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Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout.

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some9one

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Mostly everyone stops at the start and then goes. Here's what one should do:
approach round about. If you're making a right turn, go into the right lane and signal right. If you're making a left turn or u-turn, stay in the left lane and signal left. If you're going straight, stay in the left lane.
If there are no cars coming from the left lane or are turning in the round about, you may go. You only yield to cars coming from the left. Cars on the right are supposed to yield to you. Once there is an opening for you to go into the round about, go. To turn left, go all the way around until you find the exit for your turn, and if you're doing a u-turn, do a 360. It's extremely important to have your turn signals on in round abouts so that people know what you're doing, whether you're going around or straight.
It may be complicated but a roundabout surely beats a 4-way stop.
 
#4 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (eurospeccorrado)

Quote, originally posted by eurospeccorrado »
roundabouts?....are they new to the US?

They're not common to every city, which makes people hesitate at their proper usage, which pretty much negates their advantages over conventional intersections.
 
#8 ·
Re: (vduBen)

I lived in Boston for a few years - - they still have roundabouts - - quite a number of them, in fact.
OMFG, the utter stupidity seen in these relatively simple intersection configurations is staggering.
First of all - - people in New England (i've never been anywhere else - so that's the only place i can accurately rag on) don't understand the concept of YIELD... This concept is CRUCIAL to the functionality of roundabouts.
The other CRITICAL element of driving that is fully disregarded by your average New Englander is the concept of COMMUNICATION with OTHER DRIVERS!!! Whether it's by flashing lights, using your signal, waving at people or even just using your car's body language (which does exist), traffic's potential to flow smoothly can be fully extracted.
Like everything else in Boston, roundabouts were developed back in the days of horse and carriage, when it was acceptable/encouraged/essential/easier to communicate with other drivers. "Hey Good Sir, You're Welcome to Merge your 'Ol Nag In Front of Me". "Oh jolly good (tips hat)"
Now that intervehicular communication is considered OFFENSIVE, traffic is often locked up, and people's blood pressures get unreasonably high - - especially following the extension of one or more middle-fingers...
So, we can draw one of two conclusions - - - either A.) People Need to learn to drive more effectively, and revert to some old-school values to facilitate smooth-flowing traffic or B.) THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS and WILL ALWAYS BE TOO ****AMN STUPID TO COOPERATE WITH EACH OTHER WHEN DRIVING, AND ROUNDABOUTS NEED TO BE ABOLISHED...
 
#9 ·
Re: (rx7racr)

It's called a ROTARY in NE. I didn't really have a problem driving in the UK thanks to all my practice around here.
The absolute worst is when someone is going around the rotary (roundabout) and actually stops. YOU have the right of way! I see people in Mass with Mass plates doing it all the time.
 
#10 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (eurospeccorrado)

The proper way to drive in a roundabout? You mean like going around it four times with screaming tires???
Image

Honestly, I'm in Sweden right now and they are everywhere. This is absolutely too much. I think roundabouts can lead to a good flow of traffic, but only if they are used in a certain way and they are not always superior to traditional intersections...
 
#11 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (DoktaJoch)

In New Jersey they are called "circles" and have been dissapearing over the past few years and being reconstructed as simple stop-light intersections.
The concept of "yeilding" is generally lost on the typical self-centered American...
Image
 
#12 ·
Re: (sixdoubleseven)

Quote, originally posted by sixdoubleseven »
It's called a ROTARY in NE.

Being from CT and calling it a ROTARY....it took me some time until I got use to people calling them Roundabouts here in CO....
 
#13 ·
Re: (will951)

FWIW on Long Island we called the traffic circles.
Further confusing the issue is that different states have different regulations on who has the right of way - ie. in some states traffic in the circle has the right of way, in others traffic entering the circle has trhe right of way.
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#14 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (Ian F)

Quote, originally posted by Ian F »
In New Jersey they are called "circles" and have been dissapearing over the past few years and being reconstructed as simple stop-light intersections.
The concept of "yeilding" is generally lost on the typical self-centered American...
Image

You speak the truth my lord
Image
. No it's true. Most people mentality is "Hurray for me and fock everyone else"
 
#16 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (Ian F)

Quote, originally posted by Ian F »
In New Jersey they are called "circles" and have been dissapearing over the past few years and being reconstructed as simple stop-light intersections.
The concept of "yeilding" is generally lost on the typical self-centered American...
Image

which ones have been replaced? there's 2 in Flemington and one in Somerville which I used to use everyday, twice a day. those 3 don't seem to be going anywhere.
 
#17 ·
Re: Please learn the proper way to drive in a roundabout. (some9one)

It more a case of please learn to drive period. Many people in North America have atrocious driving skills and habits, probably due to the crappy driver test and exam system.
 
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#18 ·
Re: (Viss1)

Quote, originally posted by Viss1 »
FWIW on Long Island we called the traffic circles.
Further confusing the issue is that different states have different regulations on who has the right of way - ie. in some states traffic in the circle has the right of way, in others traffic entering the circle has trhe right of way.
Image

Really? I thought the rule was universal -- unless the street signs say otherwise, you yield to traffic in the circle, period, end of story.
That simple rule is what makes the roundabouts work so well.
 
#19 ·
Re: (will951)

Quote, originally posted by will951 »
Being from CT and calling it a ROTARY....it took me some time until I got use to people calling them Roundabouts here in CO....

Do they call them Roundabouts here? I thought they were skid pads... that's what I've been using them for... what's a skid pad?
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Image
 
#20 ·
Re: (HarryHood)

Most of my rotary/circle frustration comes from the people in a two lane rotary occupying the inside lane. There doesn't appear to be any commonly understood way to merge/yield with cars that are crossing paths(car in inner lane is exiting, car in outer lane is not). Everyone seems to think they have the right of way, the other person is cutting them off, and no one is using their flarking directionals
Image
.
I get the joy of commuting through two of these each day.


Modified by kar_nut at 7:33 AM 9-17-2004
 
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