Why Don’t People Know How To Use Roundabouts?

Roundabouts. A hot debate among drivers for sure. Love them or hate them, you should at least be used to them by now. They've been sewn into the normal traffic patterns of most of our commutes. Yet some people, several of which I met yesterday, still don't have a clue how to use them.

I live in Marion, so the roundabout on 7th Avenue near Dunkin' Donuts is part of my daily life. I use that roundabout around 2 to 5 times a day. Picking kids up from school, taking them to and from soccer practice. Yesterday I encountered two people in particular that got my blood boiling. First, we'll address the driver that doesn't understand when to yield. It's not that hard folks. You yield before you enter the roundabout. Once you are IN the roundabout you have the right of way. I was nearly broadsided by a moron who didn't see me already in the roundabout yesterday. I had to slam on my brakes and lay on my horn. Adult words were screamed. Its been a long week.

Then later in the afternoon, I encountered another roundabout faux pas. A car in front of me yielded to enter the roundabout, as you should do, and then just sat there when there were NO cars coming. Was this person scared? Confused? All of the above? I'm not sure but it took several honks to get them to venture into the roundabout.

Roundabouts can be confusing if you've never seen one. But folks, they've been there now for several years. Follow the signs. Yield before entering. And watch out for angry Marion residents like me who expect you to know how to drive.