But-the explanation of the roundabout threw me for a loop!
We, in the South, have "squares" where an historic courthouse is usually found. Traffic comes into the square from 4 directions, and also may circle the square. You should see people unfamiliar with this try to decide when to "jump in!":rolleyes:
To be honest the expliantion of roundabout lost me as well:eek: and I wrote it !!!! It only makes sense to me If I switch all the lefts and rights around, I don't know how I'd cope with driving on roundabouts if I was driving on the right handside of the carrigeway.
Got a few more years to go before I can try that anyway. (as the rest of the world lets out a sigh of relief!)
Okay, background: I'm American with Brit parents, and I'd go there quite a bit to be with the grandparents. So, I went there mostly when I was young, but a couple of times after I was old enough to drive.
The left and right thing is very difficult. But it's just part of driving on the "wrong" side of the road (from whichever you're used to). Generally, it's not that bad, as long as you're just going straight down a lane. (G) Going around corners, doing the roundabouts - now that's a bit more of a challenge.
In the States, it's pretty much no holds barred on roundabouts. I've seen them in a couple of towns, and Nashville just put a big one in at the corner of Music Row and .... Whatever. Yeah, there is a Music Row. Actually two - of them one goes one way and the other goes the other. And Music Circle North and South. But that's neither here nor there.
In America, the rules for signalling are much less codified. As a matter of fact, a turn signal in Nashville is seen as a sign of weakness and everyone will attempt to cut you off because they Know where you want to go so they can more easily thwart you.
But the rest of the instructions follow. Remember to Yield, NOT stop as you enter the roundabout. If you're going more than half way around the roundabout, get on the inside lane, if there's more than one lane.
A quick prayer before you start isn't amiss.
Oh - BTW, the roundabout in Nashville has two lanes around a little park-garden thingie and the pavement is decorated as if it's a piano keyboard. Cute, huh?
You will find traffic circles or what you are referring to as roundabouts in many large cities on the east coast. Boston has them, Lowell Massachusetts has them, Portsmouth NH etc... They may be different from the ones in England but the way it works out east is really very simple. There are usually several exits on and several exits off. the trick is to work your way to the outside of the circle when your exit is there so you can get off, if you miss it well you can always drive around again until you can get off on your exit.
Lived out east for a couple years in Dover NH, near Portsmouth at Pease AFB. Now closed. The hardest thing was that we were close to the border of Mass. and the right of way is different in each state. In NH the person coming on the circle has the right of way, in Mass the person already on the circle has the right of way. So of course you get all sorts of people who simply are going to get on and get to their exit no matter who is in the way.
When living out there my parents came to visit. We went to Lowell to go see some historic something and had to get on the main traffic circle, which actually connects to two others. My stepdad was driving. He used to be a paramedic, so he's wheeling around these things like he knows what he is doing, saying what fun they would be in an ambulance, while I'm cowering in the backseat crossing myself and praying we won't be taking an ambulance ride anytime soon!!!
For the rest of it, Brits and American's are very much alike. Truly kissing cousins. Just one thing, what is a cracker pulling contest?
Cracker pulling. I could give the boring explanation and say xmas crackers, but the slang interpretation would be to persuade a good - looking woman you met to go home with you with romantic intent !
It only makes sense to me If I switch all the lefts and rights around, I don't know how I'd cope with driving on roundabouts if I was driving on the right handside of the carrigeway.
)
People aren't born knowing what "crackers" are, any more than you were born knowing what "going to the submarine races" meant!
CATHYW
564 Posts
But-the explanation of the roundabout threw me for a loop!
We, in the South, have "squares" where an historic courthouse is usually found. Traffic comes into the square from 4 directions, and also may circle the square. You should see people unfamiliar with this try to decide when to "jump in!":rolleyes:
