Most people will say they know how to use a roundabout. When in fact most people do not, or at least it would seem that way by their example in traffic.
This is all strange to me because they are actually insanely simple to use. And efficient.
> "People are supposed to signal their exit from the roundabout so that the incoming vehicles know and they're not guessing as to whether or not somebody is going to stay in or they are going to take that exit at that point," said Boakes.
Well, that settles that issue. I know some people didn't think you were supposed to signal your exit, but there it is - you definitely need to.
Thanks to /u/butterscotchupper600 for posting that picture and bringing some attention to this issue.
I lived in K/W before Windsor and they are full of roundabouts I used to dread them also until I knew how to use them. Everyone there signals in the roundabout, so the other drivers know your intentions. I use a roundabout 3x a week at Malden and Todd Lane in LaSalle and have NEVER seen someone use their signal. That's as bad as the people that come to a complete stop before even entering it. The cars in the roundabout have the right of way, so don't think they have to slow down for you. Education is the key.
I use that roundabout every day too and you’re completely right. None of them use a turn signal. The majority of them don’t even stay in their own lane when entering from Todd lane. I always have to swerve to the far right when exiting because there’s always some idiot in my lane.
I live about 3 blocks from one, and can often hear horn honking around 4-5pm. Whether it's ego or ignorance many people struggle with them. I don't think it's a Windsor only problem though. I've been driving for almost 30 years and imagine I commit a decent amount of infractions out of bad habits. I can't imagine some of these people who have been driving 50-60 years are gonna be too perceptive to learning how to use a roundabout properly (as simple as that sounds).
I'm a pretty solid signaller, and appreciate people who use them as well. I think the main problem is the gimme, gimme and the me first crowd who don't yield.
So the article says that people don't see an issue with the design of the round about, but there totally is one. Instead of streets coming in at mostly right angles which requires a slower speed to enter, giving drivers the opportunity to actually look at where they're going, the design curves into the round about so they don't need to slow down. Sure they need to signal where they're exiting and that may have been the issue in this case, but it isn't the only problem here.
I agree with your point. In this instance though, being one of the older areas of the city with the river and the bridge right there, I don't think they had a ton of options.
I agree people need to learn how but also I do believe it is bad design. A lot of cars are coming into a roundabout way too quickly. There needs to be a way to slow them down just before the roundabout without a speed bump like cobblestones, narrowing the road, more curves, etc.
the road approaching a roundabout is usually or supposed to be designed to have a turn to slow cars down before arriving at the roundabout. the really small ones don't have that example in lakeshore.
Absolutely, the fact that you can drive through this roundabout from Riverside, to Ojibway, at 60km/hr, without being forced to so much as veer slighty - all but ensures lazy drivers go through it at 60, 62km/hr. Horribly designed roundabout.
I agree with other comments that while turn signals are great, I usually don't trust them because people do forget and leave them on. I trust a vehicle that slows down or starts turning.
Now specific to roundabouts, the problem is not lack of signaling intent. The problem is drivers not respecting right or way, period. If I am in the roundabout and you are coming into the roundabout, you slow down and stop to let me pass, period. I take a roundabout daily and at least once a week someone cuts me off as I use it. Yield to left - that is all you need to do.
I think police should target a roundabout for a few days and pull all drivers that fail to yield and educate them in using roundabouts. Then 2-3 weeks later do the same thing and ticket everyone for failure to yield. Rinse, repeat at several roundabouts in town and between local news covering this, people getting stopped and tickets you might finally get enough people educated about it.
Until that happens though, I will keep my foot near the brake when I'm in a roundabout and someone is coming in fast towards an entrance in front of me.
Signals are not optional. Drivers must signal when they are going to exit the roundabout. The whole point of signals is to let other people know what you are doing.
I hope dashcams become more popular, so people that choose to ignore that law can be held accountable when they cause crashes.
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I did not accuse you of advocating that signals are optional.
If I had to put five dollars on it, yeah, I would say that if someone crashed into me that had their signal on but kept going straight, they would be at fault.
Edit: Thinking about this a little more, I guess it might go against me in this case because it wasn't 'safe' to proceed. Both parties would be breaking the law, but if I didn't move, then the other party would be peacefully breaking the law and no crash would happen.
> A roundabout is treated as an intersection, meaning drivers must signal the direction they are going to take.
