[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The very first Roundabout was installed in MA, about 10-15 years ago. Up until then, we were one of the only states to have "Rotaries", which is a completely different animal and you drive them, entirely differently. (A "Rotary" doesn't have solid marked lanes, the ROW is different and it's basically a free for all.)

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

There has been a roundabout aka traffic circle in downtown Long Beach, CA since at least 1987. Math puts that at 38 years ago - FAR preceding your "first roundabout was installed in MA, about 10-15 years ago." In fact, well over twice as old as that posited by you. Not sure from where your intel derives.

A quick check of the google machine indicates the Long Beach traffic circle was built in 1932. What's that, about 93 years old?

Long Beach's traffic circle is where PCH (no, not OBT) meets the Lakewood Blvd and Los Coyotes Diagonal. If you need to google map it, simply look for Porsche of Long Beach.

Originally Posted by frayedends

What does California have to do with Massachusetts?

I was wondering the same thing. I think they're about 3200 miles apart?

I have travelled the roundabout in Long Beach, though. Bought a 914 from the Porsche dealer in 1974.

(GF was going to school in Long Beach. , Christie Brinkley was in the dorm room next to her. Her BF drove a Toyota 2000GT, one of only 350 or so imported into the USA. Probably worth upwards of $2.5M these days. My GF's roommate was dating Bill Withers. We even got to spend time on John Wayne's boat, the Wild Goose. Thinking about the Long Beach Rotary brings back memories of my misspent youth!)

[HellToupee]

Aggressive driving rules the day in MA rotaries

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Whether you call it a roundabout or a rotary, they still don't know how to drive in one.

In our northern neck of the woods, up in western MA, they have gone roundabout happy over the last few years. Speed humps (very wide and more gentle speed bumps) in residential neighborhoods and roundabouts have become the new standard. I most definitely wouldn’t call it an upgrade, but apparently the powers that be, who design the traffic flow, think it improves things…. I take offense to being referred to as “they”, who still don’t know how to drive in one. There are crappy drivers everywhere, but that doesn’t necessarily shoehorn anyone into a broad generalization that someone is a crappy driver regardless of where they are from, or where they are currently driving.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

In our northern neck of the woods, up in western MA, they have gone roundabout happy over the last few years. Speed humps (very wide and more gentle speed bumps) in residential neighborhoods and roundabouts have become the new standard. I most definitely wouldn’t call it an upgrade, but apparently the powers that be, who design the traffic flow, think it improves things.

Mass Highway made a decision about 10-15 years ago, that roundabout were safer and improved traffic flow and their intent was to eliminate all "rotaries" on state roads.

The famous Concord Rotary on Rt. 2 was changed to a roundabout a few years ago. Traveling that rotary 10 times a day for 40 years, I've had my share of accidents, right there in front of the old Concord Prison. I have to admit, the new roundabout works way better.

On another front, MHD (now MA DOT) had been battling the Town of Littleton for years. They wanted to replace the rotary with a roundabout and the town and local business owners fought it, tooth and nail.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by frayedends

What does California have to do with Massachusetts?

Just that So Cal drivers have been dealing with "round intersections with something in the center that you have to go around " longer then Messychoochits. 😉 That's all.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by HellToupee

Aggressive driving rules the day in MA rotaries

You can thank all the good drivers that you are still alive.

[tophcfa]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

Mass Highway made a decision about 10-15 years ago, that roundabout were safer and improved traffic flow and their intent was to eliminate all "rotaries" on state roads.

The famous Concord Rotary on Rt. 2 was changed to a roundabout a few years ago. Traveling that rotary 10 times a day for 40 years, I've had my share of accidents, right there in front of the old Concord Prison. I have to admit, the new roundabout works way better.

On another front, MHD (now MA DOT) had been battling the Town of Littleton for years. They wanted to replace the rotary with a roundabout and the town and local business owners fought it, tooth and nail.

You are from the busy part of the state. Where we come from in Western MA, two roads that intersect, sometimes with 4 way stop signs, are being turned into roundabouts. I am familiar with the Concord Rotary on Rt. 2, from back in the day in the 1980’s when I lived in Watertown and commuted into the back bay. I took Rt. 2 to Western MA just about every weekend to get out of the rat race of the city and enjoy some open space and fresh air.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

Whether you call it a roundabout or a rotary, they still don't know how to drive in one.

True! Most of the shaved apes have no more civility or ability than their chimp counterparts at grasping the subtle concept of sharing the road and working with others to ensure safe passage one and all.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

As has been explained numerous times, there is no ambiguity. If the signs are followed, if the rules are followed, if (apparently not-so) common sense is followed then there is no problem.

The right/outer lane enters the RB and either turns right or goes straight, just as it would at the signalized intersection at Morse and 44.

The left/inner lane enters the RB and either goes straight or turns right, just as it would at the signalized intersection at Morse and 44.

If there is a car already in the RB and approaching where you are about to enter then you yield, just as you would at the signalized intersection at Morse and 44.

If the right/outer lane continues to go around then it is making a left hand turn which is improper and dangerous, just as it would be at the signalized intersection at Morse and 44.

If the left/inner lane exits at the first exit then it is making a right hand turn which is improper and dangerous, just as it would be at the signalized intersection at Morse and 44.

It really is that simple.

Yes. It is. But, look around. Are you really surprised that most folks don't seem to get it. Most folks think they deserve to be first and rules are for others.

