Anyone like traffic circles-roundabouts?

[Jstpssng]

Drivers see a green light and make a left turn into oncoming thru-traffic. They see a green light a block ahead of them but don't see it turn red before they get there. They change lanes without checking mirrors. They think using turn signals gives them right of way.

They drive bumper to bumper with a semi, in its blind spot, and don't see its turn signal before being forced off the road when it changes lanes. They pull back in front of someone they just passed before clearing the other vehicle. It's not just here in the US and there are dash-cammers in the left lanes with the BFH'ers to share our national expertise on the web.

When I see a green light way ahead I like to predict when it will turn yellow, based strictly on how close I am to it. Often it will change to yellow just as I say “NOW!”, as I’m about 3 car lengths away.

In places with heavy traffic, i.e.Boston MA, if you turn on your blinker for a lane change most drivers will let you in.

One trick I use when driving in snow on the interstate is to drop in behind a semi which is traveling at a sane speed, and stay about 800 feet behind him. It helps me to keep my own speed down.

What I find frustrating in a two lane road is when somebody just has to pass time; then slam on the brakes and turn, just after pulling back in. Or, rush out of a driveway to get in front of you, then poke along until turning into another driveway 1/2 mile further down the road.

 

[Buggs67]

"In places with heavy traffic, i.e.Boston MA, if you turn on your blinker for a lane change most drivers will let you in."

In NJ if you put on your blinker they try to block you. When I drove for an airport limo service in the NYC-NJ area the rules changed as you changed location. In NYC lanes mean nothing, blinkers are never used and be prepared for ANYTHING. I'd pick the correct lane for my exits/interchanges and go with the flow.

Re: what someone said about driving same routes, familiarity CAN build carelessness. I made it a point OTJ to take a different route each time. See different sights, learn new roads, cover more territory. Now, retired, I do it just to enjoy the ride and scenery.

 

[Jstpssng]

^^^^^
A lot of places it’s as you say... people are territorial and there’s no way they’re going to let you in. On one landscaping crew I often had to ride with a kid who was just out of HS, and drove that loaded ton dump truck like it was a race car. We came blasting down a hill one day with a stop sign at the bottom with me screaming at him to stop because a car was coming. Yet if somebody pulled out in front of him with plenty of room he would be laying on the horn and one finger waving out the window.
After the third time he ran over or broke something I made a comment that “maybe he shouldn’t be driving”... forgetting that the foreman was friends with his brother, and the three of them “lit up” together several times every day.The next thing I knew he had complained about me to the owner... I walked away and had a better job with a survey company 2 hours later.

 

[turnkey4099]

I love the fact that of several you justify breaking the law because others are breaking the law. Again nowhere did I state that I stay in the left lane. I do wonder were I am to drive with a heavily laden truck. Can not drive in the left lane and impede the speeders who want to drive at whatever speed they want or do I ride the right lane where people cut you off because they do not know how to merge.

The people and their poor driving skills that are repeatedly displayed are the ones that need the self examination. A lecture from you just demonstrates the poor judgement you use as you are driving. Pulling into the buffer zone as a truck approaches a traffic light, the people that pull out in front of an on coming truck so they are not trapped by a truck in traffic, cars that will race behind a truck that is backing up all demonstrate very poor judgement but hell we can justify the poor driving skills because a lot of other people do it.

If people drove more defensively instead of aggressively as as several have condoned there might be fewer accidents. Fewer accidents would be a good thing in my book. Fewer people killed, lower insurance rates, less property damage but heaven forbid we say such things............. Just get out of my way so I can drive faster.

All the state highway trucks in Ohio at one time had "Speed Kills" painted on them. I guess the laws of physics do not apply anymore. So you drive as fast and carelessly as you wish and I will do the best I can to not get in your self righteous way.

Sounds like an imporovement "best I can to to not gin in your wey" Drive whatever speed you like as long as you're not blocking traffic in the passing lane. Me? I drive liek the traffic instructors say. Whatever the traffic is doing - be it faster or slower than the posted.

 

[turnkey4099]

In Colorado if you are in the fast lane (left lane) on a 2 lane or wider road and aren’t actively passing someone, you are breaking the law.

True in a lot if not most states.

I once got a ticket for "exceeding speed limit while passing" - BC in Canada so I just shrugged it off and paid. Most states it is legal to exceed the limit "while passing" altho Washington for a least specifies the vehicle passed must be at or below the posted limit.

 

[MossRoad]

Might be a lot of bars in that area?