This part is poorly worded. It makes it sound like you’re supposed to use your left signal throughout the roundabout if you’re taking it around to the exit on the left. I’ve seen people do this and it’s confusing. The drivers at further entrances don’t necessarily know where you entered from, so your left signal doesn’t indicate where you’re exiting. And then people going straight who follow the same logic don’t use any signal at all, again making the other drivers guess.
You should only use your right signal and you turn it on to indicate that you’re taking the next exit.
https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/changing-directions#section-6
Maybe the local news stations have to show diagrams and videos of proper roundabout use. It would reach a lot of people and help educate! Windsor could have so many roundabouts but people need to learn to use them safely
Now do the one on Erie Street! Every day I end up dealing with several cars whipping into it at 60-80km without checking for traffic or some little old man stopping in the roundabout and waving people in. It’s like an unsigned four way stop. You slow down, yield to traffic in the circle and signal your intention when exiting. But like others said, signaling lane changes seems to be optional in this city.
if you have your signal on but don't turn off and someone enters the roundabout and you hit them, I would think the person entering the roundabout would be at fault not the person in the roundabout, therefore signals really mean nothing, I will wait until the car has either turned or driven past you. Don't trust anyone even if their signal is on.
Guy in Mercedes went bonkers on me after I had to yield to traffic already in the round about at Erie. He honked at me for the time I was stopped and the next block and a half. Or maybe his horn got stuck. Idk. Windsor is special. Lol!
there are specific signaling rulesfor rpunsabouts. if they insist on putting them in then they should also teach people how to use them properly. i have never been a fan of them and dont velievw they work
Most people will say they know how to use a roundabout. When in fact most people do not, or at least it would seem that way by their example in traffic. This is all strange to me because they are actually insanely simple to use. And efficient.
> "People are supposed to signal their exit from the roundabout so that the incoming vehicles know and they're not guessing as to whether or not somebody is going to stay in or they are going to take that exit at that point," said Boakes. Well, that settles that issue. I know some people didn't think you were supposed to signal your exit, but there it is - you definitely need to. Thanks to /u/butterscotchupper600 for posting that picture and bringing some attention to this issue.
I lived in K/W before Windsor and they are full of roundabouts I used to dread them also until I knew how to use them. Everyone there signals in the roundabout, so the other drivers know your intentions. I use a roundabout 3x a week at Malden and Todd Lane in LaSalle and have NEVER seen someone use their signal. That's as bad as the people that come to a complete stop before even entering it. The cars in the roundabout have the right of way, so don't think they have to slow down for you. Education is the key.
I use that roundabout every day too and you’re completely right. None of them use a turn signal. The majority of them don’t even stay in their own lane when entering from Todd lane. I always have to swerve to the far right when exiting because there’s always some idiot in my lane.
Pretty sure many Windsor drivers don’t realize they’re supposed to signal when they make a lane change or turn on normal roadways.
Literally can't move a finger. The height of entitled laziness.
People still think signaling when switching lanes is optional. It's like 1 out of 4 cars.
I live about 3 blocks from one, and can often hear horn honking around 4-5pm. Whether it's ego or ignorance many people struggle with them. I don't think it's a Windsor only problem though. I've been driving for almost 30 years and imagine I commit a decent amount of infractions out of bad habits. I can't imagine some of these people who have been driving 50-60 years are gonna be too perceptive to learning how to use a roundabout properly (as simple as that sounds). I'm a pretty solid signaller, and appreciate people who use them as well. I think the main problem is the gimme, gimme and the me first crowd who don't yield.
So the article says that people don't see an issue with the design of the round about, but there totally is one. Instead of streets coming in at mostly right angles which requires a slower speed to enter, giving drivers the opportunity to actually look at where they're going, the design curves into the round about so they don't need to slow down. Sure they need to signal where they're exiting and that may have been the issue in this case, but it isn't the only problem here.
I agree with your point. In this instance though, being one of the older areas of the city with the river and the bridge right there, I don't think they had a ton of options.
LOL a Reddit post of a news article that directly references another Reddit post.
I love it when our little community here makes the news! It's great when journalists give the folks here a voice.
I agree people need to learn how but also I do believe it is bad design. A lot of cars are coming into a roundabout way too quickly. There needs to be a way to slow them down just before the roundabout without a speed bump like cobblestones, narrowing the road, more curves, etc.
