Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

This I think is one topic that will never be decided and that's OK, I for one have seen the instructional video's and driven in the UK and from what I've seen there's absolutely nothing wrong with turning right from the inside lane, now that doesn't mean you have the right to turn in front of someone just behind you already in the right lane as they may intend to go to the next exit before turning right, just be careful, use your signals and pay attention, it's not that tough.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Fumar, Please be a little flexible and think through it. You are definitely wrong in your thinking on this issue. Go to the earlier post and watch the video. And why not listen to the experts. Guess you probably have made up our mind though.

It is a good discussion topic with alot of responses. Keep it going

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I've also driven the roundabouts in the UK and in multiple US cities. The size of TV roundabouts are too small for the maneuvering required with double turn lanes exiting the circles. This is the single most dangerous part of TV roundabouts. A lot of the drivers will stay in the right lane and will eventually hit someone exiting from the inside lane.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I am sure Roundabout size is taken into consideration when the Engineers design them, i cannot imagine any reason why they would place 2 lanes on a roundabout that was not big enough for 2 lanes, as i have said before the 2 lanes are there for a reason!

I agree there are much larger roundabouts across the world but the traffic lanes on TV 2 lane roundabouts i have encountered are more than adequate in size for 2 vehicles side by side and for vehicles to be able to use them in the correct manner, e.g. to be in the correct lane according to the exit you wish to take and yield to traffic that has right of way over you.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

There is a real easy enhancement they could make to these roundabouts.* I also drive in the UK all the time.* So picture going around the opposite way, sitting on the opposite side of the car, and exiting on the left.* Now how do they make this work easy?* They paint on the road lanes coming in which lane you should be in for the exit you plan to take.* And then continue that around the circle. So if you were traveling North on Buena Vista and approaching the circle at Odell and Bailey Trail, the first exit would be Odell and that would be painted on the right inbound lane.* If you wanted to continue on Buena Vista or go toward the left (Bailey Trail) those would be painted on the left hand approach lane.* Once past Odell, the painted Buena Vista moves to the right lane and the painted Bailey Trail stays in the left.* When you pass the continuation of North bound Buena Vista, the painted name of Bailey Trail moves to the right lane as that is the next exit.* It is really easy and it really works in almost all right hand drive countries.* Australia does it the same way.* Now in Malaysia the lines on the road are only there as a suggestion, so roundabouts become very dangerous.*

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I'm not referring to the physical size as being inadequate to exit from the inside lanes, I'm saying in my opinion that for people not used to roundabouts, the exit from the inside lane creates a danger that's unnecessary.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

:agree: :agree: :agree:

Thats exactly how it should be done PERIOD. Now pass it on to the dummies who don't get it and save some lives.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I have also been told by a Sumter County Deputy Sheriff who resides in the Villages that his recommended way to negotiate the roundabouts is to stay in the outside lane and not to change into the inside lane and back into the outside lane to exit. These roundabouts are too small in diameter to change lanes in these small roundabouts. I have driven through many roundabouts in England, Ireland, Germany and France. I even experienced the terror of driving in the roundabout around the Arc de Triumph in Paris. These roundabouts are sustantially larger and one must change lanes to accommodate the heavy traffic involved. If cars stayed in one lane then traffic would back up for miles getting into and out of the roundabouts. We do not have this type of volume going into our Villages roundabouts. Use of the inside lane is not necessary for cars. This is why the Deputy Sheriff recommended to stay in the outside lane.

I have been told the only reason there is an inside lane on our roundabouts is to provide adequate turning clearance for large trucks. I have a 35 ft. class A motor home and I can confirm that if the center lane was not there, I could not successfully turn into the roundabout or turn out of the roundabout without the space provided by the inside lane and the double lane exiting the roundabout. I would hit the curb. Ray

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Ray B with respect, What you have been told is wrong and goes against every roundabout use guideline worldwide.

There is only 1 correct way to use a 2 lane Roundabout (see: Quote from rockaway)

If the inner lane was for trucks then according to roundabout design the lane would be a raised truck apron, i can see why with your motorhome you may need to encroach on both lanes and i am sure you do this wth care but this is not the reason that the lane was put there.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

rekops and ABC
Why don't you contact the Marion County sherifs dept. who's job it is to police the roundabouts north of 466. As you have been told many times on this thread , They are instructing people that in these small roundabouts to stay in the ourside lane when driving in and out . Anyone who is in the inside lane and crosses in front of another car and causes an accident will be ticketed....End of story, The Deputy's of Marion County don't give a d--- about London or Boston, They support local law enforcement including traffic and we will follow what they say or receive a violation which carries a $280.00 fine . Now you can argue with them if you want to , but I'm going to enter and exit the right lane....Now let me know if you need this in Larger Print ....