Nope. Just people that can't drive.

 

[plowhog]

Most states it is legal to exceed the limit "while passing"

 

[ruffdog]

Is this the roundabout's fault?

 

[Torvy]

Don't be puzzled. The idea is that you do not sit perpetually in the passing lane because you are just ever so slightly faster than the car you are passing...so this: say speed limit is 65. Car you are approaching is going 64.5. You are going 64.8. When you overtake the car and move out to the passing lane, you need to accelerate to maybe 70 or 75 just until you get around the car, then you get back to 64.8. That way is the legal way in most states. It is the polite thong to do everywhere.

 

[MossRoad]

YES! That's exactly what happens at our roundabouts.

 

[MossRoad]

Don't be puzzled. The idea is that you do not sit perpetually in the passing lane because you are just ever so slightly faster than the car you are passing...so this: say speed limit is 65. Car you are approaching is going 64.5. You are going 64.8. When you overtake the car and move out to the passing lane, you need to accelerate to maybe 70 or 75 just until you get around the car, then you get back to 64.8. That way is the legal way in most states. It is the polite thong to do everywhere.

Thongs are never polite.

 

[Torvy]

Thongs are never polite.

Lol, I hate typing on these small screens. You are 100% correct.

 

[Jstpssng]

I would like to see what states allow you to exceed the limit while passing. Here it's a sure fire way to get a ticket.

 

[ruffdog]

Thongs are never polite.

Pictures or it didn't happen!

 

[Gee Ray]

Thongs are never polite.

Depends on what SHE looks like.

 

[Frankenkubota]

There is a big traffic circle in pinehurst nc, it's been there for years and years. 2 busy state highways meet there, at 90 degree angles. Both hwys are 4 lanes and usually busy but must be narrowed to 2 lanes to accommodate the circle. Most the residents i knew did not like it.

Pinehurst is a retirement community and pretty soon Mrs is doing most the driving. I will just say that, after spending most my adult life on the road, i find female drivers to be a bit too cautious, increasing with age.

Get behind one of those blue hairs waiting for just the right opportunity and you got a long wait.

Like so many things, in theory they should work but inject a dose of human nature and everything stops.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Sharn Jean and I drove to Tulsa yesterday; first time we had been on the turnpike in quite some time. They raised the speed limit to 80 mph; it was a white knuckle flight for me, since she was driving. About every other vehicle was a semi, and they were hauling the mail.
The left hand lane seemed to have it's share of go-slow idiots, who wouldn't move over, so lots of passing on the right. I didn't see one patrol car the whole trip, so some of the cars and pickups were driving every bit of 90mph. All in all, I would just as soon not drive the turnpike any more. Old HW 66 is still open; takes a bit longer, but not so scary.

 

[Bearsixty7]

You're not obligated to break the law, but in most states you are legally obligated to move right if you're not actively passing another vehicle as the left lane is theoretically reserved for passing.

In California (CMVC 21654), it's "slower traffic keep right" (black on white sign: not a cautionary sign but instead states the law), which means you don't have to be passing, but you do have to move right if you're slower than someone behind you. Notice how it doesn't say "unless you're already going the speed limit", and you shouldn't assume that either, because people do get tickets for violating this.

Yep, seeing more and more of those signs in TX, OK and MO.. It's just common courtesy to get over if you are not passing someone or about to make a left turn. Some people just don't get it. (Like common sense, it isn't that common any more).

 

[Bearsixty7]

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.

Unless you are about to turn left you should just get in line behind the other vehicle going the same speed, no need to travel side by side another vehicle going the exact same speed. IF you're doing the speed limit it doesn't bother me so much, it's the 2 or 3 vehicles going side by side at 2-5 mph slower than posted speed that irritates me.

 

[MossRoad]

Sharn Jean and I drove to Tulsa yesterday; first time we had been on the turnpike in quite some time. They raised the speed limit to 80 mph; it was a white knuckle flight for me, since she was driving. About every other vehicle was a semi, and they were hauling the mail.
The left hand lane seemed to have it's share of go-slow idiots, who wouldn't move over, so lots of passing on the right. I didn't see one patrol car the whole trip, so some of the cars and pickups were driving every bit of 90mph. All in all, I would just as soon not drive the turnpike any more. Old HW 66 is still open; takes a bit longer, but not so scary.

A couple months ago we took 412 east from Tulsa over towards Arkansas to go to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. I was not very comfortable going that speed with other cars. I'd be fine by myself, but 85-90 in traffic is nuts.