[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by Celebrator

The only time I have a problem is when I am in the left lane and plan exit right at the second exit. When passing the first exit a car enters the right lane and plans to continue to his second exit. So when I am planning to exit from the left, he is planning to continue to his exit. I think both are legally in the right lane but who has the right of way. I am cautious and let the car on the right pass through first but cars behind me honk as if I should keep on going. Hope you understand this description.

You are correct, this is an inherent problem with the two lane roundabouts. The cure for this problem is no one should enter the right lane directly side-by-side with someone in the left or inside lane.

[eweissenbach]

Originally Posted by rubicon

Who knows how to drive on round-a-bouts? I do ....carefully

....and with great fear and trepidation.

[kathyzapp]

Originally Posted by Celebrator

The only time I have a problem is when I am in the left lane and plan exit right at the second exit. When passing the first exit a car enters the right lane and plans to continue to his second exit. So when I am planning to exit from the left, he is planning to continue to his exit. I think both are legally in the right lane but who has the right of way. I am cautious and let the car on the right pass through first but cars behind me honk as if I should keep on going. Hope you understand this description.

I have had the same problem on numerous occasions. I checked with the sheriff's department to clairfy this situation. Their reply:

Since you were in the roundabout first, you have the right of way.

[tommy steam]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

Here is a diagram from that brochure. It is correct.
Attachment 3504

great picture, for when I move down there.

[Gateway Girl]

This is my first reply on TOTV, but I feel very passionate about the roundabouts. They are very, very dangerous. I think they should all be reduced to just one lane and then the problems go away. You might have to wait a short time to get on, but I'll bet the wait would be shorter than a stoplight and we all endure stoplights.

[skyking]

The dangerous situation is when someone properly takes the second exit from the inside lane but crosses over into the curb lane of the exit street thus side swiping the car using the same exit from the outside roundabout lane (who may be just carefully taking his first exit). It is easy to understand how they work if you just think of it as a two lane road with curves and stay in your lane. If your are in the left lane, stay there. If you are in the right lane, stay there.

[LABSX2]

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker

Here is a diagram from that brochure. It is correct.
Attachment 3504

I think I understand now about which lane goes which way, but what happens when there are cars coming from the other direction?

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by Gateway Girl

This is my first reply on TOTV, but I feel very passionate about the roundabouts. They are very, very dangerous. I think they should all be reduced to just one lane and then the problems go away. You might have to wait a short time to get on, but I'll bet the wait would be shorter than a stoplight and we all endure stoplights.

It doesn't matter how many people read the Brochures or examine the Diagrams, and drive correctly in the roundabouts. There will always be people who misunderstand the rules, or just don't care, for example delivery vehicles, contractors, short-term renters. So drive with caution!

[2 Oldcrabs]

Right lane to turn LEFT. Left lane to turn RIGHT. Or is that the other way around? I wish my mother was still alive. She had eyes in the back of her head and she would make a great co-pilot in the circles.

[paulandjean]

Originally Posted by 2 Oldcrabs

Right lane to turn LEFT. Left lane to turn RIGHT. Or is that the other way around? I wish my mother was still alive. She had eyes in the back of her head and she would make a great co-pilot in the circles.

Just do what most other people do...Close your eyes and proceed quickly....

[John_W]

Just make believe it's a 4 lane 4 way stop. To turn right or go straight you would use the right lane. To turn left you would use the left lane. Now drive the roundabout as if those 4 lanes were the same as the 4 way stop.

My favorite was last week I was turning from southbound Belvedere onto southbound Buena Vista, which is the first right turn. A car came up to my left alonside from Belvedere and also made the first right onto Buena Vista but they were using the inside lane. How anyone could think to go to the inside lane to make the first right turn would be OK is beyond me.

[Mimivillager]

John W, I like your explanation-Now that is easy to understand! I grew up in a town with a circle for the square in the center of town. I understood how to navigate it and, yes, the car already in the circle always had the right of way. I do seem to have a problem with these roundabuts however.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

Originally Posted by skyking

The dangerous situation is when someone properly takes the second exit from the inside lane but crosses over into the curb lane of the exit street thus side swiping the car using the same exit from the outside roundabout lane (who may be just carefully taking his first exit). It is easy to understand how they work if you just think of it as a two lane road with curves and stay in your lane. If your are in the left lane, stay there. If you are in the right lane, stay there.

Exactly. That is the most common mistake. If you are on the inside lane and the exit street is two lane you have to stay to the left lane while exiting. So many people change lanes as they exit and dive into the right exit lane. Confused yet? Hahaha. The first time I was here I studied the signs and brochures. I was northbound on Morse exiting to Odell at the Mallory Square area. A driver dove into my lane from the inside, blew her horn and glared at me. I told my wife, what the heck. She is suppose to stay left and you aren't to change lanes on the circle. Two errors. I see this mistake all the time. And TV veterans believe it's ok to do this.

[Bogie Shooter]

need more opinions?


roundabouts

Golf carts in round-abouts

New Roundabout Signs

An Accident Waiting to Happen

[mac9]

I am from New Jersey, the home of the original "US circles." I have lived with them all of my life and they have always been a pain in the butt. NJ started to do away with them at least 20 years ago. I was really surprised to find them being so "fashionable" here. The trick is to NEVER be next to another car and to ALWAYS signal your intent...oh yeah, and pray a lot!