Mexican Standoff...at a roundabout !!!

[Spurious]

So picture this...

4 vehicles, myself included, all approach a roundabout at the exact same moment.
We all stop, intending to giveway to the other on the right of us

For a moment, we all had that WTF moment I reckon, before I took the initiative & drove on.
I've been driving 20 years & never had that happen before.

So what's your take on that?
Is there a rule to state who actually gives way to whom under that very circumstance?

[malazn mafia]

Was expecting a Mexican standoff to be more dramatic, like guns pulled, etc. your scenario reminds me of 4-way stops in the US. Deadlock and confusion is common when 4 cars pull up to the intersection. I assumed it was the reverse of Australia, with give way to the Right , rather than left. noticed that sometimes the cars would give way to the vehicle on the right, while other times it was the vehicle on the left. I was later told it was first come, first serve.

[Mr Brooksy]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Was expecting a Mexican standoff to be more dramatic, like guns pulled, etc. your scenario reminds me of 4-way stops in the US. Deadlock and confusion is common when 4 cars pull up to the intersection. I assumed it was the reverse of Australia, with give way to the Right , rather than left. noticed that sometimes the cars would give way to the vehicle on the right, while other times it was the vehicle on the left. I was later told it was first come, first serve.

Those stupid 4 way stop signs are also in Newcastle NSW too! The most dumb idea ever! I've witnessed the 4 cars arrive at once as well. Wow, it funny watching them, first check which side they are supposed to give way to, then sit, and then realise they are all in the same boat, and then all go thinking they were all there first...

Originally Posted by G6AUII?

So picture this...

4 vehicles, myself included, all approach a roundabout at the exact same moment.
We all stop, intending to giveway to the other on the right of us

For a moment, we all had that WTF moment I reckon, before I took the initiative & drove on.
I've been driving 20 years & never had that happen before.

So what's your take on that?
Is there a rule to state who actually gives way to whom under that very circumstance?

At least they stop at round abouts! The rule is the same here, but everyone drives straight in to the roundabout without even looking! And they get all shirty with the foreigner because I blasted them with my horn! Idiots!

[Spurious]

Originally Posted by Mr Brooksy

At least they stop at round abouts! The rule is the same here, but everyone drives straight in to the roundabout without even looking!

It's the same the world over. I see straight shooters & stoppers here too.
What annoys me is people that havn't the faintest about how to correctly indicate when on a roundabout, & those who see a car waaaaaaay waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off in the distance....& they stop & wait for it to come!

What happened today was, technically I got to the line first, but I stopped out of courtesy, so then did the guy to my right, & so on & so forth. Seconds later all 4 of us were just...well, stopped.
I wish I'd got that moment on video. Would have played back well with some western gun slinging music.

[Phildo]

Originally Posted by G6AUII?

Is there a rule to state who actually gives way to whom under that very circumstance?

Very simple.

Male drivers take priority over female drivers.

Getting work stuff done is more important than going to the hairdresser.

[Express]

If you’re in NSW no-one had to give way as you have to slow down and be prepared to stop and give way to whoever is in the roundabout first.

If you slow down as required and show courtesy then that’s good driving etiquette but someone still has to then take the initiative and drive on.

If you’ve all come to a stop it’s unlikely even if you all took off at the same time for there to be an accident.

Some road rules just require common sense in application.

You’ve come up with a rare scenario for two reasons.

One it wouldn’t happen often where 4 vehicles arrive at the 4 different points of entry at the exact same time and two, that those 4 drivers would all show courtesy to each other without at least one speeding up to try and get in the roundabout first.

[Yellow_Festiva]

I believe the rule for quite some time was to give way to whoever is in the round about already, or whoever will enter the round about first if you are all approaching.

However, I still have cars slam on their brakes at the line whilst I'm still 30m away to allow me to enter first because I'm on their right. They shouldn't be doing that, they get there first, they enter first and I slow to give them away.

Soooo many people still think you give way to the right NO MATTER WHAT.

[FPV GTHO]

Yet nobody gives way to the right properly at T intersections.

