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I use a couple of rotaries on a regular basis; I'd wager that over 50% of drivers don't signal at all when they use a roundabout (or at least they don't seem to when I'm around), so I thought I'd see what others were taught.
I always turn on my right signal as I pass the exit before mine, or before I enter the circle if I'm taking the very first exit. If I'm going more than half-way around, I start off with the left signal, and then switch over to the right when I'm about to exit.
The signal on exit is probably the most important, because it lets people who are waiting to enter know they can take your spot. The left signal, especially on this rotary, is to make it crystal clear that I am passing the straight-on exit (the lanes are in a sort of spiral configuration, so it can look like you're turning out, even though you might not be).
Basically, I try to make my intentions crystal clear.
I live in the "rotary" (we call them circles) capital of the US. We do not use signals on them.
I never learned how to drive in a roundabout. They aren't common here, so the few times I've encountered one, I just treated it like a regular road which rather unsurprisingly is exactly how you're supposed to.
In some places, that might get you into trouble with multiple-lane circles.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Linked Site
Drivers must remember to yield to the vehicles in the left lane when attempting movements through traffic circles in the right lane.
That rule is the same in Maine, but fortunately, they took to regulating them with actual pavement markings that dictate which lanes go where, rather than relying on a traffic law that nobody knew.
In my town, we have two roundabouts, and I avoid them at all cost. In another 5 to 10 years, the state and village planners will realize what a big mistake it was constructing them, because the area will grow more, and there'll be more traffic, too much traffic for the present roundabouts to handle.
Roundabouts are great, except for the part where people don't actually know how they work. I generally signal these people with an upraised hand, with first , second, fourth, and fifth fingers clenched. This is considered the universal signal for, among other things, "please learn how to drive before operating your vehicle."
Haha @ the post above. I drive through several rotaries daily (in Massachusetts) and I would wager that 99.9% of people do not signal at all, except possibly in the manner described above.
But I was pretty much taught/under the impression that you only needed to signal in the rotary if you wanted to change from the inner to outer lane or vice versa. Or, if you couldn't get yourself out of the inner lane in time and need to make an exit (no guarantee anyone will let you out, though).
IMO it would be odd to signal when entering the rotary because all of the traffic is going in the same direction, there isn't really any doubt which way you're going to turn.
Roundabouts are great, except for the part where people don't actually know how they work. I generally signal these people with an upraised hand, with first , second, fourth, and fifth fingers clenched. This is considered the universal signal for, among other things, "please learn how to drive before operating your vehicle."
:-)
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Dang, all this time I thought I was being told I was number 1. What a let down!
i hated when they put the 1st one back in Madison, never seeing them before and with no "training" (heaven knows they werent part of my driver education in the 70's lol) it was a bit nerve racking as you really dont know if the car in the other lane will do what's expected. Heck I didnt know if i was doing what was expected. I still feel that way when i'm up there visiting and hit one of the couple in the area.
I dont think i've seen one down here, though can imagine since you are driving in a circle turning left that it would be just fine if they could somehow include a "spotter" that would cut in over your radio indicating when you were "clear".
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