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Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!watmath!kpmartin
From: kpmartin@watmath.UUCP (Kevin Martin)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Traffic Circles
Message-ID: <9771@watmath.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 8-Nov-84 20:36:35 EST
Article-I.D.: watmath.9771
Posted: Thu Nov  8 20:36:35 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 05:13:48 EST
References: <486@houxt.UUCP> <493@aluxe.UUCP>
Reply-To: kpmartin@watmath.UUCP (Kevin Martin)
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 28

>> Who has the right of way on traffic circles?
>
>Traffic coming from the right has the right-of-way unless other-
>wise posted.  Thus usually the people getting on a traffic circle
>have the right of way in the US.  In GB where traffic goes clock-
>wise on a traffic circle, the cars on the circle have the right-of-
>way.

I suspect that in Great Britain, the 'right-of-way to the right' rule
is reflected, just as the rest of the driving rules are.

In Ontario, the person to the right has right of way if the two vehicles
arrive at the intersection at the same time, provided there are no
stop or yield signs. However, another section prohibits turning or changing
lanes when other traffic makes it unsafe to do so. This particular section
is also the one which requires turn signals for lane changes and turns.
This section effectively gives right of way to the vehicles which are going
straight through an intersection (or in the case of a traffic circle, to
the cars already in the circle).

I suspect that most places have a similar rule, otherwise, large thoroughfares
would be clogged by cars entring from side streets due to their having right
of way.

Deciding what constitutes a traffic circle would be tough; I've seen
intersections in Boston and Washington which might at one time have been
traffic circles, but the streets are now so wide that the circle has
been distorted almost beyond recognition...