[mraines]

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.)

Folks from MA who tell you they know about driving in Roundabouts, don't know what they're talking about. We have very few of them and no one really has a clue how to manage one, other than Villagers who come to visit.

I grew up in Jersey and we had roundabouts years ago and never had a problem navigating them.

[kendi]

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.)

Folks from MA who tell you they know about driving in Roundabouts, don't know what they're talking about. We have very few of them and no one really has a clue how to manage one, other than Villagers who come to visit.

Signs tell the drivers how to drive the roundabouts. Seems the problem is lack of desire or ability to follow instructions.

[botrott]

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.

I am a snowbird and was behind a woman with Florida plates, we were both in a roundabout, she almost came to a complete when trying to exit it.

[CybrSage]

Circles are easy.

Inside has right of way over outside.
Lane 1 has right of way over lane 2, and lane 2 has right of way over outside the circle. Those without right of way must yield.
Solid white cannot be crossed dashed can be.
Done.

There are even pictures on the way in, saying which exists are for which lanes.
Frogs and snowbirds both seem to have issues understanding this. Frogs blame snowbirds for their inability to understand.

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by HellToupee

Aggressive driving rules the day in MA rotaries

I have a card from the American Autoduelist Association that says "Drive Offensively, the life you save may be your own".

[Normal]

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.)

Folks from MA who tell you they know about driving in Roundabouts, don't know what they're talking about. We have very few of them and no one really has a clue how to manage one, other than Villagers who come to visit.

A mammoth sized roundabout called Tallmage Circle in Tallmage, Ohio (Early 1800s) was the first traffic circle idea that came into fruition. It was a nightmare for new drivers when I was a kid and the driver’s license bureau made sure you paid it a visit before you did your parallel parking deal. Loved the area though, the Tallmage Buffet was my stop.

[CybrSage]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

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

Some of the Roundabouts have a two lane exit for the first exit, meaning both lanes can exit there.

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

Circles are easy.

Inside has right of way over outside.
Lane 1 has right of way over lane 2, and lane 2 has right of way over outside the circle. Those without right of way must yield.
Solid white cannot be crossed dashed can be.
Done.

There are even pictures on the way in, saying which exists are for which lanes.
Frogs and snowbirds both seem to have issues understanding this. Frogs blame snowbirds for their inability to understand.

No one has to give way to anyone in the roundabout, they are designed for continuous flow.
If you have to stop or give way in the roundabout, someone is in the wrong lane.
Entering the roundabout, give way to all lanes to your left, and only enter when both lanes are clear.
Done.

[Driller703]

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.

In Maine it’s a Rotary, or Rotary Traffic.

[NoMo50]

For those who feel challenged by the roundabouts here in The Villages, try driving in France. In France, the laws are a little different, in that cars entering a roundabout have the right of way over vehicles already in the roundabout. Also, for a real adventure, try your hand at the one at the Arc de Triomphe, where 12 roads feed into and out of the roundabout!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

Circles are easy.

Inside has right of way over outside.
Lane 1 has right of way over lane 2, and lane 2 has right of way over outside the circle. Those without right of way must yield.
Solid white cannot be crossed dashed can be.
Done.

There are even pictures on the way in, saying which exists are for which lanes.
Frogs and snowbirds both seem to have issues understanding this. Frogs blame snowbirds for their inability to understand.

Everyone has issues understanding this because NEITHER LANE HAS THE RIGHT OF WAY! Neither lane *needs* the right of way if the simple, common sense directions are followed.

The only time right of way that comes into play is when yielding to traffic already in the circle - BOTH LANES. Don't enter when traffic is approaching or you could be hit. Don't enter when traffic is in the inside lane because that lane might be exiting and you could be hit. Simply yield to any/all traffic already in the circle or you could be hit.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by CybrSage

Some of the Roundabouts have a two lane exit for the first exit, meaning both lanes can exit there.

Yes and NO!

Yes, on some/many circles, both the inside lane and the outside lane may exit.

NO, traffic entering from the left/inside lane MUST NOT take the exit to the right (1st exit, 3 o'clock exit, right hand turn, whatever you want to call it).

[DonH57]

Ohio has been inflicted with them as well.

[Annie66]

Originally Posted by golfing eagles

But there are plenty of 2 lane RBs in Mass. as well. One lane is not the solution, having DRVING SKILLS is.

I disagree that having all the drivers displaying the necessary driving skills is the answer. I'd like to think it could be, but the realist in me tells me it isn't possible. You will never train and/or get all the drivers to comply with the current roundabout rules here in TVs. There are too many curmudgeons who refuse to comply with the simple rules along with the number of drivers that should have had their license revoked years ago.

By changing the roundabouts here to single lanes is a one-time solution. Of course, if the roundabouts are modified to have only one lane, the merging of lanes leading into a roundabout will create its own set of challenges and complaints.

[ElDiabloJoe]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

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!)

I brought up the Long Beach traffic circle because your post claimed the very first roundabout (in the country is how I read it) was in MA. I was simply pointing out there was one wayyyy prior to the one in MA that was the first in the nation.

It appears either your post was vague (not clearly stating you meant the first roundabout build in MA) allowed me to misread you were stating the first (very first in the country) roundabout was in MA. I'll go 1/2 your vagueness error plus 1/2 my misread error.