[Raptor]

The problem is roundabouts have been retro fitted to what were simple cross intersections, that aren't really big enough to operate they way they should. Canberra style huge roundabouts don't have this problem, you can't even see the other cars entering they are that far away - so it's just give way to those that are on the round about before you.

[Spurious]

Yeh agreed Raptor, I lived in the ACT for 20+ years & I know what you mean. Small roundabouts are flawed. Traffic calming devices more than anything.

Phildo, you're hilarious, but if you're married don't let your wife see that post!

Express, agreed this was a very rare occurrence. & even rarer was it that the other 3 drivers all stopped in anticipation of having to giveway.
I show courtesy if, when I get to the line (in which case I ALWAYS anticipate having to stop) if there's another car immediately on my right then I giveway. If they are not at the line yet & are moving slowly enough, then I will proceed.

Yellow festiva, yes...the law states that one must giveway to traffic already on the roundabout.
But this also creates a grey area IMO, with big Canberran roundabouts that would be ridiculous to wait on a vehicle that is 100m away, then there's the issue of having 2 cars enter from opposite sides of the intersection (small roundabout).
My rule is, if there's nothing immediately on my right then I will proceed.

Common sense, & the law, dictates that a driver must avoid a collision. So if it's safe to enter then do so.
I just wish that people wouldn't get so aggressive on the road & use more common sense, I mean there are those who speed up in order to not have to giveway, there are those who get impatient if they have to wait, & then there are those who stop & wait for the traffic to arrive.

But what can you do!

It simply blew me away that all 4 of us were courteous enough to actually stop yesterday. The fact I moved off first was legal as no one else had moved at that moment.

[Franco Cozzo]

How do roundabouts work?

Accelerator pedal as far in as she goes, close your eyes and hope for the best

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

How do roundabouts work?

Accelerator pedal as far in as she goes, close your eyes and hope for the best

i've done similar in an old datto 200b back when i was younger and more stupid. it was night, and no other traffic, and we didn't even bother turning the steering wheel...

there wasn't many places my old datto 200b didn't go. it copped an absolute flogging and just wouldn't say die...

[castellan]

Originally Posted by G6AUII?

So picture this...

4 vehicles, myself included, all approach a roundabout at the exact same moment.
We all stop, intending to giveway to the other on the right of us

For a moment, we all had that WTF moment I reckon, before I took the initiative & drove on.
I've been driving 20 years & never had that happen before.

So what's your take on that?
Is there a rule to state who actually gives way to whom under that very circumstance?

You did the right thing and took the initiative, so when you are stoped that's what has to be done.

A mate was on about one of them 4 way stop signs and asked what do you do, give way to your right I said.
Fact is if one runs into your right they are in the wrong regardless, so don't run into them, but someone has to take the initiative by moving slowly forward.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by G6AUII?

So picture this...

4 vehicles, myself included, all approach a roundabout at the exact same moment.
We all stop, intending to giveway to the other on the right of us

For a moment, we all had that WTF moment I reckon, before I took the initiative & drove on.
I've been driving 20 years & never had that happen before.

So what's your take on that?
Is there a rule to state who actually gives way to whom under that very circumstance?

In the above stiuation it is always me that has right of way!
If everyone could make that known it will make my driving experience far more pleasurable.
Thankyou.

[marty351]

Lights flashing orange at a busy intersection. Scary when you need to get through, everyone is confused, but funny when you're a bystander.

[Burnout]

I luv dem little bitty round-a-bouts. I drive over them all the time.

[mik]

bloody roundabouts and speed humps , the bane of my existence.

RE: roundabouts .......... he who hesitates is lost !

[uniacidz]

This a Hulk thread? lolol

[Harrison]

Many times when approaching a roundabout you may be technically correct entering first but if a car is barrelling towards the roundabout on your immediate right it is often prudent to give way.

I get the impression there are many drivers out there who are not aware of this law regarding roundabouts. And getting T-boned can really mess up your day, even if you are in the right.

[MITCHAY]

Ah roundabouts. The bad thing is that despite being quite a big chunk of driving in the ACT, a lot of people don't know the rules. The good thing is they are mostly pretty big roundabouts with two lanes that allows a lot of room for such people.

