[NJblue]

I disagree that it is the speeders who are the cause of the traffic circle problem. The problem comes from the people who enter the circle from the right lane (typically not the lane used by "speeders"). They then proceed to take the right, outermost lane in the circle but, rather than go right at the first or second exits (i.e., take a right turn or continue straight on the roadway), they continue around the circle in the outer lane. By doing this they then cut off any driver who entered the circle from the left lane and wants to proceed straight by using the inner circle. If either person had been speeding, it is most likely the one in the left lane, yet the person in the right lane is the one who is at fault for not using the circle properly.

I'll repeat what I said previously. If you want to make a major improvement in the safety of our roadways, you would divert some of the police attention to speeders and concentrate on the people who don't follow the rules in the circles. If, as you say, it is the speeders who are most likely the cause for traffic circle accidents (which I seriously doubt), then you will have killed two birds with one stone.

[billethkid]

swiped twice by those going too fast and coming across the line into my lane.

Same circle twice within a year and if we were not defensive drivers, it would be a lot more.

The entrance to our Village is off a traffic circle so we get to witness the violations DAILY.

They drive two fast to control their vehicle once in the circle. They drive to fast approaching the circle with no intent of yielding to traffic in the circle.

When I say witness it DAILY it is not an exaggeration.

Tickets....many more tickets please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

btk

[memason]

I agree.... the traffic circles are a matter of driving in the proper lane and using the lanes properly.

Just as an experiment, I watched the webcam over Spanish Springs Square a few days ago. the camera was trained, such that I could see the corner and watch traffic travel around to the left. Keep in mind, this is a one-way street with 2 lanes of traffic. I watched for about 5 minutes and fully 90% of drivers started from the outside lane and cut across to the inside lane [around the corner] and then back to the outside lane. Not sure why there are lanes there??? No one seems to adhere to proper lane usage. Golf carts were the only exception to this experiment. Here's the website...check for yourself...if the camera is trained in the right place.

Cheers.....

http://www.thevillages.com/lifestyle/cam_ss.asp

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by billethkid

swiped twice by those going too fast and coming across the line into my lane.

Same circle twice within a year and if we were not defensive drivers, it would be a lot more.

The entrance to our Village is off a traffic circle so we get to witness the violations DAILY.

They drive two fast to control their vehicle once in the circle. They drive to fast approaching the circle with no intent of yielding to traffic in the circle.

When I say witness it DAILY it is not an exaggeration.

Tickets....many more tickets please!!!!!!!!!!!!!

btk

If so, then perhaps we can agree to take down the radar "traps" along the straight sections of Buena Vista and Morse and station the cops at the circles instead. That way they can catch both the speeders who abuse the circles as well as the non-speeders who cut people off by not following the proper procedure. The circles are where it is unsafe - let's concentrate our law enforcement there. With our current enforcement procedure, the one place a speeder is most immune from being caught is in the circle - the exact place where he/she presents the most threat.

[NJblue]

Originally Posted by Taj44

What you said is exactly on the mark. I'm a retired traffic engineer, and what people don't realize is that artificially lowering speed limits actually can increase accidents rather than reduce them. The best speed limit on a roadway is the speed that the majority of the traffic want to drive and is generally based on the geometry of the road, amount of roadside development, driveway density, accident history, etc. School zones are an exemption to this rule. Also, urban areas are often zoned a particular speed - such as 30 mph within the city limits. The goal in setting speed limits is to maintain free flowing traffic. This tends to reduce accidents and congestion. In NY state the speed limits are set by a joint analysis done by traffic engineers and the state police. I'm not familiar with the process here in Florida, so will not comment on the situation here in The Villages.

There is a big problem at the roundabouts when people get in the wrong lane and cut others off. I think they need an education plan, along with posting police at some of the major trouble spots and giving tickets and/or warnings.

Thanks for your expert support for what I thought was quite intuitively obvious. It's nice when intuition is backed by scientific study.

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by Ooper

If people navigated the round-a-bouts in the correct lanes, there would be no "cutting off". I suspect if you were cut off, you were in the wrong lane!

No, I think I was in the correct lane. I was in the right-hand lane continuing around the roundabout. The car in the left-hand lane and slightly ahead of me decided to turn into a village on the right side of the road. Is this legal
in Florida?
I might be wrong, but where I come from I was "cut off"

[Cliff]

Boy oh boy, I bet they will be lining up to be the one to teach you how to use the roundabouts here.

[Halle]

Peggy if you were continuing around you were in the wrong lane.

This link explains how to navigate the Roundabouts.

http://www.districtgov.org/images/Wh...INAL070908.pdf

If you do a search you will find many discussions on the Roundabouts.

[Quixote]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

Speeding is speeding no matter what the posted limit.

What I want to know is were are the police when some idiot cuts me (or other drivers)
off in the roundabouts? And I am told to epect worse when the snowbirds arrive

Good grief

I agree speeding is speeding no matter what the posted limit and good for police giving tickets. But isnt a snowbird someone who pays 12 months of taxes and fees and uses the roads and services for only 6 mopnths or 8 months?

[Peggy D]

My mistake. I was going straight (no around) Continuing on the present road.

A car making a Right hand turn from the Left lane is legal? You're right, I guess I do have alot to learn.

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by Quixote

I agree speeding is speeding no matter what the posted limit and good for police giving tickets. But isnt a snowbird someone who pays 12 months of taxes and fees and uses the roads and services for only 6 mopnths or 8 months?

Trust me, I am not bashing snowbirds, I was warned by your neighbors--other Villagers. I'm new here

[Ooper]

Originally Posted by Peggy D

No, I think I was in the correct lane. I was in the right-hand lane continuing around the roundabout. The car in the left-hand lane and slightly ahead of me decided to turn into a village on the right side of the road. Is this legal
in Florida?
I might be wrong, but where I come from I was "cut off"

If you were in the right hand lane "continuing" around the roundabout, you were in the wrong lane. To continue around the roundabout, you should have entered and stayed in the left lane, as the car next to you was, until you exited. If you were, you would not have been cut off. There have been numerous videos and directions posted in these forums about roundabout protocol if you do a search... unfortunately, common sense and caution will be the only safeguard as there will never be a time when everybody follows all the rules.

[Bogie Shooter]

Here is a picture show that will tell you how to to the round-a-bouts. Enjoy.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/CAE/des.../mpg_index.htm

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Here is a picture show that will tell you how to to the round-a-bouts. Enjoy.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/CAE/des.../mpg_index.htm

I'm afraid that this video does not apply to the round-a-bouts in the villages. The pavement markings on the round-a-bouts here are different depending on which one you are using. Some direct you off at the first exit, some allow you to go all the way around, others send you off at the second exit. It's very confusing if you don't look at the painted lines on the pavement. It's easy if you look at the solid and broken lines.

Also see how many people just drive across the solid lines and continue around.

[Peggy D]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Here is a picture show that will tell you how to to the round-a-bouts. Enjoy.
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/CAE/des.../mpg_index.htm

Sorry, this doesn't come up for me. But Jan is right its not the same here. If you look at the handout about roundabouts, it does show a continuing arrow around the entire circle in that right hand lane and is marked as a "circulatory Roadway".


I was continuing south in the right lane approching the roundabout on Morse Blvd (according to my GPS) taking "the second exit". A car in the left hand lane turned "right" in front of me to go into Bonita--cut me off. You're telling me this is a legal turn?