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Absolutely Correct. It is the only sensible thing to do. Stay in the outside lane and watch very carefully for those who risk being t boned by cutting in front of you to exit. RayB

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I agree, to be safe, everyone should stay in the right lane. But even better, we should all straddle the center line, to discourage others from using the left lane and cutting us off when they exit.

Whatever happened to the plan to paint over all the roundabout lines to eliminate the 2nd lane, as reported a few months ago?

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I'm with rockaway and bubbalarry on this one, I too have driven in the UK and other states here in the US with roundabouts and the way rockaway decribes it is the way it should be done.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

I GIVE UP !!!!!!!!

EXASPERATED FUMAR

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Why is there a roundabout on Morse just south of 466 before the Lake Sumter bridge?

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

the great fumar,

I'm with you.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

If you study the way the lines are painted in the "rotarys" and the approaching lanes it is obvious how to drive them.....the right way. Inside lane for "through" and "rotating" traffic,
right lane for right turns to immediate right and right land on continuing "through" roadway.

Sheesh!!

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Many people though-- new and old to TV-- just seem to stick in the right lane on the roundabouts at all times no matter where they are turning.

I usually can zip past 20 or more cars by using the left lane if I am going to the 12 o'clock or 9 o'clock or 6 o'clock postions. Only have to get in the long line if I am also turning right at the 3 o'clock.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

To Fumer and all the other right lane only people. I think you should take a ride
south on Buena Vista to the Stillwater roundabout. As you approach the roundabout
you will see painted on the road in the LEFT lane the words TO STILLWATER. What about the driving instruction painted on the road don't you understand?

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

The differences of opinion are very confusing to me not to mention scarey! Not being the greatest driver in the world I may be the one in front of you you are cursing at!!!
:cus:

Really hope someone gets this straight before I get to TV! I sure dont want to cause an accident!

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Here is the way I handle round-abouts, I take my golf cart everywhere to avoid them! :yikes:

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

Except that at the Morse Circle you have to pass in front of cars and other vehicles when crossing the streets bordering the roundabout.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

For a carefully planned community,The Village roundabouts are an accident waiting to happen. It amazes me that this design flaw continues from one year to the next without correction. The phone book assumes that everyone understands all the rules and abides by them. This is not the case. The main problem is aggressive drivers enter from the left lane, continue to be overly aggressive and pull in front of the car in the right lane without looking. The burden of safety is strictly on the innocent driver in the right lane when the other car pulls in front to exit. Sad to say everyone thinks they are right. The solution to the problem is that given their small size, only allow one lane of traffic to enter circle. There is absolutely no need for the left lane other than to accommodate trucks. Minnesota and Wisconsin have solved this problem by making the inner lane tapered towards the inside and providing a brick or rubble surface finish. Result zero accidents, everyone gets the message.

Re: Scary Roundabout Story
 

::)
In 2003, I wrote articles for our Calumet Grove website. I interviewed the Sumter and Marion County sherriffs; also the Florida Highway Patrol. They all said that we are supposed to drive into the traffic circles in the right lane and stay in the right lane until whichever point on the traffic circle we turn right. All three officers told me that "It is NEVER legal to turn right from the left lane. Likewise, it is NEVER legal to turn left from the right lane...so we must "merge" from the golf cart lane into the automobile traffic lane to turn left on the streets where golf carts and cautomobiles share the road. And, vice versa with automobiles merging into the right (golf cart lane) before the corner.

That's why TV is doing all the merging of "golf cart lanes" iwith "automobile traffic lanes" before corners where golf carts and automobiles share the road.

They explained that European traffic circles are much bigger than our aat TV. In Europe they may get into the innner circle but change lanes to the outer circle before turning out. Remember Chevy Chase driving again and again around the inner lane of the traffic circle in "European Vacation"? He couldn't get out of the inner lane because he needed to merge into to the bumper-to-bumper traffic of the outer lane before he could turn out of the traffic circle.

BUT...the way THEY (TV?) painted the lanes on Buena Vista at the Stillwater traffic circle flies in the face of everything I've written in my first two paragraphs.

This is a scary issue that causes a lot of finger gestures currently. I believe I'm right, but I could be right with a crunched bumper or worse? This needs to be clarified OFFICIALLY with well-designed signs at EVERY traffic circle!!!!

On the "golf cart path at Churchill/Belmont/Pimlico" is a sign that says "no car traffic". The next sign tells the "golf cars" to go right. Huh?

May I suggest that we try for learer terminology? "Automobiles" always drive on roads; not on "golf cart paths". Sometimes "golf carts" share the roads with "automobiles". "Golf cart paths" are NOT for automobiles.