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Trying to explain how roundabouts work to someone who doesn't get them is extremely frustrating. The rules are simple, but for some reason a lot of folks are va

by jchw 2y ago

Trying to explain how roundabouts work to someone who doesn't get them is extremely frustrating. The rules are simple, but for some reason a lot of folks are vastly overthinking it. The thing is, I like roundabouts, but I'm somehow not surprised that the metrics focus on accidents involving death or injury. I think that because people have to slow down, it must improve those metrics. But there's a particular glut of bone-headed people who power right into the roundabout without anything resembling yielding, to the point where I would legitimately not be surprised if there were actually more accidents overall. That may still be better, but it's incredibly frustrating how badly people handle roundabouts given their simplicity.

giantrobot 2y ago
> But there's a particular glut of bone-headed people who power right into the roundabout without anything resembling yielding Near my house are roundabouts that I have to drive in all the time. My number of near-collisions from people barreling through is ridiculous. Now if I'm in the roundabout I lay on my horn if I see cars approaching because they just don't pay attention. It's sad they're so dangerous because of oblivious idiots. Those intersections are so much more efficient as roundabouts than if they were traditional four way stops.
lnxg33k1 2y ago
But do you have to explain? Isn’t it part of the studies one do in order to obtain a driving license in us?
- afavour 2y ago
  No, it isn’t. Well, it’s a state by state thing so I can’t speak for all of them. But it’s not common.
  - lnxg33k1 2y ago
    So there is no theory exam in order to obtain a license?
    - afavour 2y ago
      There are. They just don’t feature roundabouts.
- DidYaWipe 2y ago
  U.S. drivers are profoundly ignorant, and often belligerently so. They block the passing lane (this is the biggest problem in U.S. transportation, no exaggeration). They don't signal. They can barely park. And most of all, they're texting ALL THE TIME. They kill pedestrians, kill other drivers, and steal thousands if not millions of hours from the rest of us every day. This is actively abetted by politicians, who refuse to impose any significant penalties for texting while driving. It should be a DUI-level offense, with the same penalties... ruthlessly enforced. I have written to my state senators more than once about this issue... to no response at all. None.
  - Aloisius 2y ago
    > They block the passing lane What do you mean by block it? I can't recall the last time I saw someone in the passing lane that was driving under the speed limit (or prevailing speed when there's traffic) except when preparing to turn left.
    - DidYaWipe 2y ago
      The passing lane has nothing to do with the speed limit. It's for passing only, at ANY speed (with the unfortunate exception of truly bumper-to-bumper traffic). When you're done passing (or aren't passing), GTFO. That's especially true if someone comes up behind you. Some states have laws saying so. Illinois law says it's illegal to block the passing lane for more than half a mile at ANY speed. Now states need to take the next step and paint "passing only" in the left lane. We spend trillions on highways, and then let one jagoff waste it all by blocking traffic.
      - Aloisius 2y ago
        Ah. In my state, California, the passing lane rule only applies if you're not already going the speed limit or if there is traffic congestion, the normal speed of traffic. If you're going the speed limit, you are under no obligation to get out of the left lane just because someone behind you wants to speed. Regardless though you're supposed to move right if you're moving slower than the lane to your right. It appears that Illinois law also has an exception for traffic congestion, but not for speed limits.
- yjftsjthsd-h 2y ago
  I don't know if it is or isn't part of the exam to get a license, but even if it is licenses are more or less good for life once you have them, so you're looking at decades before everyone on the road would have to have passed that portion of the exam.
o11c 2y ago
> focus on accidents involving death or injury The metrics show improvement for all kinds, it's just not as dramatic for lesser accidents. Typically it's something like (very roughly): * ¼ less accidents total * ½ less accidents with minor injury * ¾ less accidents with major injury or death
Tade0 2y ago
> I would legitimately not be surprised if there were actually more accidents overall. That's possible, but people causing frequent fender-benders pay dearly for the privilege, so there's at least non-lethal feedback forcing them to improve.
zihotki 2y ago
> Trying to explain how roundabouts work to someone who doesn't get them is extremely frustrating. The rules are simple, but for some reason a lot of folks are vastly overthinking it. It is a skill, it requires some practice. It's similar to math in that regards. And once you learn it you'd love them.

