong way (counter-clockwise). If you think you are right and attempt to make a turn in front of the car in the right lane that is going past your turn, then be prepared to visit the body shop (if you are lucky).

So wrong in so many ways, almost as if you are intentionally trying to misunderstand.

When you are at a four way stop and intend go go straight across do you proceed when there is someone already in the intersection? Of course not, that would cause a crash and you would be at fault. The same goes for the circle. If you are entering from the outside (right) lane you can't shoot right in, you yield to the traffic already in the circle. Do that and no one will be crossing in front of you to turn right from the inside lane.

When I am driving north on Morse and I encounter a circle what direction do I need to go to stay on Morse? Silly question of course, I go straight. If this is the circle with Pinellas and I want to take Pinellas then which way do I go? Obviously, I turn left since turning right would put me in front of the fire station on Moyer Loop. Left, right, and straight make perfect sense at a circle unless you are intentionally trying to be confused.

Having never seen an accident in a circle I can't begin to come up with the percentage of drivers who navigate them successfully. I've seen far more accidents at stop lights so perhaps we need to replace some lights with circles to improve safety.

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by Byte1

Apparently, if you are entering the circle to go straight and you are in the right lane, if a car already in the circle that might wish to make a right turn right after you enter, may do so and you are wrong if you hit him crossing in front of you.

Yes, that is exactly correct.

If I were the driver in the roundabout and you started to enter, I would give you a very long blast on my horn to hopefully keep you from entering the roundabout, and I would continue honking until I was safely out of the roundabout.

I drive slow going thru roundabouts, so if you ignore my honking and enter the roundabout, I will probably be able to easily avoid you, but I will keep honking until you are totally out of hearing range. This has happened to me a few times in the last seven years.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

So wrong in so many ways, almost as if you are intentionally trying to misunderstand.

When you are at a four way stop and intend go go straight across do you proceed when there is someone already in the intersection? Of course not, that would cause a crash and you would be at fault. The same goes for the circle. If you are entering from the outside (right) lane you can't shoot right in, you yield to the traffic already in the circle. Do that and no one will be crossing in front of you to turn right from the inside lane.

When I am driving north on Morse and I encounter a circle what direction do I need to go to stay on Morse? Silly question of course, I go straight. If this is the circle with Pinellas and I want to take Pinellas then which way do I go? Obviously, I turn left since turning right would put me in front of the fire station on Moyer Loop. Left, right, and straight make perfect sense at a circle unless you are intentionally trying to be confused.

Having never seen an accident in a circle I can't begin to come up with the percentage of drivers who navigate them successfully. I've seen far more accidents at stop lights so perhaps we need to replace some lights with circles to improve safety.

The poster seems to have a particular problem understanding the rule that both lanes should be clear before entering roundabout, in which case his scenario would not happen.

[nn0wheremann]

Originally Posted by Pettys1

If you know your turning on a side road then get into the outside lane your don't turn into a lane to turn. I mean common sense tells you to get into the outside lane. If you where on the road an cut in front of someone . Cause if you hit me while driving in the inside lane while trying to turn you'll be sued I promise you..

Please follow the law and the rules, no overtaking in a roundabout, and give right of way to those ahead of you in the roundabout.

[mntlblok]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Notice the use of the directional in this video? The blue car going straight never put on the directional when exiting the RAB. Then, another scerio, the driver has the left directional on as he circulates the RAB in the inside lane then changes to the right directional as he exits the RAB. That second scenario is absolutely ridiculous!

The points you make about the use of signals in RABs seem valid to me. Sometimes the best intentions can have unintended consequences, eh?

[mtdjed]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Close, almost right. If going to the 2nd exit you can be in either lane as well.

And if you use that inside lane and take the second exit, you by necessity need to move from the inside lane and across the outside lane. Many of the Village roundabouts have signage showing this option. However, the outside lane does not always have to exit. That is why you have to be alert, use your signals, and be prepared for the unexpected.

[Number 10 GI]

Because some people don't believe it is "common sense" makes no difference as traffic law says the inside lane vehicle has the right of way. It was that way in the European countries and other states I have driven in. If you understand the law, you shouldn't have any problems safely negotiating the RB. I doubt that a "common sense" belief will stand in court.
Think about it, during heavy traffic how would the inside lane vehicle exit for their turn if they didn't have the right of way? You definitely don't want to stop in inside lane waiting for a break in the outside lane traffic so you can make your exit, traffic would be backed up forever, not to mention a great risk of being rear ended. A vehicle might end up making numerous circles around the RB waiting for a break to make their turn. There is no "common sense" in that. The inside lane having the right of way is "common sense".

[VApeople]

Based on the comments in this thread, it is nice to see that the vast, vast majority of us know how to drive through roundabouts properly.

