Learn how to navigate New England traffic circles, roundabouts and rotaries with ease.

Traffic Circles, Roundabouts and Rotaries

By Hecate (Goddess of the 'ghost roads') that's VERY confusing! Roundabouts have been about in the UK for decades and here it's traffic on the roundabout has right of way, wait to get on, and then select the outer, middle, or inner lane depending on where you get off.

The only one I've seen in the US is near Clearwater, Florida, and the tourist information people took great delight in telling us all the chaos it had caused.

Sedona has now replaced all it's east side intersections with roundabouts. It really makes travel in the area take twice as long as it used to, but i suppose is better than a slew of traffic lights.

I also think of the movie European Vacation - "Big Ben! Parliament!"

Here in Reno we have several Roundabouts. They are becoming quite popular.

Did they encounter roundabouts in that film? I know they 'took out' Stonehenge and found out about the British attitude to road accidents

Yes there were stuck for hours in the roundabout that is near Big Ben!

Mexico has roundabouts also - sometimes with so many lanes that getting stuck in the middle is a scary but realistic experience. No one lets you out.

Ah yes I'd forgotten about those. When I lived there in the '70's you didn't so much drive as aim the car and go. Also spend too long at a traffic intersection and someone would "help" you with a push on the bumper.

On of my favourite memories is teaching our Biology teacher, newly arrived from Wales, how to cross six lanes of traffic by standing on the white lines. It was the first time I'd actually heard somebody whimper in fear!

ok, I'll stop complaining about our rotaries now. Most only have two lanes, which isn't that bad.

That video clip above actually ends with them just about to enter a rotary. I'm going to have to watch the movie now :p

Wow I had no idea that there were states that involved the person in the rotary not having the right of way. And I grew up in Connecticut! I thought the person inside the rotary always had the right of way. I think they should all change their laws to match. It would be like crossing a state line and suddenly having to drive on the other side of the road!

I still think all these things are called rotaries and they're only called "roundabouts" in England (a la the Yes song). Does any US state actually call these things roundabouts?