Question about how a traffic circle works?

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stoymigo

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Hello, can you let me know regarding these points?

1.When you reach a traffic circle, and someone from the lane perpendicular to your right reaches then do you have to wait for them?

2.Can more than one car be in the circle?

3.What's the difference in rules between two lane and one lane circles?
 
1. Yes
2. No
3. Only K53 difference is that more than one car can enter the circle at the same time if they are entering from the same point. Otherwise it is still yield to your right.

Of course all of that flies out the window in practice
 
stoymigo said:
Hello, can you let me know regarding these points?

1.When you reach a traffic circle, and someone from the lane perpendicular to your right reaches then do you have to wait for them?
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It's simple, if you reach a traffic circle and there's a car in the circle and in the lane you wish to enter, you yield.

2.Can more than one car be in the circle?
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Yes.

3.What's the difference in rules between two lane and one lane circles?
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Some two-lane circles exit into two lanes. However, the rules remain the same: outer circle for first and second exits, inner circle for third and fourth.

Whether anybody in South Africa actually listens to these rules, however, is debatable. I think most have probably never seen a circle in their lives, which is the only excuse I can think of why they are utterly clueless when they reach one.
 
Mini-circles are treated as 4-way stops.

Ordinary circles - yield to the cars on your right.

Stay in your lane.

It really is as simple as that...
 
stoymigo said:
Hello, can you let me know regarding these points?

1.When you reach a traffic circle, and someone from the lane perpendicular to your right reaches then do you have to wait for them?

2.Can more than one car be in the circle?

3.What's the difference in rules between two lane and one lane circles?
Click to expand...

General rule is yield to the cars on your right. If you get to one of the tiny "traffic calming" circles first 'tho, or if you're in the circle already, it's your right of way.

Depends on the size of the circle, but if it's big enough then yes.

Same rules apply... Just keep an eye out for the guys trying to exit from the inside lane.
 
South Africa doesn't have many proper traffic circles, just these stupid mini circles, which are first come first served.

A proper traffic circle is a round blue sign. Then you give way to traffic approaching from the right.
 
frodob said:
Really? Does someone have a link to the relevant traffic laws?
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Use google and search MyBB, there was a long thread about it.

Mini circle is like a stop street, whomever is at the yield sign first goes first. It is quicker than a stop street in light to moderate traffic since you dont have to come to a stop if you see everything is clear. In congested traffic is really just becomes a stop street.

Anyone saying otherwise does not know what they are talking about in regards to mini circles (of which there are very many in PTA east).
 
flash brights
hit the horn
stick right arm out of the window with middle finger raised
drive through without pausing or slowing down
simple
 
1. Person in the circle has right of way
2. Person who gets to the circle first has right of way
3. If 2 cars arrive at +- the same time then yield to the right
...in that order

If the above is wrong then I'd appreciate it if someone highlights that.

DJ... said:
Mini-circles are treated as 4-way stops.
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Colour me sceptical. Though in practice I treat most circles as 4 way stops...I mistrust the whole business & people's interpretation of it.
 
HavocXphere said:
Colour me sceptical. Though in practice I treat most circles as 4 way stops...I mistrust the whole business & people's interpretation of it.
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You know my problem is that it appears that the majority of South Africans simply don't know anything with regards to four-way-stops. Half the time someone is having a cadenza in their car because they believe that you have ruined their day by going first, all the while you realise that there is simply not enough hand signals nor time that you can use that can illustrate for him why he is a moron...
 
frodob said:
Hmm ok :) Maybe it should more accurately be referred to as a four-way yield - such that it does not get confused with a four-way stop.
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Just noticed your location. You're the guy fuming at the circles, aren't you? :D
 
Was in Welkom last week and that place is traffis circle hell.
You'll learn very quickly how these things work.

Most of the time you have to adapt because people have no clue how the rules dictate you should drive.
 
DJ... said:
Just noticed your location. You're the guy fuming at the circles, aren't you? :D
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I live on the wrong side of Pretoria (where there are few traffic circles) -- so there are other things to be fuming about ;)
 
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