How to use a roundabout
May 1st 2020 | 7:34 am
#16
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 520
From: Northern Nevada
May 1st 2020 | 10:41 am
#17
Forum Regular
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 293
From: Santa Cruz CA
Re: How to use a roundabout
There are three within a mile of my house. Coming from Swindon, I am exceptionally proud of my new home City and their penchant for bringing them over here. The best ones are the cross roads versions, which I presume replace 4 way stops, or lights. Those are the ones that create the most local confusion.
we have 2 roundabouts where I live, people tend to stop at each entrance to let the person waiting there get on. not sure why they think that's how it works.
May 1st 2020 | 10:44 am
#18
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 293
From: Santa Cruz CA
Re: How to use a roundabout
I'm absolutely convinced that the problem lies in the name.
It's called a turn signal, so people seem to think they should put it on when/as they turn the vehicle.
In the UK however we call them indicators, and they should be used first and foremost to indicate (the clue is in the name...) your intention before you carry out an action, giving other drivers and opportunity to prepare and react.
I rarely saw anyone in the UK just stop in a road at a junction, put their indicator on and THEN turn into the junction since British drivers seem to implicitly understand that the point of the indicator was to show intent before slowing on approach to the junction.
It's called a turn signal, so people seem to think they should put it on when/as they turn the vehicle.
In the UK however we call them indicators, and they should be used first and foremost to indicate (the clue is in the name...) your intention before you carry out an action, giving other drivers and opportunity to prepare and react.
I rarely saw anyone in the UK just stop in a road at a junction, put their indicator on and THEN turn into the junction since British drivers seem to implicitly understand that the point of the indicator was to show intent before slowing on approach to the junction.
May 2nd 2020 | 2:30 am
#19
Forum Regular
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 243
From: Northern Atlanta area, GA
Re: How to use a roundabout
There doesn't appear to be many roundabouts in Southern California, but I think that the ones that I have seen have had YIELD painted on the road and/or signs to suggest that much. I think that those help the locals realize the need to wait for a gap versus just entering. No one seems to know (or care enough) to signal when coming off the roundabout though. 
May 2nd 2020 | 4:52 am
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 5,396
From: Cayman Islands
Re: How to use a roundabout
. I've driven a lot on European roads, not just in Spain, and NEVER made that mistake.
May 6th 2020 | 3:50 am
#21
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: How to use a roundabout
I know it well, and worked nearby briefly (WHS HQ), but as I lived in London and my parents lived in Gloucester, which incidentally has more than its fair share of roundabouts too, I did on occasion take a detour off the A419 on the way to my parent's home, to visit the Magic Roundabout. 
May 6th 2020 | 4:21 am
#22
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Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 802
From: Newnan, GA
Re: How to use a roundabout
The Magic Roundabout is a marvel of engineering, or traffic management theory, whatever it is. 6 exits in total (although 4 are main thru roads, one a side street and one an entrance to the football car park) and very rarely did I ever see traffic build up beyond 7 or 8 cars back at any single roundabout - the traffic finds a way - once one route blocks, people use alternatives, which in turn free's up the original, and so on.
I'd love to see something like that plonked in Atlanta.
I'd love to see something like that plonked in Atlanta.
May 6th 2020 | 5:14 am
#23
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 53,356
From: Dixie, ex UK
Re: How to use a roundabout
The Magic Roundabout is a marvel of engineering, or traffic management theory, whatever it is. 6 exits in total (although 4 are main thru roads, one a side street and one an entrance to the football car park) and very rarely did I ever see traffic build up beyond 7 or 8 cars back at any single roundabout - the traffic finds a way - once one route blocks, people use alternatives, which in turn free's up the original, and so on.
I'd love to see something like that plonked in Atlanta.
I'd love to see something like that plonked in Atlanta.
Last edited by Pulaski; May 6th 2020 at 5:17 am.
