4 ms·

Roundabouts rule! I live in France and can drive from here to the store without ever stopping. Single lane roundabouts are common, multi lane roundabouts are

Roundabouts rule! I live in France and can drive from here to the store without ever stopping. Single lane roundabouts are common, multi lane roundabouts are more rare. The 5-lane roundabout at the Arc de Triomphe is a white-knuckler. They work simply: each car entering the roundabout must yield. I've never had a problem. I have had issues in the roundabouts in Seattle. Partly because they inexplicably put a left turn lane in them. The other reason is most Americans are not familiar with the concept and balk when using them.

mercurial 13y ago
The only problem with roundabouts (especially around Paris) is when you have a lot of traffic and half the people forget to blink.
ben0x539 13y ago
One-lane roundabouts are fairly common where I live in Germany and I like them just fine, but your ridiculous muti-lane roundabouts confuse the hell out of me! Even on the two-lane roundabout between a place I stayed for a week and the nearest supermarket, I probably pissed off a couple of locals every time. :(
- masklinn 13y ago
  > your ridiculous muti-lane roundabouts confuse the hell out of me! It's really not difficult, at least when there are only two lanes: * If you're going to travel for less than half the roundabout (going right), stay on the outer lane * If you're going to travel for more than half the roundabout (going left), go on the inner lane * If you're going straight, you can do either (it's mostly a question of traffic, if there's no traffic you can cut through the inner lane) The second is more risky as not all drivers use their signals, let alone correctly, but normally you give your output direction when entering the roundabout (so use left signals if going left and right when going right), then cut off the signals when on the roundabout and signal right when you're between the exit you want to take and the previous one. If you fear multi-lane roundabouts or are lost, just stay on the outer lane and do not use your turn signals. People will get slightly annoyed when they gave way and you were turning before them, but nothing more.

mercurial 13y ago

The only problem with roundabouts (especially around Paris) is when you have a lot of traffic and half the people forget to blink.

ben0x539 13y ago

One-lane roundabouts are fairly common where I live in Germany and I like them just fine, but your ridiculous muti-lane roundabouts confuse the hell out of me! Even on the two-lane roundabout between a place I stayed for a week and the nearest supermarket, I probably pissed off a couple of locals every time. :(

masklinn 13y ago
> your ridiculous muti-lane roundabouts confuse the hell out of me! It's really not difficult, at least when there are only two lanes: * If you're going to travel for less than half the roundabout (going right), stay on the outer lane * If you're going to travel for more than half the roundabout (going left), go on the inner lane * If you're going straight, you can do either (it's mostly a question of traffic, if there's no traffic you can cut through the inner lane) The second is more risky as not all drivers use their signals, let alone correctly, but normally you give your output direction when entering the roundabout (so use left signals if going left and right when going right), then cut off the signals when on the roundabout and signal right when you're between the exit you want to take and the previous one. If you fear multi-lane roundabouts or are lost, just stay on the outer lane and do not use your turn signals. People will get slightly annoyed when they gave way and you were turning before them, but nothing more.