[Serenoa]

Originally Posted by Madelaine Amee

I too, was in a traffic circle this week when an out of State car came to a dead stop in front of me. I completely understand that they had no idea where they were or what to do, but their dead stop almost killed me! Just keep moving guys, I really don't care where, just keep moving.

If another car, bicycle rider or landscape laborer is stopped, parked or just standing in a roundabout and this almost causes you to have an accident (and be killed??), then I must say you were most likely driving TOO FAST, especially inside a roundabout.

TV drivers: drive defensive, slow down (speed kills), anticipate dangerous situations, always watch out for the other guy, and be safe!

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by clod

Stopping inappropriately is not peculiar to round- abouts. Stopping anyplace where there is no stop sign (gate crossing, tunnel) is not expected and is dangerous. Also, placing one wheel on the grass does not constitute pulling off of the road.

LOL, now that is true. my recent favorite bad vehicle stop was in the right lane of US Highway 301, wildwood, so a person older than me using a walker could toddle to the car from a shop (with an empty parking lot beside it) and load up.

[BobnBev]

Originally Posted by Serenoa

If another car, bicycle rider or landscape laborer is stopped, parked or just standing in a roundabout and this almost causes you to have an accident (and be killed??), then I must say you were most likely driving TOO FAST, especially inside a roundabout.

TV drivers: drive defensive, slow down (speed kills), anticipate dangerous situations, always watch out for the other guy, and be safe!

110%

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by clod

Stopping inappropriately is not peculiar to round- abouts. Stopping anyplace where there is no stop sign (gate crossing, tunnel) is not expected and is dangerous. Also, placing one wheel on the grass does not constitute pulling off of the road.

Originally Posted by jnieman

Possibly he was making sure that no golf cart passed him on the right when he was making his right turn. I've seen this done before.

There is at least one poster on this forum who thinks this is the only proper way for a car to make a right-hand turn: merge into the diamond lane at the side, then make your right turn. I don't agree that cars should ever travel in that lane and don't know where the poster got this rule, or theory.

His reasoning is you won't run down a golf cart that's going straight if you're in the diamond lane when you make your turn. My feeling is a car should never be in the diamond lane, and you should be stopped and looking to make sure no golf cart is coming before turning.

But I could be wrong.

[memason]

Originally Posted by CFrance

There is at least one poster on this forum who thinks this is the only proper way for a car to make a right-hand turn: merge into the diamond lane at the side, then make your right turn. I don't agree that cars should ever travel in that lane and don't know where the poster got this rule, or theory.

His reasoning is you won't run down a golf cart that's going straight if you're in the diamond lane when you make your turn. My feeling is a car should never be in the diamond lane, and you should be stopped and looking to make sure no golf cart is coming before turning.

But I could be wrong.

Well, you must be talking me.... I believe it's much safer for a car to merge into the cart/bicycle lane to make a right turn. No different than a cart merging into the traffic lane to make a left turn. At least, this way, the cart knows your intentions. It also helps to use the turn signal once in a while.

[Carl in Tampa]

Originally Posted by jnieman

This past week I was driving in the inner lane of the circle and standing right in front of me in the blind area were three workers who were there to plant flowers. There were no cones no warning at all and they were standing in the street chatting. I slammed on my brakes, they hopped up on the curb. Scared the crap out of me.

It was probably somewhat disconcerting to the workers too.

[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by memason

Well, you must be talking me.... I believe it's much safer for a car to merge into the cart/bicycle lane to make a right turn. No different than a cart merging into the traffic lane to make a left turn. At least, this way, the cart knows your intentions. It also helps to use the turn signal once in a while.

I agree with you and with Cyndy. But I'm not going to get in the golf cart lane because if there were an accident, and I was in a golf cart lane, I would get blamed for it all and ticketed for improper lane change.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by memason

Well, you must be talking me.... I believe it's much safer for a car to merge into the cart/bicycle lane to make a right turn. No different than a cart merging into the traffic lane to make a left turn. At least, this way, the cart knows your intentions. It also helps to use the turn signal once in a while.

