Barely avoided some Maverick on Maverick violence this morning...

[Traegorn]

When the f*** did they start calling them traffic circles? I have called them roundabouts for my whole life, even if they were mostly in England or Europe. And then they came to the US I still called them roundabouts. But recently I've read traffic circles and even my GPS said enter the traffic circle and I thought what the f...?

They're labeled as roundabouts here, I think Google maps infected my brain with my calling it a traffic circle.

Maybe everyone just got sick of having the Yes song stuck in their head.

Sponsored

 

[d7602002]

it's the same thing, sure. many examples of that and yes it can be very regionalized.

a 'stoplight' is really a type of traffic control signal, but almost no one in my locale uses the latter term even if it's just a flashing yellow. they could probably call it a 'flashing yellow' or 'caution light' instead of 'traffic signal'.

I have always called them traffic lights. Figured that covers everything. If it's a flashing yellow, or flashing red, or green yellow red, no matter what it's a traffic light. But it's weird I do call it a stop sign, speed limit sign, no passing zone sign, I actually don't just call them traffic signs.

 

[Clarkdonbran]

Straight from Google. More accidents, but less serious ones. I guess that's a win?

P.S. I am not the Cactus Grey Maverick you are seeking. I was home having breakfast.

 

[Marengoite]

To be fair, 710, this IS Columbus. This is a town that shuts the freeways down to a crawl when there is 1/4" of rain.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

First you have to get drivers to understand RULES OF THE ROAD and proper lane usage.
How to make turns and stay within their lane.
Technically if you're making a left turn onto a two-lane Highway and somebody's making a right turn also at the same time, you stay in your left lane, they stay in their right lane you should be able accomplish it simultaneously.

When making a turn all the lanes are not yours.

 

[Fletch_KC]

Technically if you're making a left turn onto a two-lane Highway and somebody's making a right turn also at the same time, you stay in your left lane, they stay in their right lane you should be able accomplish it simultaneously.

This is true and accurate. Also, I never trust other drivers to stay in their lanes.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

This is true and accurate. Also, I never trust other drivers to stay in their lanes.

That's because of the self entitledness that drivers have nowadays. They feel if they're making a turn even on a three-lane highway every lane is theirs.
Here's an example of how bad it's gotten in Clark County Nevada. This is a intersection with two left turn lanes where they had to put down stripes to keep people in their Lanes.

 

[retrojet]

Enjoy the trip...

 

[scottjl]

Where I grew up, we called them "circles". The state spent years later pulling them all out. I hated them.

Now I find them again and I find so many people can't handle them, from literally stopping in the middle to let someone else in (WTF?) to semis driving straight through them not even bothering to curve. I hate that I have to go through some on my daily commute.

 

[MakinDoForNow]

Here's one!!!

 

[Traegorn]

That's because of the self entitledness that drivers have nowadays.

To be fair, the guy who cut me off by driving into the roundabout without looking was at least 60 (I got a pretty clear view).

That guy's been probably driving like that long enough where "nowadays" isn't really a factor.

(This is not a dig at older drivers -- just a comment that there are shit drivers of all ages)

 

[MakinDoForNow]

So, the whole durned human comedy keeps perpetuatin' itself down through the generations. Westward the wagons, across the sands of time until we - ah, look at me. I'm ramblin' again.

Ahhhh!! So traffic circles were developed when the wagons went roundabout and stopped when the Indians collided with the flow.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

To be fair, the guy who cut me off by driving into the roundabout without looking was at least 60 (I got a pretty clear view).

That guy's been probably driving like that long enough where "nowadays" isn't really a factor.

(This is not a dig at older drivers -- just a comment that there are shit drivers of all ages)

Old and set in his ways attitude.
He's been driving like that for the last 120 years and he'll be damned if he's going to change anything for anybody else or anything new.

Disclaimer
Yes I know somebody hasn't been driving for 120 years.
Kind of like taking a picture with your cell phone and not immediately posting it because you have to download it to a PC.

 

[Cherokee]

Does anyone really know how traffic circles work?

It’s very simple,
‘The vehicle in the circle has right of way’ period.

I entered a small one lane circle once,
The Jack ass that entered it just before I did was ON THE OTHER SIDE !
Plenty of room for five cars in the circle but there was only myself and the guy with a crap load of Self importance.
He hit the gas mad at me. He punched it and a cop saw him, pulled him right over.
I went around again and exited where they did.
I passed by the cop, gave him a thumbs up, He nodded his head.
Then as I passed the Jack ass I gave him the finger.
The guy was a walking heart attack, red faced and so fat I don’t know how he managed to get in his Kia mini van.

Then it dawned on me. He was pissed because he bought a freaking KIA minivan and knew he’d never get laid again.
:’P

 

[SafetyGuy]

You have people that use turn signals? WOW. There is a novel concept. Virginia thought it was a good idea to put a 3 lane traffic circle off the interstate that is to tight of a radius for lane changing to begin with.

Well....I use my turn signals...and I can only hope others see and catch on when it helps them to enter safely and efficiently...I am not in traffic enforcement, either officially or by gesture to the offending driver. That doesn't help, in my opinion.

Here is the one I seem to have help start the ball rolling on. It used to be a perfectly square intersection. Now with the added lanes for trucks, it seems to be working well.

Sponsored