Do you know your way around a traffic circle

Bradon

///Member
Most mornings, I could probably sit at a circle for about 5 mins.. All other cars don't even stop at the entry of circle.. But yes Right have right of way unless you in the circle already .. but i don't think any of this applies anyways.. haha

So when you see a gap take it..
 

ChefDJ

///Member
roundabouts-2.jpg
 

henriZA

Active member
Most SA drivers have no clue what "yield to the right" means. They'll happily sit at any circle while traffic just flows from far and wide (from the right obviously). The way I see it, at a small single lane circle it is the same as at a four-way stop: first to arrive can go first. At a dual-lane circle, if you take the first exit you should be taking the outside lane, which means that there should not be any traffic coming from the right anyway. If you take any other exit you should be in the inner lane, that's where this sign (http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=9447&pid=292928#pid292928) has got it completely wrong. Even the Arrive Alive graphic for driving around traffic circles is incorrect, it conveniently shows traffic going from one exit only, if you add cars from another entrance a collision is bound to happen. Not that the public knows or applies any of this...
 

Coisman

Administrator
Staff member
henriZA said:
Most SA drivers have no clue what "yield to the right" means. They'll happily sit at any circle while traffic just flows from far and wide (from the right obviously). The way I see it, at a small single lane circle it is the same as at a four-way stop: first to arrive can go first. At a dual-lane circle, if you take the first exit you should be taking the outside lane, which means that there should not be any traffic coming from the right anyway. If you take any other exit you should be in the inner lane, that's where this sign (http://www.bmwfanatics.co.za/showthread.php?tid=9447&pid=292928#pid292928) has got it completely wrong. Even the Arrive Alive graphic for driving around traffic circles is incorrect, it conveniently shows traffic going from one exit only, if you add cars from another entrance a collision is bound to happen. Not that the public knows or applies any of this...

Remember... the sign in the post you referring to is where the main road is the one going straight, with a small side roads to the left and right, thus the main traffic is allowed, and as per instruction from the road sign, to use both lanes to carry on straight.
 

haXor

Member
shanoo said:
Roundabout - right of way to those coming from your right
Mini circle - first come first go

Therein lies the problem. There should not be 2 rules for circles as this causes confusion, just one - like they do in the UK. Right of way to those coming from your right, irrespective of circle size.
 

Coisman

Administrator
Staff member
haXor said:
shanoo said:
Roundabout - right of way to those coming from your right
Mini circle - first come first go

Therein lies the problem. There should not be 2 rules for circles as this causes confusion, just one - like they do in the UK. Right of way to those coming from your right, irrespective of circle size.

But that is how it is!!
 

Jerez

Well-known member
Major said:
And then there's this traffic circle which seems to confuse everyone and where I've almost been hit twice. :) You have to yield to traffic coming from your left once you're in the circle.

https://goo.gl/maps/B4pFxCJyXVJ2

That's because they don't understand the right of way belongs to the traffic from the right. If they understood this then they wouldn't dart in and just wait until you've passed.


Coisman@TheFanatics said:
haXor said:
shanoo said:
Roundabout - right of way to those coming from your right
Mini circle - first come first go

Therein lies the problem. There should not be 2 rules for circles as this causes confusion, just one - like they do in the UK. Right of way to those coming from your right, irrespective of circle size.

But that is how it is!!

The "that's how it is rule" should be changed to just one so all can understand - this will avoid misinterpretation when approaching a circle
 

Major

Active member
Jerez said:
Major said:
And then there's this traffic circle which seems to confuse everyone and where I've almost been hit twice. :) You have to yield to traffic coming from your left once you're in the circle.

https://goo.gl/maps/B4pFxCJyXVJ2

That's because they don't understand the right of way belongs to the traffic from the right. If they understood this then they wouldn't dart in and just wait until you've passed.

That's the thing with this traffic circle, if you're coming from the east/west you have right of way, period. If cars enter or leave the circle from the north/south they have to wait for you. So right of way doesn't necessarily always belong to traffic from the right.
 

Carbon

///Member
The law is clear!

BMW drivers have right of flipping others off, and people stopping inside circles should be shot.

Sent from my SM-N920C using Tapatalk
 

DieselFan

Honorary ///Member
Shaddow said:
ChefDJ@TheFanatics said:
Depends how many lanes there are...
Everyone ignored this, but he's spot on...

All the other replies assume that there's only one lane going around the circle.
If there's two lanes, left lane always takes the next exit. If going to the second or third exit, u stay in the inside lane till u pass the exit preceding the one you intend to take. You then indicate, change to the left lane and take your exit when you get there.

Jerez said:
Shaddow said:
ChefDJ@TheFanatics said:
Depends how many lanes there are...
Everyone ignored this, but he's spot on...

All the other replies assume that there's only one lane going around the circle.
If there's two lanes, left lane always takes the next exit. If going to the second or third exit, u stay in the inside lane till u pass the exit preceding the one you intend to take. You then indicate, change to the left lane and take your exit when you get there.

Some interesting / dangerous answers here.
All Traffic approaching from your right has the right of way.
As shadow says , if you're taking the second or third or even doing the carousel thing... Then you stay on the inner lane ..hugging the island and when you pass the exit before you want to leave , then indicate left and come from the inner and slide to the outer.

We have dingbats here who , very occasionally stay on the outside of the roundabout when taking the 3rd exit and that is a scary site.

Thanks for your input


This is wrong. You may take the second exit on the outside lane. It is actually recommended. Aditionally one should follow whatever road signs and markings that are available.

"
To Turn Left (taking the first exit)signal left and approach in the left-hand lanekeep to the left on the roundabout and continue signaling left to leave.

To go straight on (taking the second exit)select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout. If no marking on the road it is usually safest to keep to the left lane stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundaboutsignal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

To Turn Right (taking the last exit or third exit )signal right and approach in the right-hand lanekeep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundaboutsignal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

"

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