Some newcomers may think the rules for driving in a roundabout do not make sense to them, and that's OK for the time being. Like the OP, they can complain all they want but, if they want to survive, they will eventually accept the rules as they are.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Number 10 GI

Because some people don't believe it is "common sense" makes no difference as traffic law says the inside lane vehicle has the right of way. It was that way in the European countries and other states I have driven in. If you understand the law, you shouldn't have any problems safely negotiating the RB. I doubt that a "common sense" belief will stand in court.
Think about it, during heavy traffic how would the inside lane vehicle exit for their turn if they didn't have the right of way? You definitely don't want to stop in inside lane waiting for a break in the outside lane traffic so you can make your exit, traffic would be backed up forever, not to mention a great risk of being rear ended. A vehicle might end up making numerous circles around the RB waiting for a break to make their turn. There is no "common sense" in that. The inside lane having the right of way is "common sense".

I am not sure which law you are referring too, but no lane has priority in the roundabout, at least in Europe and UK. and to the best of my knowledge, the US as well.
Vehicles in the roundabout definitely have priority over vehicles entering a roundabout.
If any vehicle has to give way to another in the roundabout to exit, then one, or both, are in the wrong lane.
A roundabout should be a continuous flow.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Byte1

This is getting funny. Apparently, if you are entering the circle to go straight and you are in the right lane, if a car already in the circle that might wish to make a right turn right after you enter, may do so and you are wrong if you hit him crossing in front of you. What crazy thinking came up with that kind of idea? ANyone crossing in front of me from the left lane to make a right turn and causes an accident better be able to explain that in court, because common sense says that you do not cross in front of anyone that's going straight in order for you to turn. I do not care what diagram is posted on a sign, that's just not common sense. Take the circle out and make it a four way stop. Right lane will go straight or turn right and left lane will go straight or turn left, period. I said we should have one lane in circles but folks thought that would make it too difficult to maneuver with two lanes entering and exiting the circle. No one is ever going to agree on how the circles must be traversed, so just get rid of them. Common sense says that the car in the right lane should always have the right of way when making a right turn. Going straight is still making a right turn from a circle and going in the left direction is still making a right turn from the circle. If you do not think so, try using your left turn signal when leaving the circle and see what happens. The only/ONLY way to make a left turn from these circles is if you traversed the circle going the wrong way (counter-clockwise). If you think you are right and attempt to make a turn in front of the car in the right lane that is going past your turn, then be prepared to visit the body shop (if you are lucky).

That is correct. The scenario you stated is exactly the reason why the person entering the RAB should yield to any car in the RAB. Stay clear of that car and there will not be a collision as he exits the RAB in front of you. Do not ever drive next to another car in the RAB. That is what causes the problems.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

So wrong in so many ways, almost as if you are intentionally trying to misunderstand.

When you are at a four way stop and intend go go straight across do you proceed when there is someone already in the intersection? Of course not, that would cause a crash and you would be at fault. The same goes for the circle. If you are entering from the outside (right) lane you can't shoot right in, you yield to the traffic already in the circle. Do that and no one will be crossing in front of you to turn right from the inside lane.

When I am driving north on Morse and I encounter a circle what direction do I need to go to stay on Morse? Silly question of course, I go straight. If this is the circle with Pinellas and I want to take Pinellas then which way do I go? Obviously, I turn left since turning right would put me in front of the fire station on Moyer Loop. Left, right, and straight make perfect sense at a circle unless you are intentionally trying to be confused.

Having never seen an accident in a circle I can't begin to come up with the percentage of drivers who navigate them successfully. I've seen far more accidents at stop lights so perhaps we need to replace some lights with circles to improve safety.

I had the same thought as I read your post. There does seem to be more collisions at intersections that have traffic lights. I have seen only one RAB accident and that wasn't actually in the RAB. The accident occurred just as a vehicle exited the RAB. Someone came barreling down Morse and did not YIELD to the traffic and caused the collision.

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

I am not sure which law you are referring too, but no lane has priority in the roundabout, at least in Europe and UK. and to the best of my knowledge, the US as well.
Vehicles in the roundabout definitely have priority over vehicles entering a roundabout.
If any vehicle has to give way to another in the roundabout to exit, then one, or both, are in the wrong lane.
A roundabout should be a continuous flow.

Funny you say a RAB has to "be a continuous flow". I often am in awe of watching how the flow of traffic almost seems like beautiful choreography when everyone is navigating the RAB correctly which is usually 99% of the time. It is like watching The Villages Golf Cart precision Drill Team in action.

Yes, there is that 1% when there are close calls in a RAB but, as I have already said, I have yet to see an accident in a RAB. I have seen one woman driving in the RAB in the wrong direction one time and even that did not end in a collision. Just lots of folks getting out of her way and directing her to get out of the RAB. I'll bet she won't do that again!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

And if you use that inside lane and take the second exit, you by necessity need to move from the inside lane and across the outside lane. Many of the Village roundabouts have signage showing this option. However, the outside lane does not always have to exit. That is why you have to be alert, use your signals, and be prepared for the unexpected.

Actually, if you are taking the second exit from the inside lane, there should be no one to cut across. If someone is there, they are either wrong for entering with you in the outside lane with the intention of taking the third exit, or are wrong because they entered the RB from your first exit before you passed by.