Anyone like traffic circles-roundabouts?

[bcp]

That reminded me of this one. Change the lyrics to someone stuck on a roundabout.

Bruce

 

[the old grind]

IMO convenience/ease of getting through a roundabout is proportional to its diameter and inversely so to the amount of traffic it gets at a given time. Some of us are acclimated to diphtheria, polio, tetanus, and shingles shots, driving in the right lane, wearing a shirt into a restaurant, never being out of reach of our phones, etc. IMO we'll get used to roundabouts too, tho' some of us may not do so right away.

Bet you don't listen till the end. Music so often seems to go around in circles. (I'll be back soon)

 

[Jstpssng]

That reminded me of this one. Change the lyrics to someone stuck on a roundabout.

Bruce

That WOULD be a good one. “He’ll ride forever on the roundabouts of Boston he’s the man who never returned”

 

[Buggs67]

I learned to drive in NYS and there were traffic circles in the area. One at Bear Mountain Bridge is from a 4 lane divided hiway to a bridge and other roads. I'm sure it confounds those not familiar with them.

When moved to NJ they had them on a particular State hiway and it was a nightmare; they were all removed.

Now I'm in South Central PA and they are starting to put them in. Great except for the idiots who are clueless, about 40% of the drivers. Just as bad are 4 way (or even stupider 3-way) stops. Between the people who don't know who has ROW, yield their ROW and those who seize ROW it's awful.

A new circle is being installed in town and right now it only open to traffic on the main road and right turns-only off the side roads. On the day it opens I think I'll bring a lawn chair and snacks and watch he accidents.

 

[Buggs67]

And as for the "I'm doing the speed limit so I'm not moving over" crowd I believe they are little people who enjoy having a little power over other drivers. And F'ing up the flow of traffic. I always enjoyed writing them a ticket for Failure to Keep Right after flashing-to-pass several times.

Same for those who park themselves in the middle lane and cruise. 18 wheelers and people towing trailers HATE you because that is THEIR passing lane, as they are prohibited from the left lane.

 

[Jstpssng]

Not knowing when to yield... the light to access an onramp to the interstate which I use frequently used to allow just 3 cars before changing... if all drivers were paying attention. There was also a yield on that onramp for traffic coming from the other direction.
I was third in line, when the bozo in front stopped, to allow the person at the yield sign to go through... when the lights changed I was crossways in two lanes and thought I was going to get T-boned-front and back. On another occasion a bozo yielded as my pickup was just shifting gears when I had to slam on the brakes; it confused the computer, sticking the tranny in 2nd so I had to pull over, shut the truck off and restart it.

 

[ponytug]

I remember vividly being in Massachusetts when they changed the right of way for roundabouts from being those entering (old) to those in the rotary (new). Chaos doesn't begin to describe it, especially when you layer in Boston drivers. I still find myself looking both ways when crossing a one way street.

Interesting to hear that from multiple members. I don't think I have ever had a vehicle whose odometer was not calibrated to show a faster speed than actual. I usually budget 3mph.

Curious-- have you ever compared it to a hand held gps?

Yes, when I first bought one and many times since. Every vehicle, almost every time, has been within 1mph, except when the GPS has a location hiccup. I have a Garman designed for semis/RVs (with height/weight restrictions programmed in, and routing that avoids left or U turns) that I use routinely when driving large vehicles; whenever you exceed the local speed limit, the speed numbers change to red, which I find very easy to see out of my peripheral vision. At least where I drive now, there are more than a few speed limit signs hiding behind strategically located bushes or untrimmed trees.

I heard the 3-5mph story when I was learning to drive, but I haven't ever experienced it. Perhaps it arose when tire inflation wasn't as stable as it is now? Tubed tires, low quality rubber?

YMMV...(couldn't resist.)

All the best,

Peter

 

[ruffdog]

Go round and round....

 

[MossRoad]

You'll have to explain that one. A red light is a red light. I don't see this happening.

I have seen where if I come up to a 4 way intersection and there is no other traffic, I get a green light within ~30 seconds. They just need time to turn the other lights yellow then red before I get the green.

Because the same people that drive the same set of traffic lights every day expect the same behavior. They don't pay attention to only their light. They pay attention to traffic flow. Then one day the light doesn't do what it's been doing the last 5 days, and since they were expecting something to occur, and they aren't only watching their light (totally their fault), they pull out and boom.

 

[MossRoad]

What really gets me are the people that think they have the right to break the law. If I am at the speed limit I am not going to move over so that you can speed. Honk your horn and flash your lights will result in nothing from me. I will drive the speed limit until the lane beside me turns or slows or whatever. I am not obligated to brake or break the law so that you can speed.

You'd get a ticket in Indiana for that. On multi-lane roads, you are required to move over as soon as safely possible to let faster traffic pass, regardless of the speed limit.

New Hampshire driver's manual says you should move over for tailgaters, too. Page 16.

https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/documents/nhdm.pdf

 

[plowhog]

Because the same people that drive the same set of traffic lights every day expect the same behavior.

The Defensive Driving course by the National Safety Council advises varying your "regular" route occasionally. (Such as commute to/from work.) This is to disrupt such a mindset setting in. (At least that was recommended back when I was a DDC instructor.)

 

[MossRoad]

...

With over 1,000,000 miles under my bumper I have seen some stupid stuff on the roads. And one of the most dangerous that I see everyday is the one that thinks he has the right to go as fast as they want.

