[ABC]

I hear what you say NJ there can be occasions where 2 vehicles can enter at the same time however as you point out they should be taking different exits, usually when this happens one or other of the drivers is courteous enough to drop back a little.

Also lane discipline is not actually a rule of the road rather than a safe and courteous driving practice that just makes sense if you know where you are going get in the correct lane to take you there.

I still much prefer roundabouts to stoplights!

[chuckinca]

The American view that drivers in Europe are extremely dangerous is based upon the mayhem in the roundabouts.

I'll take stoplights.


.

[EdV]

The problem is that you have a large influx of people to TV in the winter. Many are here for the first time or are renters that simply will not take the time to learn the unique rules for negotiating roundabouts. And many of those may be from states that don’t have them.

So they rely on instinct or what they believe is common sense. When in the right lane, they’ll enter the outer right lane if it is clear of oncoming traffic even if there’s a vehicle approaching in the inner lane. That’s because they’ve been conditioned to do that whenever they enter a highway from an entrance ramp, so it seems natural to them.

Then you have the cautious, ‘senior’ drivers who know that their driving skills are diminishing. So they keep their speed down and always stay in the right lane except at an intersection to make a left hand turn. They fear the left lane and probably feel they’re being courteous by staying out of the way of faster drivers, so you can talk to them until you’re blue in the face, but they’ll hug that right lane no matter what exit they intend to take.

Finally, there’s the lack of universality in roundabout rules. Russ, I hope you didn’t get too comfortable taking the left lane to go straight through the roundabouts in TV, because here in Massachusetts, that’s illegal.

And for those of you who feel you’ve mastered the rules and knack of negotiating roundabouts, I suggest you test those skills with a trip over to Swindon England where they have what’s called “The Magic Roundabout”. Back in the eighties, I had to negotiate this monstrosity every day for a month when I worked there. And because they drive on the left over there, you have to reverse everything you know about roundabouts. Worse still is the fact that the roundabouts in the outer circle move clockwise as they normally do in the UK, but the traffic around the inner roundabout, moves counter-clockwise like it does here in the US. Here’s a picture of it:

[Russ_Boston]

That looks like an alien crop circle

In Mass I go straight by staying in the outer lane - I do then when in TV as well (much safer!).

[Carla B]

The rules on navigating roundabouts caution in all instances: "Do not change lanes."
I hope that is not set in stone, as in the case where the entrance gate to a neighborhood is located close to the circle, as are many in TV. In order to be in the correct lane to approach the "resident's" entrance, at some point you have to move from the inside lane of the circle to the outside. Theoretically, if the cars waiting to enter the circle give you enough time, that's good. However, if they're not willing to yield, it gets messy.

[EdV]

Originally Posted by Russ_Boston

That looks like an alien crop circle

Oh, it's alien all right. I spent numerous nights at the local pub in Swindon mapping out my strategy for getting through the thing. It was like negotiating a mine field!

[Bubbalarry]

On this year survey at the top of my suggetions was to have TV run a class on roundabouts just like those for the golf system they have.

In addition we live here and when the guests arrive during the year most have no clue on roundabouts.

We need to find a way to inform them on how it's done. To many stay in right lane then pull in front of you to exit left.

I swear one of these days I won't be able to avoid them and will slam into there car. I never hope that happens.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

A picture is worth a thousand words.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/CAE/des.../mpg_index.htm

...

[chacam]

Would it not solve the problem if everyone just got in the right hand lane and stayed there until they exited?

[Russ_Boston]

Yes it would solve most of the problems through traffic would be cut in half during the busy season. From what I hear that wouldn't be a good thing.

[l2ridehd]

Why can't everyone just use them as intended. It's really not that hard. You only need to remember 4 things. Allow them to work as intended and they will move traffic much better then traffic lights.

1. If you are going 90 degrees, always stay in the right lane.
2. If you are going 180 degrees use either lane.
3. If you are going 270 degrees stay in the left lane until past the 180 degree exit then move to the right lane to exit the circle.
4. The person already in the circle always has the right of way.

[katezbox]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Why can't everyone just use them as intended. It's really not that hard. You only need to remember 4 things. Allow them to work as intended and they will move traffic much better then traffic lights.

1. If you are going 90 degrees, always stay in the right lane.
2. If you are going 180 degrees use either lane.
3. If you are going 270 degrees stay in the left lane until past the 180 degree exit then move to the right lane to exit the circle.
4. The person already in the circle always has the right of way.

[NJblue]

This is the way I was using them until yesterday (as a result of this thread). Until yesterday, when intending to go straight and if I were in the left lane while approaching the circle I would get into the inner lane of the circle and then exit into the left lane of the road to continue on. This is a prescribed method of dealing with the circles.

However, I have had several previous close calls with people thinking that if they are in the outer part of the circle that they had the right of way to continue around as far as they wanted. Yesterday, after reflecting on the prudence of using the right hand lane and outer part of the circle to continue straight (also a prescribed method), I allowed a car that I was driving parallel with as we approached the circle (with him in the right lane), to get ahead of me and then I merged to the right lane before entering the circle. Sure enough, this person was one of the ones who felt that being in the outer part of the circle gave him the right to continue around as far as he wanted. Had I stayed with my normal (legal) method, there would have been another close call or an actual accident as I tried to go straight and as he tried to continue around the circle. It would have been no satisfaction that his insurance company would have had to pay for my damages.

[billethkid]

hurry, get outta my way fools....it doesn't matter how much communicating is done. They are rude, reckless, impolite, don't care, nasty imports to our environment and nothing said or done changes their idiotic driving.

I guess they are in a hurry to get their geritol and get to sleep on the couch!!!!!!!

More police....more tickets....and I only wish FL had a citizen's arrest law.

So just assume NOBODY will do the right thing and drive defensively.

The right of way is yours to give....NOT TAKE!!!!!!!!!!!!

BTK

[uujudy]

Originally Posted by l2ridehd

Why can't everyone just use them as intended. It's really not that hard. You only need to remember 4 things. Allow them to work as intended and they will move traffic much better then traffic lights.

1. If you are going 90 degrees, always stay in the right lane.
2. If you are going 180 degrees use either lane.
3. If you are going 270 degrees stay in the left lane until past the 180 degree exit then move to the right lane to exit the circle.
4. The person already in the circle always has the right of way.

But doesn't "move to the right" mean I have to change lanes in the roundabout?

When I go to classes at the college I go north on Buena Vista, planning to exit at the Bonnybrook gate (270 degrees), and I enter the circle from the left lane. Where, exactly do I change lanes so I can exit from the right lane and be lined up with the Bonnybrook resident gate? If I put on my turn signal to change to the outside lane, the southbound folks entering the circle from BV think I'm exiting, and they enter the right lane. If I don't use my turn signal they enter anyway and they think I'm cutting them off when I try to exit from the left/inside lane. Yes, they shouldn't enter the roundabout when I'm in it (nobody should EVER enter the roundabout when I'm in it! ), but they all do it.

I admit I have been one of those folks who drive 270 degrees in the right/outside lane. It scares the beejeebus out of me to use this roundabout, and it seems that I'm wrong no matter what I do. All I can say is watch out for the idiot driving the black (yes, black!) car in Florida! LOL

I hope somebody can give me a definitive answer for this dilemma that won't get me killed. Thank you.