No, it wasn't you, memason. I can't remember who it was, but his avatar picture is different. I understand your point; I just don't know if it's legal for a car to be driving in the diamond lane.

Perhaps CarlinTampa can weigh in.

[kittygilchrist]

Carl is 195 pounds. that's not a fair fight.

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by RedChariot

Yesterday we were driving on Pinellas towards Brownwood and a car from Maine was driving in the golf cart lane. Did he think this was the shoulder of the road? Finally he made a right turn. How do you explain that with the obvious painted signs on the pavement of the golf cart lane?

At least he got part of it right. When you make a right turn you should be in the golf cart path just like merging into a regular outside land. That keeps you from having a golf cart in your blind spot.

[rubicon]

The diamond lanes are marked for golf cart use. If someone is moving from a right hand lane to the diamond lane to make a right turn he/she is impeding the flow of golf cart traffic going forward. If a driver pulls to the golf art lane he/she may have a golf cart /driver in his/her blind spot cutting them off... To my way of thinking its the reverse of a California turn or where a driver cuts short a left turn crossing over into on coming lane. In both situations the driver is placing a car/cart driver in peril.

Pulling to the complete right before turning may seem like it is safer but it is an unsound practice. As to the legality well I leave that to the police....but if a driver hits a golf cart while making this maneuver whom to you believe is in the right/wrong?

[Indydealmaker]

Originally Posted by rubicon

The diamond lanes are marked for golf cart use. If someone is moving from a right hand lane to the diamond lane to make a right turn he/she is impeding the flow of golf cart traffic going forward. If a driver pulls to the golf art lane he/she may have a golf cart /driver in his/her blind spot cutting them off... To my way of thinking its the reverse of a California turn or where a driver cuts short a left turn crossing over into on coming lane. In both situations the driver is placing a car/cart driver in peril.

Pulling to the complete right before turning may seem like it is safer but it is an unsound practice. As to the legality well I leave that to the police....but if a driver hits a golf cart while making this maneuver whom to you believe is in the right/wrong?

What is safer, being sure you cannot have a golf cart in your blind spot by merging into that lane and blocking any cart that could come up on you; or just turn across the golf cart lane at the intersection. Also, if you wait to turn, you could be blocking cars behind you that are confused because you have your right turn signal on but are just sitting in your lane. All I know is when a sheriff deputy explained that to me, it made sense.

[TexaninVA]

Originally Posted by Bizdoc

On the way to the Christmas parade, encountered three Tour de France re-enacters who had decided to stop and have a pleasant conversation in the traffic circle! (no, not in the grass - in the actual paved part of the traffic circle). Not a good idea guys.

Sounds like these three guys are competing for a Darwin award?

[njbchbum]

Originally Posted by rubicon

The diamond lanes are marked for golf cart use. If someone is moving from a right hand lane to the diamond lane to make a right turn he/she is impeding the flow of golf cart traffic going forward. If a driver pulls to the golf art lane he/she may have a golf cart /driver in his/her blind spot cutting them off... To my way of thinking its the reverse of a California turn or where a driver cuts short a left turn crossing over into on coming lane. In both situations the driver is placing a car/cart driver in peril.

Pulling to the complete right before turning may seem like it is safer but it is an unsound practice. As to the legality well I leave that to the police....but if a driver hits a golf cart while making this maneuver whom to you believe is in the right/wrong?

If a golf cart hits the vehicle making the turn who would be the party at fault?

The 'golf cart rules of the road and safety tips' brochure on the district gov site indicates:
"7. Yield to automobiles"

If such is so, is a car then to make its right turn from its lane believing that any golf cart in the diamond lane is obligated to yield?

Does anyone believe that golf cart drivers are aware of that fact #7; or would abide by it? I've seen many a golf cart [and car, too] just do a rolling stop rather than a full stop at stop signs!

[DonH57]

It would seem to me if a car going northbound on Morse blvd which has a cart lane turned right directly into the cart proceding straight the car would be at fault for making an illegal turn as if there were two lanes of traffic. Golf carts don't turn left from the cart lanes. Golf carts do yield to automobiles when crossing or turning.