Roundabouts

[Stringent]

Is it me or are there more and more people who don't know how to handle a roundabout? Either they come bombing down the road and pay no attention to the mini roundabout then wonder why you have in plenty of time made them squeal their brakes as you have right of way, on the roundabout and they make hand gestures. To which I make a circle and point to the thing on the floor.

Also we can be sitting at one for ages looking at each other trying to determine which one goes first and which way they are going, because lets face it, no one indicates on the things to say I am actually going left or all the way round. Its like a psych test.

[kalniel]

So true. I really don't like the US 4-way junctions, but perhaps we have drivers that need something that simple.

[bigblue]

Yeah, agreed, there's just too many folk that don't know how to 'work' one

Mini roundabouts especially. They're like a battle of wills sometimes. People hesitating, then they go... then change their mind, then scream straight through. Probably with their eyes shut, or at least, that's what it feels like.

I've recently moved to Jersey, and practically the busiest road in the island has a 'Filter in turn' roundabout. It's great, everyone actually takes their turn fairly. Not sure it'd work in Glasgow though

[directhex]

why does nobody understand roundabout indicator use?

and why do people ignore clear road markings on roundabouts for dummies with every possible scenario written in big white letters on the road?

and why is it always merc (other german cars too, but mostly merc) drivers who assume i'm leaving the roundabout when i'm not, and pull out in front of me?

[Funkstar]

Merc drivers probably all learned to drive in Kazakhstan or somewhere further east into Asia.

Their roundabouts work differently to ours, the oncoming traffic has the right of way, so you have to stop to let people onto the roundabout. Caos usually ensues.

[JULE5]

I used to work with a guy who actually thought that you should go round the roundabout and only indicate when you want to come off, e.g. turn right with no indication, then indicate left to come off.

Now, the really scary thing is that in previous years this guy had been a driving instructor!

Another annoyance (oh there's more?) are people who are obviously a bit timid, who simply wait (and this goes for any junction) until no cars are in sight before pulling out (just to be on the safe side, probably). Great if you're waiting behind them, watching as the tractor approaches from 100 yards away with a queue of traffic already behind it....

[this_is_gav]

We burst out laughing at this roundabout in or around Hemel Hempstead coming back from the DTM at Brands Hatch a month back. We looked at the sign, frowned, laughed, then became ill soon afterwards. It felt weird coming to a giant roundabout and then turning right.

Reason was the M1 junction off the M25 was closed due to congestion caused by flooding further up the M1, which was down to a single lane. So we had to take a roundabout (pun not intended, honestly) way to getting to the first open junction (junction 8 as I remember), not helped by some new roads, signs which weren't for the new roads, and Tom Tom not having a clue.

In the end, we were stuck in the queue for the M1, having travelled 60 miles in about 3 hours. We got a laptop out and started watching Top Gear.

[Fraz]

We burst out laughing at this roundabout in or around Hemel Hempstead coming back from the DTM at Brands Hatch a month back. We looked at the sign, frowned, laughed, then became ill soon afterwards. It felt weird coming to a giant roundabout and then turning right.

That magic roundabout just says three words to me: Traffic Management FAIL.

[Jay]

I once had a woman who cut me up then put the window down and said that the left hand lane was for straight a head and as the 4th exit was directly facing she used that lane.

I tried to explain that the straight ahead thing only works on a roundabout with 4 exits, that didn't work so I tried to ask her why the lane she was in simply disappeared when she got to the second exit.... that didn't work either.

[Stringent]

That magic roundabout just says three words to me: Traffic Management FAIL.

Odd thing is though, it works!

People just pay no attention to the mini roundabouts. Those that don't pay attention to the bigger ones end up with their cars on them stuck.

[MadduckUK]

a lot of the bigger roundabouts around here now have traffic lights on them.. where's the fun in that then?

[bigblue]

People just pay no attention to the mini roundabouts. Those that don't pay attention to the bigger ones end up with their cars on them stuck.

Funny you should say that. I used to know someone slightly flaky who had been off work for 6 months or so through stress. During this period they built a whopping great roundabout (known as the Dolly Parton roundabout for reasons you can probably guess) on her road to work.

On arriving at the roundabout she was so freaked out she had another mild flaky, attempted to go round it, but couldn't suss it out, so just drove straight onto the middle of it, in the cleavage so to speak, and abandoned her car.

She can look back and laugh now, thankfully. Police weren't so chuffed at the time though.

[Howard]

I circumnavigate roundabouts as fast as possible. It's the only way.

[Vimeous]

I circumnavigate roundabouts as fast as possible. It's the only way.

Hence why MK is one of the greatest towns in the UK. It has much to teach in how to approach and depart smooth radius bends, trailing-throttle, lift-off oversteer ...... mmmmmmm

BTW - Current Civic - simply dominates roundabouts

[Funkstar]

Hence why MK is one of the greatest towns in the UK. It has much to teach in how to approach and depart smooth radius bends, trailing-throttle, lift-off oversteer ...... mmmmmmm

I still want to take the Golf down to MK for a drive about

Those dog-bone ones are interesting...

[AledJ]

I just wish people would indicate where the hell they want to grgrgrgrg