Okay, EVERY day I run into this situation at the Bear Mountain Bridge Circle (this is NY State)... Please look at my cheesey diagram. Do you agree with my statement in the diagram?

I see people, every day, zip from the inside circle lane (B) across the outer lane (A) to Exit 2, cutting off those in Lane A that want to continue on to Exit 3... drives me nuts!

I, in Lane A, always proceed around to "Exit 2" Lane B. I believe I have the right of way being on the outside lane... Do you agree or disagree?

Any law enforcement folks want to provide input? I hope I'm correct.

 

It looks to me like that anyone in circle lane B should merge into circle lane A before taking an exit A lane. Here in Kansas I only see single lane roundabouts so I'm not used to fighting for position.

 

It's poorly designed, (unless you work for a body shop)
but yes, I believe you're correct.

 

You're correct, get on it or get a louder horn.

 

I would say you are correct but I don't think you have the right of way to cross over into vehicle B's exit lane (on the exit ramp) if they choose to get off at the same exit as you & you are side by side

If I had to drive in that mess every day I would try to find a back way in & avoid the loopty loop all together

 

Happens all the time here in the land of circles! Cops don't pay any mind even if they did there's nowhere to stop you with creating gridlock.Thank god for Metrorail.

 

Right of way is for those already in the lane! To merge into another lane there has to be a place granted for the change.

Matt

 

basically as long as you dont crash you're fine... it seems.

 

Mmmm... Rotaries are what make me home-sick when I leave Massachusetts. Firstly props on the drawing, this was obviously an issue near and dear to your heart to do such a thing. Secondly, are the "lane lines" actually drawn on the road? We have issues here when people think a rotary is single lane when it isn't and they try to make their own lane, go around other cars, etc. Everything else that people have said is accurate. For the precise and legal explanation (at least in Massachusetts), it depends on how far around the rotary you are to go. If you are only going a quarter turn you are supposed to stay in the outside lane for the entire stay within the rotary. If you have to go beyond that distance you are supposed to enter the rotary on the inside lane and transition to the outside yielding other cars (like driving on the highway, you cannot merge into a lane if there is already another car there or if it is not safe to do so). If a person cannot safely yield when going from the inside to outside they are supposed to go around again (just like if you are on the highway and need to get to an exit, if you cannot merge safetly to take the exit, you are supposed to wait until the next exit and reverse direction)

See:

http://www.mass.gov/rmv/dmanual/chapter4.pdf Page 18-19 (page 96-97 according to the manual and not the PDF.

 

Everyone yields but me. There, that was easy.

 

Unless posted otherwise, the car on the right has the right of way............

 

That looks like the area on the west side of the bear mtn. bridge ????????????

 

It's just like on interstate, inside lane must change to outside lane to exit. If you are travelling far around the roundabout, you go to the inside until close to your exit, then shift to the outside.

 

While the inside lane should yield to the vehicles in the outside lane when exiting, when regarding an accident, he who was in the circle first ultimately has the right of way.... according to the police that is.

-Chase

 

The inside lane in a circle should always yield to the outside lane when exiting a circle just like the outside lane must yield to the inside lane when turning at a normal intersection........I think.

 

Oh wow we don't have those circular things in Houston, but! According to driver's ED, you are correct!

 

This circle is nuts. But it's probably not as chaotic as the roundabout encircling the Arc de Triomphe.

 

Thanks all, I feel good for the "fight" this morning... And it IS the Bear Mt Bridge west side circle.

 

Entering traffic yield's to exiting traffic.
Our town is just starting to put these in, it's been a mess. Lots of accidents. People tend to get confused when you try to go from a whole town laid out in a square grid and change it to circles.

 

Keep calling it a rotary, and no wonder everyone gets confused! I expext to see a bunch of guys in suits having a meeting.

They tried to call them Traffic Circles out here, but no matter what, the term round-about is used.

 

There are some semi-roundabouts I've seen where, if there is a clear major route, there are signs indicating that both lanes of the roundabout may be used to exit. Obviously, when that's the case, the outermost (right) lane will be exit-only and there will/should be signs to indicate such. I'm assuming that's not the case here, though, so I will also agree that the guy on the inside track should yield, but sometimes people freak that they're going to miss their exit and get stuck and so they cut across.

 

I asked a Cop in Mass about 25 years ago: "Who has the right of way in a rotary?" The response was "The person with the most gutts." Doesn't matter if 1 lane or 2.

 

The circle in the picture is Dupont in Wash DC, and is really not that confusing. You have two inner lanes and two outer lanes. When you enter off of Mass Ave. you go into the inner lanes, and there are lights at all exit points to control the traffic. Really not a true roundabout since it incorporates signal lights.

 

When it comes to yielding at a circle or anyplace else the largest vehical will always have the right-of-way. If they don't ,they seem to always think and drive as though they do.
The good thing is the Mini Cooper can usually avoid the huge vehical because of the quick steering and great breaking. The Mini also has great roll on acceleration.
Try riding a motorcycle and you will learn who always have the rite-of-way and who needs to yield.
Ronnie

 

Not confusing for the regulars but it can be REALLY confusing for visitors.