With similar mileage under my bumper, one of the most dangerous things I see is people that purposely try to play traffic cop and hold up the flow of traffic by not moving over to let faster traffic pass. It causes more problems, anger and accidents than it resolves by sitting there in the left lane going exactly the speed limit. If you study traffic, you know that if there's a line of cars and the first on is going 60, no one behind than can go 60. Each car in the line will be going progressively slower. You get 5-10 cars back and they're going 55 in a 60 zone and getting ticked off.

By sitting in the left lane going exactly the speed limit, this is what you are causing behind you... watch the video.

That's why more and more states are requiring people to move over and let faster traffic pass.

 

[Jstpssng]

You'd get a ticket in Indiana for that. On multi-lane roads, you are required to move over as soon as safely possible to let faster traffic pass, regardless of the speed limit.

New Hampshire driver's manual says you should move over for tailgaters, too. Page 16.

https://www.nh.gov/safety/divisions/dmv/forms/documents/nhdm.pdf

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

 

[MossRoad]

Recent trip indicated was consistently 3 mph slower than radar speed at 65 mph in Toyota.

I don't like looking in the rear view especially on an 800 mile leg so set the cruise at 68 and never pass anyone... well almost no one.

When we head east from here, we usually set the cruise at about 7-8 over and rarely pass or get passed.

Going south towards Indy, it's 9-10 over.

Going west towards Chicago, you're screwed. Can't use the cruise too often as too much traffic.

Going west towards OK from Indy, it's back to 9-10 over.

 

[MossRoad]

While I agree with the points made in this article I always find this type of comment amusing


The other option for those other drivers is to reduce speed... two wrongs don't make a right. It's not uncommon for me to park in the right lane watching a group of bunched up motorists in the left lane waiting for that one cruise control motorist who is driving 1 mile over the speed of the slower traffic.

In many states it's also illegal to speed up when somebody is trying to pass you yet that's almost impossible to enforce. I admit that I am occasionally guilty of this on the interstate... when somebody has been in the passing lane by my LR bumper for several miles they always seem inclined to speed up just as we overtake a slower vehicle... just long enough to block me in. I've learned to punch the gas, pass, then pull back in to the right lane 1/2 mile down the road.

Why don't you just tap your brake, let them pass, then resume on your merry way?

 

[MossRoad]

The Defensive Driving course by the National Safety Council advises varying your "regular" route occasionally. (Such as commute to/from work.) This is to disrupt such a mindset setting in. (At least that was recommended back when I was a DDC instructor.)

That's probably a very good idea. And I actually do that, but only because I don't like to do the same route over and over. It's that last light right before my employer that I occasionally curse!

 

[MossRoad]

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

Yes, tailgating is an infraction. So is not moving over for faster traffic even if they are exceeding the speed limit here in Indiana. The State Police tell you move over and let the faster car pass. If they're tailgating you, driving at excessive speed, weaving in and out of traffic, etc., move over and let them pass, get a description of the vehicle, and call it in. Just let them go and don't try and enforce traffic laws yourself. It's not your job or civic duty. It's downright dangerous and can cause more problems than it resolves.

 

[Thomas]

Traffic roundabouts not handy towing trailer for there seems to be someone in hurry or not paying attention during rush hour than there icy conditions.

 

[Jstpssng]

Why don't you just tap your brake, let them pass, then resume on your merry way?

Most of the roads I drive would require me to find a safe place to pull over, preferably with no oncoming traffic.
We're talking apples and oranges though. If I'm on the interstate I do as you say. I also generally will speed up to pass a slower vehicle, if there's faster traffic coming up behind me.

 

[turnkey4099]

That's a safety suggestion, worth noting. However, the infraction is for the tailgater. I have done as they suggest, if I feel the guy behind me may be a problem. More often I just leave more space between me and the car in front of me, to allow for longer stopping distance.
If you pulled over for every tailgater in some places I’ve been you may as well park and walk.

Yep. Traffic in the open roads is usually 5mph over the posted and cars doing 65-80 with spacing not even enough for 40mph. String of acrs 10 long in a space tehre should be no more than 2. That is the cause of all those multiple rear-enders when the visibility suddenly drops. #1 hits brakes and 10 cars pile into him.

So if there are a bunch of people breaking the law then it is ok for you to do it also? I hope to God you never have to drag a body out of a tangled piece of metal that was once a car. Yes I have. It is all good until something goes wrong.

Try being one of the workers on a highway and the "I am better then the law" a$$holes speeds through the construction zone. It is frightening and dangerous.

Speed limits are set for a reason. And if by obeying the law I inconvenience you, tuff.

Should I only obey the laws that I think are right? When the speed limit is 20 mph in the school zone and some idiot runs it at 40 mph I should run 40 in the school zone too? And yes I have had to stop and hold a child that was on his way to school. He was run over by a speeding truck. And I watched people drive around him until I could block the road with my truck and trailer.

Did I tick off a bunch of people by blocking the road? Well, yes I did. And I do not regret making those people slow down and stop. The firetruck, the ambulance and the police blocked the intersection and took over the first aid.

With over 1,000,000 miles under my bumper I have seen some stupid stuff on the roads. And one of the most dangerous that I see everyday is the one that thinks he has the right to go as fast as they want.

By oeying the law in traffic when the 'flow' is above the limit you a causing a ripple in the traffic flow. Even the driving instructors and safety people say that the safest speed to drive on any highway is whatever the 'flow' is doing. Summary: your method os driving is againts all safety manuals. Bit os see from the posts after this one, you haven't learned anything.