Love Hate Roundabouts

Today I was almost in a bad accident.
An old lady decided she would illegally speed and illegally cut me off in a two way roundabout.
I was in a much bigger vehicle and it would not have been pretty for her.

I know the science of roundabouts and know they do help with traffic and even accidents,
but My GOD, some people here just have no clue how to use them.

For whatever reason, people like to play chicken. Part of the problem where I live is that many of the roundabout are two lanes.
I think one lane ones are a little safer. The two lanes are just not understood by a lot of people.

People are, indeed, too stupid to share the road.
I will agree 100%

a reply to: JAGStorm

That happens to me all of the time. I lay on my horn for a long period of time and make these people believe I'm going to hit them while I'm doing it.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I'm glad nothing happened.

The 2 lane roundabouts are not my favorite either. I just stay on the outer lane.

Sometime I'm afraid i could get trapped in the inner lane and go on in circles forever, just because I don't want to cut off no one...

No Clue

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: JAGStorm

That happens to me all of the time. I lay on my horn for a long period of time and make these people believe I'm going to hit them while I'm doing it.

I actually believed I was going to hit them. They sped up and crossed over in front of me.
Probably 15 seconds from me hitting them directly. I had people behind me too.
Very lucky indeed.

a reply to: JAGStorm

Did you at least honk to let the woman know that she did something wrong? If not, she'll probably keep doing the same thing in the future.

originally posted by: Deetermined
a reply to: JAGStorm

Did you at least honk to let the woman know that she did something wrong? If not, she'll probably keep doing the same thing in the future.

I didn't. It happened very fast, and I was so focused on living!

originally posted by: NoClue
a reply to: JAGStorm

I'm glad nothing happened.

The 2 lane roundabouts are not my favorite either. I just stay on the outer lane.

Sometime I'm afraid i could get trapped in the inner lane and go on in circles forever, just because I don't want to cut off no one...

No Clue

Around here the two lane ones don't usually go all the way around on the outer lane- so if you're not taking the first or second exit there's a chance you need to be in that inner lane in a real hurry, or you're taking the exit like it or not.

a reply to: lordcomac



This is exactly what our roundabout looks like.

What is so scary is that i've seen so many accidents happen just like i've explained.
Even a friend got into the same accident. There has also been some fatalities.
People on the outside don't get they can't cross over!

I don't drive, I can drive, but I don't drive, I don't drive precisely because I don't trust the other morons on the the road.

If I can't trust you get my order right then how the hell can I be expected to trust you not to kill me with that 70mph box of mental on wheels you're driving.

a reply to: JAGStorm

I don't understand the issue people have with roundabouts, they are simplicity itself. Heck, some of them even have the directions drawn on them - and yet people still get them wrong.

I like mini ones as you can drive over them if nothing is coming the other way (taught to do that over here in blighty).

Stuff this one in your cosmic utensil.

a reply to: JAGStorm

This looks so uncalled complicated.

If they make the two inner circles perfect round and the in and outgoing lanes angled it is taking out unneeded stops in the middle sections.

Also, making it one lane and clean and tidy, it would not slow down traffic that much. Here, roundabouts you have to wait for a free space. You can not just drive in. But if you time the entry so you slide right behind the other car, with attention and enough space for speed correction.

It is like a living organism, it flows. No one stops in the roundabout, you try to get out as quick as you can. Many roundabouts here are flat and you have great oversight. If you know how to angle the car on entry you can get almost straight around the corner on some smaller ones. The tighter ring fits one car but is reserved for trucks so they can swivel around better.

Some roundabouts I go through before you can say "twenty one" two times in a row and you could handle an open drink in the car with no hassle, if I would allow open drinks in my car...

The fun begins when they are empty and you angle through the tight ring that is plastered with rounded stones that make for a perfect slip through the inner core. I drift away haha.

originally posted by: Oleandra88
a reply to: JAGStorm

This looks so uncalled complicated.

Like that 'Yes' tune.
Can i get me a 'Louie, Louie' hallafalujah?

a reply to: Homefree

Is that something to eat?

They keep putting more and more roundabouts up here, in the winter, they are not very good because they are hard to plow and often slippery . I think they actually waste a lot of money creating those things around here in this area. Too much snow. A lot of people just go different ways, they got stuck waiting to get into the roundabout because the highway is steady flow, you cannot get in and you can be waiting for fifteen minutes sometimes. So during busy times, just go a different way, note, the line on the highway can be a half mile long some days, but usually that is only a five minute wait, only two minutes longer than if there was still a light and intersection there yet. We avoid going through the roundabout during rush hours.

I wonder if the cops would give you a ticket if you drove around in a circle for twenty minutes on the roundabout? Technically I do not think you are breaking any laws.

originally posted by: rickymouse
I wonder if the cops would give you a ticket if you drove around in a circle for twenty minutes on the roundabout? Technically I do not think you are breaking any laws.

Try it and report back

But some people believe all the road belongs to them. I was side swiped of my motorcycle by a guy rushing to get his flight slot with his private plane. They think the lane lines don't apply to them. Many times I have been in near collisions with people drifting from one lane to another. Some times I wished I'd got a tank and just nudge them to teach them a lesson. But the police wouldn't like me.

Hey crazeed,
many do not have a feeling for the others that share the road around them and the relative speed they have to them selfes.

I always let motorcycle pass easy. If they want they could stay on our lane and just pass me when the road allows it. I want to make it safe for you two wheeled gals and guys, because I know you do not have metal around you.

Stay safe!