I can't count how many times I have been 3/4 around one and I have some slow poke pull out in front of me and had to brake or come to dead stop. Or the people that are turning left who pull out and you don't know what they are going to do.

I have to say on balance it works pretty good though. 4 people coming up at the same time is such a rarity it's not really worth worrying about. Whoever moves first has the right of way.

[Spurious]

Originally Posted by uniacidz

This a Hulk thread? lolol

No. Merely an observation I thought worthy of sharing.

[CoupeKing]

If in doubt accelerate.

Seriously though I think some people just have no spacial awareness. Like when you're approaching the roundabout and it seems good to go, but then you have to slam the brakes on because captain idiot decided to stop and wait for someone on the other side.

[falcon_bandit]

Originally Posted by Yellow_Festiva

Soooo many people still think you give way to the right NO MATTER WHAT.

hence why i follow this invisible rule.

many times ive approached a roundabout cautiously, ready to enter as its empty, only to look right and see a ****** coming in hot like he's just finished down conrod straight, thinking they have absolute right of way.

easier just to let em go

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by falcon_bandit

many times ive approached a roundabout cautiously, ready to enter as its empty, only to look right and see a ****** coming in hot like he's just finished down conrod straight, thinking they have absolute right of way.

easier just to let em go

This is aggravated by council's (around here at least) that insist on 'landscaping' the roundabouts.

Making traffic coming from the right almost impossible to see until they're on top of you, then planting vegetation in the middle of it so as to block the right hand indicator of cars turning !.

[Spurious]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

This is aggravated by council's (around here at least) that insist on 'landscaping' the roundabouts.

Making traffic coming from the right almost impossible to see until they're on top of you, then planting vegetation in the middle of it so as to block the right hand indicator of cars turning !.

I hear that.
It's for traffic control, NOT "scenery"!

[castellan]

Originally Posted by GasOLane

This is aggravated by council's (around here at least) that insist on 'landscaping' the roundabouts.

Making traffic coming from the right almost impossible to see until they're on top of you, then planting vegetation in the middle of it so as to block the right hand indicator of cars turning !.

They should be shot for doing roundabouts like that.

Not only that but people who grow trees etc on dangerous corners, so it makes it much harder to see, not to mention blocking the view of stop signs etc, because all it takes is for some fool to make a mistake and someone could be hurt or killed just due to moronic fools.

Fact is road safety is not taken seriously in Australia at all and all they have been pushing is what it is that can make them money and nothing much other than that.
That's the sad truth of it all.
Vote one morons for morons.

[bazza91]

The rule in vic is give way to the right. Same rule applies when the traffic lights go out. It's amazing how many people don't know what to do when the traffic lights are out.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by bazza91

The rule in vic is give way to the right. Same rule applies when the traffic lights go out. It's amazing how many people don't know what to do when the traffic lights are out.

I believe the rule in Victoria is give way to vehicles already in the round about. If vehicles are not approaching you from the right before you enter a round about something has gone very wrong.

[bazza91]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

I believe the rule in Victoria is give way to vehicles already in the round about. If vehicles are not approaching you from the right before you enter a round about something has gone very wrong.

Correct you are. Double checked the viroads site and it does say that.

I remember my old driving instructor when i got my P's, he always said give way to your right... Guess he was wrong.

[Ben73]

My problem with roundabouts is ones where too much traffic comes from one direction. If that direction happens to be on your right you never get a clear gap to enter the roundabout.

As for traffic lights out, after the April storms on the NSW coast this year some traffic lights were out for days. I was extremely impressed with how smoothly traffic flowed at these intersections. Best one I saw was during afternoon peak hour at an intersection of 2 very busy roads, the traffic mimicked the regular traffic light sequence perfectly. One road went flowing through for a while. Both directions stopped at almost the exact same time, then right turning traffic from cross street went while the left hand traffic of the original road continued. Once those were clear the straight ahead lanes went.
I was later talking to a mate and he commented on how well traffic was flowing and how easy it was to negotiate major intersections with no traffic lights.
Goes to show most people can drive properly when they need to, just most of the time they don't care.