Comments on: Roundabout rules

By: richard sheining

richard sheining — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 05:04:57 +0000

DIARY OF A driving instuctor!

they call me the round about king!
KING OF SAVING LIVES!

1/show “CARE” on the approch of a roundabout your speed should be 40kl driving acourding to the road conditions!!(rain,weather etc.)

2/once in the roundabout after giveing way only to traffic on it, showing cation and be prepared to stop before entering if you need to.(to do this you must do at least 2 or 3 quite head checks to the right looking for traffic on roundabout ,the other car may have a indicater on to state they are comming around the roundabout to turn right or doing a u-turn)

3/do the appropriate speed in the roundabout depending on size and weather conditions eg…..slow down more in the wet! The small roundabouts you see on most suburbs 15-20 kl……
very small tight roundabouts 10-15kl
small – 15-20kl
medium – 20-25kl
large – 25-30kl
xtra large – 30-40kl

4/show “FLARE” when leaving the roundabout indercating as you exit (now this is you time to shine) accelerate as you start to exit the roundbout and pick your speed up now, do the appropriate speed for the area! Drive acording to the road condions eg: weather,road works,emergency services etc! (very small tight roundabouts 10-15kl no indicator needed as you exit)

ps.
we need to all be teachers on the road and lead by example. If you have the knowledge teach others!!

pps.
question?
in my area their is a bus stop built into the roundabout who gives way?
A) the bus
B) the traffic on the roundabout

By: Gregg Jackman

Gregg Jackman — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 20:34:04 +0000

The law about giving way to vehicles that are already on the roundabout gives rise to the idea some drivers have, that speeding onto the roundabout is likely to make them the winner in the contest, therefore the one that has to be given way to. This is clearly senseless and likely catastrophic sooner or later. As long as sense prevails it all keeps working nicely. If in doubt give way. It’s not meant to be adversarial.

By: Peter Rohr

Peter Rohr — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:17:24 +0000

No, mate! That is the whole point!!!! There is no right of way from the right!!!!

By: Peter Rohr

Peter Rohr — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 08:06:49 +0000

Would be good if people would know the rules like in Europe! Then you couldn’t have enough of them!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 02:28:02 +0000

Your idea of giving way to the right leads to hundreds of cars waiting at a roundabout for hours, if they give way to the right! I see it every day at the roundabout The Entrance Rd / Carlton Rd, Erina where dozens of cars queue up every day from 4 to 7 pm

By: Bob

Bob — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 09:23:19 +0000

“Why are people driving as if it is a give way to the right law !!!!”….?

Because if we don’t, our cars will be written off by all the fools who think that “Only give way to traffic approaching the roundabout on the right” is the law and don’t even slow down. It’s absolutely ridiculous.

By: Cheryl A. S

Cheryl A. S — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 03:28:31 +0000

I have had a slight disagreement at a recent dinner party regarding the rules of driving in a roundabout – HE stated that it does nt matter, if a driver does not give way to the right and hits by the CAR already in the roundabout then they THAT car is in the wrong supposedly for not giving way in the first place – I strongly disagreed and subsequently looked up the RTA site for clarification as I also know many people don’t now how to drive in a roundabout thinking its all give way to the right when it is NOT at all.
Why are people driving as if it is a give way to the right law !!!!

By: mike

mike — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:24:21 +0000

I recently had an argument with a mate regarding roundabout rules – I was saying that one of the biggest problems is that some drivers intimidate others at roundabouts by not slowing down at all when approaching roundabouts and that they force other drivers that maybe waiting their turn to enter the roundabout to wait.
He was saying that if there had been a collision in a roundabout because driver (A)entered the roundabout and got Tboned by driver (B) that was speeding through the roundabout on (driver A’s right) even though driver A entered the roundabout first , that driver A would be charged with not giving way and possibly driver B would be charged with speeding.
My argument would be that driver B would be charged with both speeding and not giving way to driver A- who is correct here?

By: Harry

Harry — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 09:01:07 +0000

Hi, Well take it from me , the RTA is not interested in making our roads safer . I have had e mail chats with the RTA over several issues, including one very stupidly placed roundabout with arrows on the road pointing to a vacant block and straight ahead arrows actually taking you to the left. I have also pointed out what numerous others have to the RTA about cars entering way too fast and posing a very real danger. I have seen this exact situation happen where a car was overturned in the middle of a roundabout, Does the RTA care ?? NO . On one dual lane roundabout a friend was fined $200 for making a right hand turn from the outside lane . Bit rough ? yes. Now this roundabout never had an exit to the left before but soon as they opened an exit to the left the police were waiting with baited breath to catch someone out. No warnings just a hefty fine. Oh yes there was a sign , a very small one partly obscured by a tree.Where are the police when you really need them ? Hiding waiting to raise revenue.When the RTA and police behave like decent humans then we might just respect them again. I have offered to debate and discuss issues with the RTA and also offered to take them for a drive to point out some of there bad rules but i might as well talk to a brick wall. As for speed humps, A total waste of fuel, brake wear and suspension wear and extra pollution . And they are discriminating against sensible drivers.And don’t even get me started on speed cameras !

By: Jim Christie

Jim Christie — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 03:17:01 +0000

Roundabouts are the most scary situation of road travel. Most drivers use one rule – barge through without slowing down no matter what.

Roundabout rules are not enforced, but if they were there would be a field day. Just needs a plain clothes cop and a camera.