[Stu from NYC]

A friend found a different way to combat the problem.

He takes up both lanes while going around roundabout.

[PugMom]

[QUOTE=JanetMM;1834079]

Originally Posted by davem4616

maybe it's the name.....up north we called them 'rotaries', they were much bigger circles with nothing in the center obstructing views, much easier to navigate

but these 'roundabouts' in TV are nothing....if you really want a challenge....fly over to Ireland, where you drive on the opposite side of the road...there's more than a
few roundabouts over there that will test your driving skills...especially if you're driving a rental, using your left hand to operate the stick shift and have no clue where you're going...lol

we ended up going around more than a couple a few times...just for good measure

Same here! “Keep circling, I’ll check the map!” This was before GPS. Even worse was two lane roads more narrow than my tiny driveway with stone “walls” on one side and a cliff drop to the ocean on the other! ;-)

Boston had the WORST rotaries, imo. everyone speeds & nobody uses turn signals-its anybody's guess what some drivers were doing. i'm also glad to know i wasn't the only confused person circling the roundabouts when we 1st arrived, LOL

[PugMom]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

A friend found a different way to combat the problem.

He takes up both lanes while going around roundabout.

[MDLNB]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

A friend found a different way to combat the problem.

He takes up both lanes while going around roundabout.

Great idea! Problem solved.

[hal195z]

Originally Posted by BryanTheGolfPro

I make a point to stay in the right lane, assume the everybody else has the right of way and I live to see another day. It is more important to avoid a wreck than to be correct.

Actions as described above contribute to the problem.

[BlackhawksFan]

Originally Posted by Dond1959

Here is a simple way to know what to do in a traffic circle. Think of it as a 4 lane intersection. If you approach an intersection and you want to turn right you get in the right lane for your turn, if you want to turn left you get in the left lane. You never nturn left from the right lane on right from the left lane in a normal 4 lane intersection. If you are going straight Through the intersection you use either lane. The Traffic circles are the same, follow the rules you use in a normal intersection and you will not have any issues.

Exactly. You'd never turn right from a lefthand lane on a straight 4 way road so why do people do it in a traffic circle?

[VApeople]

Originally Posted by wrestle1

My point is when you’re entering in the left lane and intending to turn left in the third turn some cars entering from the first and second turns into the outside/right lane parallel with the inside car and do not allow the inside vehicle to make entry into the third turn.

That is why I have my hand on the horn at all times when driving in a roundabout. If I sense that another driver may not yield to me when I am exiting the roundabout, I honk at them.

[BlackhawksFan]

Originally Posted by mmorrison123

After another close call I thought I might discuss the right of way rules for traffic circles. It's really very easy. If you find yourself crossing a solid line in a traffic circle (or else where for that matter) you are doing something wrong. If you wish to cross a dashed line in a traffic circle (or else where for that matter) you may do so only if there is no body else in the lane that you wish to cross into. Traffic already in a lane has the right of way. If you wish to remain in your lane and not cross any lines, whether your lane stays in the circle or exits the circle, congratulations you have the right of way, but be very careful. The biggest issue I see are people in the right (outside) lane continuing around the circle, cutting across the dashed line that directs vehicles in the inside lane to exit. In most circles in the villages, the inside lane has the right of way to exit as shown by the lines on the road. There are exceptions of source. The green traffic signs you see as you approach the circles are informational only to help you see what roads are ahead and suggested traffic flow. They are NOT regulatory and do NOT indicate right of way of any mind.

So, stay in your lane, and if you need to cross a dashed line, check that the lane is clear first. Just that easy, but you already knew that didn't you.

Right of way is given to the vehicle in the lane continuing on. If you have to cross traffic at all you have to grant tne right of way. You're not granted right of way in the circle but what lane your in.

[davem4616]

[QUOTE=PugMom;1834204]

Originally Posted by JanetMM

Boston had the WORST rotaries, imo. everyone speeds & nobody uses turn signals-its anybody's guess what some drivers were doing. i'm also glad to know i wasn't the only confused person circling the roundabouts when we 1st arrived, LOL

I grew up in Massachusetts. Ya had to have courage to drive in Boston. My older brother refused to do it...someone else always had to drive him into Logan airport.

I loved driving into Boston...it was a personal challenge, nobody gave anyone quarter. Cars would blow their horns when we went from 4 lanes to 1, they'd yell at ya, they'd swear at ya, they'd give ya the finger, but they'd never hit you. All you had to do was keep moving forward. We had an unspoken driver's code...ya didn't look at anyone and ya didn't use the turn signal, after all, why would you want to give the enemy an advantage my letting them know what you were going to do? LOL

Besides most of the cars going to the airport were rentals anyway...they weren't about to get into an accident...filling out all the forms would cause them to miss their flight.

[starflyte1]

Originally Posted by BlackhawksFan

Exactly. You'd never turn right from a lefthand lane on a straight 4 way road so why do people do it in a traffic circle?

Because it is the proper way to exit! Look at the signs as you enter the circle!!!

[BlackhawksFan]

"Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament. Look kids, Big Ben, Parliament."

(Frustrated) "I can not get over to the other side. Look kids..."

"We know Dad. Big Ben. Parliament."

[davem4616]

[QUOTE=JanetMM;1834079]

Originally Posted by davem4616

maybe it's the name.....up north we called them 'rotaries', they were much bigger circles with nothing in the center obstructing views, much easier to navigate

but these 'roundabouts' in TV are nothing....if you really want a challenge....fly over to Ireland, where you drive on the opposite side of the road...there's more than a
few roundabouts over there that will test your driving skills...especially if you're driving a rental, using your left hand to operate the stick shift and have no clue where you're going...lol

we ended up going around more than a couple a few times...just for good measure

Same here! “Keep circling, I’ll check the map!” This was before GPS. Even worse was two lane roads more narrow than my tiny driveway with stone “walls” on one side and a cliff drop to the ocean on the other! ;-)

The country roads are very narrow in Ireland...it is amazing that so many cars in Ireland still have sideview mirrors...we brushed up against stone walls and hedgerows any number of times when a car was approaching from the opposite direction and I tried my best to pull over to "the wrong side of the road" to let them pass

[riley2011]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

If I had a buck for every time I have seen someone go right from the inside lane could buy the most expensive house here for cash.

That’s what you’re supposed to do. It’s considered going straight. If someone is in the inside lane when you are approaching the circle you are not supposed to enter because the car already in the circle may be taking the next exit and if there is an accident the car in the outside lane would be at fault.

[MDLNB]

All the above posts prove that there should NOT be two lanes of traffic in circles. On top of all the above disagreements, you have to add the age factor and the slow response to situations involved when dealing with seniors. It's not rocket science, but reaction time counts when driving a motor vehicle. On the highway, one may drive in the slow lane and allow more alert and quicker to respond drivers to pass on the left. Driving in a circle requires sharp thinking and fast reactions. Sorry but the only answer is to make circles one lane.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by MDLNB

...Sorry but the only answer is to make circles one lane.

Sorry, but that just causes many other problems, the most obvious being greatly reduced capacity for all connected roads.