by jchw 2y ago

giantrobot 2y ago

> But there's a particular glut of bone-headed people who power right into the roundabout without anything resembling yielding Near my house are roundabouts that I have to drive in all the time. My number of near-collisions from people barreling through is ridiculous. Now if I'm in the roundabout I lay on my horn if I see cars approaching because they just don't pay attention. It's sad they're so dangerous because of oblivious idiots. Those intersections are so much more efficient as roundabouts than if they were traditional four way stops.

lnxg33k1 2y ago

But do you have to explain? Isn’t it part of the studies one do in order to obtain a driving license in us?

afavour 2y ago
No, it isn’t. Well, it’s a state by state thing so I can’t speak for all of them. But it’s not common.
- lnxg33k1 2y ago
  So there is no theory exam in order to obtain a license?
  - afavour 2y ago
    There are. They just don’t feature roundabouts.
DidYaWipe 2y ago
U.S. drivers are profoundly ignorant, and often belligerently so. They block the passing lane (this is the biggest problem in U.S. transportation, no exaggeration). They don't signal. They can barely park. And most of all, they're texting ALL THE TIME. They kill pedestrians, kill other drivers, and steal thousands if not millions of hours from the rest of us every day. This is actively abetted by politicians, who refuse to impose any significant penalties for texting while driving. It should be a DUI-level offense, with the same penalties... ruthlessly enforced. I have written to my state senators more than once about this issue... to no response at all. None.
- Aloisius 2y ago
  > They block the passing lane What do you mean by block it? I can't recall the last time I saw someone in the passing lane that was driving under the speed limit (or prevailing speed when there's traffic) except when preparing to turn left.
  - DidYaWipe 2y ago
    The passing lane has nothing to do with the speed limit. It's for passing only, at ANY speed (with the unfortunate exception of truly bumper-to-bumper traffic). When you're done passing (or aren't passing), GTFO. That's especially true if someone comes up behind you. Some states have laws saying so. Illinois law says it's illegal to block the passing lane for more than half a mile at ANY speed. Now states need to take the next step and paint "passing only" in the left lane. We spend trillions on highways, and then let one jagoff waste it all by blocking traffic.
    - Aloisius 2y ago
      Ah. In my state, California, the passing lane rule only applies if you're not already going the speed limit or if there is traffic congestion, the normal speed of traffic. If you're going the speed limit, you are under no obligation to get out of the left lane just because someone behind you wants to speed. Regardless though you're supposed to move right if you're moving slower than the lane to your right. It appears that Illinois law also has an exception for traffic congestion, but not for speed limits.
yjftsjthsd-h 2y ago
I don't know if it is or isn't part of the exam to get a license, but even if it is licenses are more or less good for life once you have them, so you're looking at decades before everyone on the road would have to have passed that portion of the exam.

o11c 2y ago

> focus on accidents involving death or injury The metrics show improvement for all kinds, it's just not as dramatic for lesser accidents. Typically it's something like (very roughly): * ¼ less accidents total * ½ less accidents with minor injury * ¾ less accidents with major injury or death

Tade0 2y ago

> I would legitimately not be surprised if there were actually more accidents overall. That's possible, but people causing frequent fender-benders pay dearly for the privilege, so there's at least non-lethal feedback forcing them to improve.

zihotki 2y ago

> Trying to explain how roundabouts work to someone who doesn't get them is extremely frustrating. The rules are simple, but for some reason a lot of folks are vastly overthinking it. It is a skill, it requires some practice. It's similar to math in that regards. And once you learn it you'd love them.