your go to action at a Roundabout

[Eldron]

You're meant to indicate right when going round and left when exiting.

 

But 90% of SA drivers either don't know or don't care.

 

This an lane choice. The amount of people I see going 3/4 round a traffic circle in the outside lane is frightening! 

[Stretch]

This is the one thing I still make the mistake here in Germany. I always make eye contact but I still tend to look at the wrong side of the car to make eye contact with the "driver".

Going anti clockwise around a roundabout must be a challenge in itself!

[Stretch]

This an lane choice. The amount of people I see going 3/4 round a traffic circle in the outside lane is frightening!

Or the opposite... Using the right lane and trying to exit the first exit!!

[NickGM]

This an lane choice. The amount of people I see going 3/4 round a traffic circle in the outside lane is frightening! 

At least once a week I arrive at a roundabout at the same time as a person to my right, who tries to be polite and wave me through in a "No you go first" kind of way. This often descends into some bizarre standoff that the other drive perceives as me also trying to be polite, when instead I'm staying put, not out of politeness (in fact by this stage I'm calling them obscenities under my breath) but in some stubborn belief that me not moving will make them realise (one day) that they have right of way and that on the road, being predicable is more important than being polite. 

[SwissVan]

 

"Unless the circle had more than one lane"... It did.... But I was on the left lane as I was going straight through it.. So he essentially came along side me in my own lane

IMO this silliness is often because cyclists and pedestrians is because know they are protected game (in europe) and motorists will back off

 

Personaly I hate traffic circles on my bike.... not because of bad driving but because often they are off camber and spilt diesel, had a couple of near misses because of diesel (another reason to hog the Center)

[Eldron]

At least once a week I arrive at a roundabout at the same time as a person to my right, who tries to be polite and wave me through in a "No you go first" kind of way. This often descends into some bizarre standoff that the other drive perceives as me also trying to be polite, when instead I'm staying put, not out of politeness (in fact by this stage I'm calling them obscenities under my breath) but in some stubborn belief that me not moving will make them realise (one day) that they have right of way and that on the road, being predicable is more important than being polite. 

 

100%! In my opinion a lot of accidents happen when the rules are "bent" like your example. When the expected order breaks down people have to shift from habit to active thinking and that half second delay is enough to cause an accident.

 

I read a really good (and slightly nerdy) book called The Power of Habit which explains it all. A good read for the interested.

[Eldron]

IMO this silliness is often because cyclists and pedestrians is because know they are protected game (in europe) and motorists will back off

 

Personaly I hate traffic circles on my bike.... not because of bad driving but because often they are off camber and spilt diesel, had a couple of near misses because of diesel (another reason to hog the Center)

 

Yup - and paint. Paint and especially wet paint on corners is not pleasant!

[DieselnDust]

Simple rule really in that you may not pass on the left so strictly speaking he would have been in the wrong. I know as cyclists we do pass cars on the left but it's not such a good idea as it is more of a blind side for the motorist.

 

I own the lane no matter what size the circle but will clearly indicate my intent - been squeezed too many time at circles.

 

Cyclists are allowed to overtake on the left, whilst keeping left or in a cycle lane.

 

Owning the lane is a good practice especially when combined with hand signals.

[DieselnDust]

You're meant to indicate right when going round and left when exiting.

 

But 90% of SA drivers either don't know or don't care.

 

 

this is not correct.

When entering a roundabout you don't indicate. Its treated as a straight road. You only indicate when exiting.

 

If the roundabout has a dual lane approach road as well as two lanes then you only indicate when taking the first exit.

For other exits you indicate just before you take your exit.

Other motorists are supposed to yield before entering any roundabout. Doesn't happen in SA.

Very very very few drivers know how to drive around a roundabout in SA

[Uni]

while I was adventuring around there on a bike last year - I had to go into one big roundabout - I seriously ***'d myself... 

 

we were in a hop on / hop off bus when the bus encountered four tourist going the wrong way round in a roundabout - it's crazy, birds are flipped, horns are blown but they seem to just get it right there. 

 

 

[Eldron]

this is not correct.

When entering a roundabout you don't indicate. Its treated as a straight road. You only indicate when exiting.

 

If the roundabout has a dual lane approach road as well as two lanes then you only indicate when taking the first exit.

For other exits you indicate just before you take your exit.

Other motorists are supposed to yield before entering any roundabout. Doesn't happen in SA.

Very very very few drivers know how to drive around a roundabout in SA

 

www.arrivealive.co.za doesn't agree with you:

 

https://www.arrivealive.co.za/Driving-around-Traffic-Circle-Roundabout

 

Edit: Or www.dotsure.co.za   https://www.dotsure.co.za/blog/fyi-how-to-use-a-traffic-circle

 

Another edit: These guys do agree with you https://www.iol.co.za/motoring/industry-news/traffic-circles-what-are-the-rules-1468528

[Uni]

 

Very very very few drivers know how to drive around a roundabout in SA

the problem is the signage and the confusion around traffic circles and roundabouts ... i signal where I'm going ...

 

i signal right when and then left when i'm exiting - this is what I was told to do by the guy who wrote the K53 rules. 

[DieselnDust]

the problem is the signage and the confusion around traffic circles and roundabouts ... i signal where I'm going ...

 

i signal right when and then left when i'm exiting - this is what I was told to do by the guy who wrote the K53 rules. 

 

 

And therein lies the rub. I have taken a drivers test practical and written in 4 countries: SA, UK, NL and USA.

Very few roundabouts in the USA but all tend to agree to not indicate when entering only when exiting.

I had to retake my UK exam because I followed SA norms (and those norms are not in the test because I received a mark down on my defensive driving test is SA) of indicating when entering a roundabout, Got pulled over in Mississippi by a red neck cop for indicating on entry.

 

Seems in SA even the rule makers don't know what the correct course of action is

[Dirt Tracker]

My general rule in SA, UK, AUS and anywhere that drives on the correct side is to go hard to the right side of the round about (those other places I go left). They can't fail to see you when you're coming at them. Smaller ones I just tend to go straight over, hoping in curbs like it's Spring in Flanders. 

[Stretch]

My general rule in SA, UK, AUS and anywhere that drives on the correct side is to go hard to the right side of the round about (those other places I go left). They can't fail to see you when you're coming at them. Smaller ones I just tend to go straight over, hoping in curbs like it's Spring in Flanders.

Seeing as only those former British colonies (and NZ and Ireland) drive on the left... One might argue that that is the incorrect side

[ABrooks]

Indicating where you are going on a bike is key in my opinion. I indicate at 4 way stops as any other intersection and if I need to go right in slower traffic I take the lane. Better to be in the lane and be seen than a car trying to fly past you as you're turning.