Roundabouts - How do I drive a roundabout? (2 of 5)

[gavo748]

y r these pepole driving on the rong side of the road

[TheIceMurder]

WOW if you cant deal with a roundabout in the uk you're certain to fail your test.

[HunterstonB]

The British Video's on Rounabouots are much superior (hey they have been doing them for 50 years) Try 'Roundabouts BSM' on youtube

[HunterstonB]

This video omits the need to indicate as you leave the roundabout so the guy waiting knows he can come on. . . . . .

On a busy roundabout the only way to get on the roundabout is when someone leaves.

[KGzII]

how to drive a roundabout in the UK: screw everyone else, just blast across and hope you don't crash

[shmuli9]

If one knows how to "turn right at yield", one automatically knows how to use a roundabout If all else fails, use this method: scream, yield, and go... :-)

[peto0101]

It is impossible to "drive a roundabout". They don't have an engine or a steering wheel. You might however drive a vehicle round a roundabout.

[Azith10]

I'm sorry, but in America, we ALL pronounce the H in vehicle. It wouldn't sound right otherwise. I guess it all comes down to what you're accustomed to hearing.

Roundabouts are new in many cities in America and it can be a confusing situation when you first encounter one as a driver. Especially one of those big ones with several lanes and lots of traffic. So it's a good idea to look at videos like this one to make sense of it.

[shmuli9]

@Azith10 SOME people pronounce the "h" in vehicle, but to Washingtonian ears that sounds VERY Southern ("VEEhikul"?) . SOME people say "vegeTABulz" instead of "VEJtubulz" ("vegetables"), the way some people say "erbz" instead of "herbz" to mean "little pieces of plant that are added to food".

[Alon5603F]

Anybody but me notice that the semi truck at about 1:28 into the video is not turning right, or going straight.... yet they're in the RIGHT lane... which is, as we're told in this video,the lane for turning right, or going straight..... Hence the problem with these goofy things.

[DustinTerpening]

@Alon5603F Good catch. There is an exception, though, for trucks. Just like at a signalized intersection, when trucks take up multiple lanes to make a turn, they're allowed to do so at a roundabout too. We add what's called a truck apron around the center of most roundabouts, so the tail end of trucks can run onto it if necessary. Drivers should never travel through a roundabout beside a large vehicle like a truck.

[tayl0500]

No, roundabouts are not common in America jackasses. So that's why we would need an educational video. It's so hilarious when a society evolves, isn't it? Go back to working on your space program.

[Bolerophon]

@tayl0500 It is hilarious when the whole world evolved except.. you know.. YOU guy's :P

[yoguiton]

For all those that don't know what to do in a roundabout.

[Spooie]

what happens to people who grief in roundabouts?

is it illegal to just go round in circles all day if your bored?

[eeblihp]

Scary, you Americans have never seen one! :p

[mrgribble]

The one thing I dont understand about roundabouts is...

If a driver on the outside lane is heading straight and another driver wants to exit to make his 270 degree turn (crossing over his lane), there will be an overlapping of cars. If they just so happen to be right beside each other when this happens who should be doing the yielding?

[SickShizta]

but there is no H in England, your argument doesnt hold water.

[AaronSmith0]

@SickShizta No dummy the H in vehicle

[HelmutVillam]

Well roundabouts work fantastically well in the UK, the problem I see in this video is forcing drivers to yield before entering the roundabout. I've seen roundabouts in France with huge tailbacks because of this. Entering traffic should merge with traffic already on the roundabout, and should indeed be aggressive, but also safe in entering. And roundabouts should generally be 2 or more lanes wide in order to function properly, for major roads at least.

[beansterman1998]

WTF? Anticlockwise on a roundabout?

THE COPS WANT A WORD WITH YOU

[Spooie]

@beansterman1998 ummm nobody is anti clockwise. The word your looking for is counter clock wise

[beansterman1998]

@Spooie it means the same thing, idiot

[leapoffaith20]

@Spooie We've always use anti-clockwise, it makes sense, anti is synonymous with against, so against clockwise, simples!

