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Path: utzoo!watmath!watdaisy!gvcormack
From: gvcormack@watdaisy.UUCP (Gordon V. Cormack)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Traffic Circles
Message-ID: <6733@watdaisy.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 9-Nov-84 16:44:14 EST
Article-I.D.: watdaisy.6733
Posted: Fri Nov  9 16:44:14 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 10-Nov-84 09:08:30 EST
References: <486@houxt.UUCP>
Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
Lines: 21

The following are the rules for traffic circles in the Alberta, and
I suspect they also hold for most of North America.

First, the rule about the person on the right having right-of-way
is a red herring.  Traffic circles are composed of two concentric
lanes.  The only time you should drive in the outer lane is if 
you are going to take the next exit.  On entering the circle, you
must yield to anyone already there.  If you are planning to take
the first exit (i.e. turn right 90 degrees) you stay in the right
lane.  Otherwise go directly to the left (innermost) lane.  Then
when your exit comes up you merely exit from the centre lane.  There
is no need to shoulder check as you are not allowed to cross an exit
in the right lane.

These rules are really not as complicated as they seem, and do work
well.  If you think about it, these rules are one the the very few
that do not lead to deadlock in heavy traffic situations.

P.S.  In France, you do yield to the right, causing unbelievable
traffic jams.