[fdpaq0580]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

In Connecticut, there's a roundabout (previously known as a "traffic circle" but never a "rotary") at the intersection of 80 and 81, in the Killingworth area. It's been there for longer than my 63 years, and in 1981 it was rebuilt and updated. The difference between it and the ones down here, is that it's all ONE LANE going in, through, and out. Everyone enters into the same singular lane from their prospective roads, travels in a counterclockwise direction until they're ready to exit, and then they exit out from that lane, to a single lane at the other end of the exit.

It's still a roundabout, or traffic circle if you prefer. But it's much easier to navigate because you never have to be "that newcomer" who isn't sure of where he needs to go, and ends up missing his exit and shifting into another lane while in the middle of the circle, thus creating risk of death for everyone else.

All he needs to do is continue around until that exit shows up again and hang a right out of the circle. He won't ever cut anyone off.

Of course, you are right, but where's the fun in that? So much more fun and exciting to be a self indulgent butthead by scaring the "chit" out out of everyone and put lives in jeopardy. (Pardon my sarcasm)

[Amylag]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

On all the hundreds of RB threads over the years on TOTV, many blamed so-called "snowbirds" for most of the bonehead driving there. A popular rebuttal is "We're from Massachusetts, we know how to drive roundabouts". Having just returned from Mass., I can assure you, YOU DO NOT!!!! No different there than here, maybe even worse.

Please do not attack the Massachusetts drivers. No one knows how to drive in a roundabout here… People switch lanes constantly. No one uses a directional and you have no idea where they’re going. Add into account the age of the drivers and the number of people that should not even be on the road and the driving around here is just disastrous..

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

You are from the busy part of the state. Where we come from in Western MA, two roads that intersect, sometimes with 4 way stop signs, are being turned into roundabouts. I am familiar with the Concord Rotary on Rt. 2, from back in the day in the 1980’s when I lived in Watertown and commuted into the back bay. I took Rt. 2 to Western MA just about every weekend to get out of the rat race of the city and enjoy some open space and fresh air.

Trust me, you don't want to go back to Watertown and navigate the revamped Watertown Rotary. Worst one in the state in my opinion. I worked on Arsenal St. in the 70's. 1st golf tournament I ever choked away the win, was the Lanno's Open (Italian restaurant, that was off the square for many years). Ate way too much lamb shish k'bob at Demo's, on Mt. Auburn, right outside the square.

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by tophcfa

In our northern neck of the woods, up in western MA, they have gone roundabout happy over the last few years. Speed humps (very wide and more gentle speed bumps) in residential neighborhoods and roundabouts have become the new standard. I most definitely wouldn’t call it an upgrade, but apparently the powers that be, who design the traffic flow, think it improves things…. I take offense to being referred to as “they”, who still don’t know how to drive in one. There are crappy drivers everywhere, but that doesn’t necessarily shoehorn anyone into a broad generalization that someone is a crappy driver regardless of where they are from, or where they are currently driving.

Originally Posted by Amylag

Please do not attack the Massachusetts drivers. No one knows how to drive in a roundabout here… People switch lanes constantly. No one uses a directional and you have no idea where they’re going. Add into account the age of the drivers and the number of people that should not even be on the road and the driving around here is just disastrous..

I think some people may have misunderstood. I am not "attacking" Massachusetts drivers. I am rebutting those, who on prior threads, have stated that Massachusetts drivers "know how to drive in RBs". Clearly, based on eyewitness experience, some do not. Therefore, it is the blanket statement of "Massachusetts drivers know how to drive in RBs" that I have "attacked".

[rsmurano]

Not sure what the poster was talking about when they stated that we have rotaries and other states have roundabouts because rotaries don’t have solid lines. Our roundabouts have solid white lines on quite a few, and the handicapped drivers that drive them cross the solid white lines to continue driving wrong in the roundabout. For example, go east on meggison from Hawkins toward Morse and the Morse roundabout has a solid white line so anybody in the right lane of the roundabout has to continue going east on meggison but you will see that cars in the right lane cross the solid white line to go north on Morse. There are many other “roundabouts” in the southern area that have solid white lines.
But, every sign going into any roundabout is the same no matter where it’s at or what the round circle is called:
Right lane can’t take a 2nd left, the left lane can’t make a 1st right. The left lane is the ‘only’ lane that can turn left after the 2nd right or go completely around the circle if needed. The solid white lines in some roundabouts keep the right lane right at the 1st exit whereas normally the right lane can take the 2nd exit, like the Morse / Meggison roundabout. You are taught when you are 16 never to cross a solid white line no matter where it’s at

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

Not sure what the poster was talking about when they stated that we have rotaries and other states have roundabouts because rotaries don’t have solid lines. Our roundabouts have solid white lines on quite a few, and the handicapped drivers that drive them cross the solid white lines to continue driving wrong in the roundabout. For example, go east on meggison from Hawkins toward Morse and the Morse roundabout has a solid white line so anybody in the right lane of the roundabout has to continue going east on meggison but you will see that cars in the right lane cross the solid white line to go north on Morse. There are many other “roundabouts” in the southern area that have solid white lines.
But, every sign going into any roundabout is the same no matter where it’s at or what the round circle is called:
Right lane can’t take a 2nd left, the left lane can’t make a 1st right. The left lane is the ‘only’ lane that can turn left after the 2nd right or go completely around the circle if needed. The solid white lines in some roundabouts keep the right lane right at the 1st exit whereas normally the right lane can take the 2nd exit, like the Morse / Meggison roundabout. You are taught when you are 16 never to cross a solid white line no matter where it’s at

Right hand lane is turn right or straight on
There is no right, so straght on is only option.
If you wanted third exit, you should have entered roundabout into left hand lane.
I see nothing conflicting,