[shmuli9]

@leapoffaith20 I've heard some people say "widdershins", though that seems very Wiccan... :-)

[shmuli9]

@Spooie They say "anticlockwise" in the UK, as in "there are tailbacks in the anticlockwise direction of the M25". I'm SURE you don't think "the Amurrrikan way of saying things" is the ONLY way of saying things.

[AWDfreak]

Shame there's hardly any roundabouts in America, look like it'd be fun (and much less annoying since there's no traffic lights)

[Zildjian285]

Yeah, it is so much quicker than constantly having to stop because of traffic lights.

[sirkriz]

In my country roundabouts are the cause of major traffic, usually people get stock for hours because they have to enter to the roundabout, and inside, it is better to use traffic lights (semaphores), instead of roundabouts

[zerogravity11]

wow these seeem so easy :D and fun!!!!

[2Bnewbie]

Yes, WAY fun. I once did about eight laps on a new one just for fun. Is that legal? After the first three times around it was impossible to identify my intended exit and I finally just had to pick one. So much fun I did several laps again the next time. Late at night, by the way, and no traffic. Seemed such an odd thing to do. Cheap thrill for the easily amused.

[littlebigsim]

I'll just stay away from roundabouts. :S

[TheJoshsam]

why do amercians have probelms whit roundabouts... its as simpel as it can get.... come watch europe and learn , in belgium one in 5 big intersections are roundabouts, handy, safe, simpel....

[jakec916]

americans dont like the fact that you have to be aggressive in order to join traffic. we teach defensive driving over here, meaning let other people go before you, as in europe and most of those countries over there i hear they teach offensive driving.

[SlimJ1992]

tss.. no! we wait as well

[SlimJ1992]

you are so correct!! i though this was a fun video!!

i dont understand what to learn about those!

[Seattlecarnut]

Very important safety rules, we all need to obey if we're going to drive a roundabout.

[ekspertti1]

why does she pronounce H in veHicle? it's annoying!!

[aquaflex44]

It's a fine word that sounds nice with the H pronounced.

[SoberKennedy]

One thing that I could never understand is why there aren't any signaling laws pertaining to roundabouts over here. In England (remember--they drive on the left), you must have your turn signal on at all times in the roundabout. If you're turning left, turn your left turn signal on. At all other times, turn your right signal on and turn your left signal on when you exit the roundabout. I think that we should do the same thing, only reversed for driving on the right side of the road.

[andyvancouver2000]

you forgot to mention signalling.

[henrytheeigthiam]

At least you Americans have adopted the correct way of dealing with roundabouts. You don't have to deal with the French way of coping with roundabouts. In France, the person already on the roundabout has to yield to people wanting to join the roundabout.

It usually results in gridlock!

[socalazn168]

henrytheeigthiam: Then that would be called a traffic circle instead of a roundabouts.

[NeoFalcon69]

Wow American roundabouts are heavily sign posted.

Another thing at 1:22 the person who drives on the outside lane on the roundabout can also drive to the left. (Well it's allowed here)

All we have on ours are just Giveway signs. Are roundabouts not that common there or something?

[kazpmk]

This video is ok but they forget to speak about turn signal.

[sgddfgfghfgh]

so if you're not driving yet why do you need to know how to tackle roundabouts? and also you never said that you didn't drive :)

[maratmasry]

i am looking into the issue of driving here and this place is all about roundabouts except for a few places....i think it would be a bit WISE to look into something like this if you're not familiar with it don't you think??

[maratmasry]

This is excellent. The country i live in is RIDDLED with roundabouts. Absolutely mind boggling. I didn't know that there is actually procedure to follow in regards to which lane to drive in. I definitely needed this.

[mikex182]

americans...

[NipkowDisk]

Excellent video!!! This roundabout series should be required viewing for anyone licensed to drive because of lack of familiarity (at least for now). Keep up the great work, WSDOT.