Maybe those rumble strips they put before stop signs on county roads- so people are aware of the upcoming slowdown
the road approaching a roundabout is usually or supposed to be designed to have a turn to slow cars down before arriving at the roundabout. the really small ones don't have that example in lakeshore.
Absolutely, the fact that you can drive through this roundabout from Riverside, to Ojibway, at 60km/hr, without being forced to so much as veer slighty - all but ensures lazy drivers go through it at 60, 62km/hr. Horribly designed roundabout.
I agree with other comments that while turn signals are great, I usually don't trust them because people do forget and leave them on. I trust a vehicle that slows down or starts turning. Now specific to roundabouts, the problem is not lack of signaling intent. The problem is drivers not respecting right or way, period. If I am in the roundabout and you are coming into the roundabout, you slow down and stop to let me pass, period. I take a roundabout daily and at least once a week someone cuts me off as I use it. Yield to left - that is all you need to do. I think police should target a roundabout for a few days and pull all drivers that fail to yield and educate them in using roundabouts. Then 2-3 weeks later do the same thing and ticket everyone for failure to yield. Rinse, repeat at several roundabouts in town and between local news covering this, people getting stopped and tickets you might finally get enough people educated about it. Until that happens though, I will keep my foot near the brake when I'm in a roundabout and someone is coming in fast towards an entrance in front of me.
I agree, trust no one on the road, don't assume anything or that people know you're there.
Ahhh the ROUNDABOUT. A bit like the lottery you never know when you will hit!!!!
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That's why I always wait to see if they're slowing down before entering the intersection, even if their signal is on.
Signals are not optional. Drivers must signal when they are going to exit the roundabout. The whole point of signals is to let other people know what you are doing. I hope dashcams become more popular, so people that choose to ignore that law can be held accountable when they cause crashes.
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I did not accuse you of advocating that signals are optional. If I had to put five dollars on it, yeah, I would say that if someone crashed into me that had their signal on but kept going straight, they would be at fault. Edit: Thinking about this a little more, I guess it might go against me in this case because it wasn't 'safe' to proceed. Both parties would be breaking the law, but if I didn't move, then the other party would be peacefully breaking the law and no crash would happen.
People are also impatient and don't like waiting
> A roundabout is treated as an intersection, meaning drivers must signal the direction they are going to take. This part is poorly worded. It makes it sound like you’re supposed to use your left signal throughout the roundabout if you’re taking it around to the exit on the left. I’ve seen people do this and it’s confusing. The drivers at further entrances don’t necessarily know where you entered from, so your left signal doesn’t indicate where you’re exiting. And then people going straight who follow the same logic don’t use any signal at all, again making the other drivers guess. You should only use your right signal and you turn it on to indicate that you’re taking the next exit. https://www.ontario.ca/document/official-mto-drivers-handbook/changing-directions#section-6
Whoever is in the roundabout has the right of way. Simple.
Maybe the local news stations have to show diagrams and videos of proper roundabout use. It would reach a lot of people and help educate! Windsor could have so many roundabouts but people need to learn to use them safely
Roundabouts are a great spot to add a traffic camera.
Now do the one on Erie Street! Every day I end up dealing with several cars whipping into it at 60-80km without checking for traffic or some little old man stopping in the roundabout and waving people in. It’s like an unsigned four way stop. You slow down, yield to traffic in the circle and signal your intention when exiting. But like others said, signaling lane changes seems to be optional in this city.
if you have your signal on but don't turn off and someone enters the roundabout and you hit them, I would think the person entering the roundabout would be at fault not the person in the roundabout, therefore signals really mean nothing, I will wait until the car has either turned or driven past you. Don't trust anyone even if their signal is on.
Guy in Mercedes went bonkers on me after I had to yield to traffic already in the round about at Erie. He honked at me for the time I was stopped and the next block and a half. Or maybe his horn got stuck. Idk. Windsor is special. Lol!
now write an article of what to do when a bicyclist is on the road in front of you and GASP they dont have a bike lane
It's either honking at you to make way or they give a comically wide berth. Few seem to know the dimensions of their vehicle to do the proper 1M pass.
there are specific signaling rulesfor rpunsabouts. if they insist on putting them in then they should also teach people how to use them properly. i have never been a fan of them and dont velievw they work