# Roundabout hysteria **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 4, 2026, 7:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186 "2026-03-04T07:29:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/141 "2026-03-06T14:35:42Z")
All of the above also applies to Germany. An additional rule is that you don’t blink before entering the circle, but before exiting so that the driver waiting to enter is informed that they now are able to. This is an important rule and makes a roundabout even more effective. Also, most drivers are disciplined enough to stick to these few and easy rules, in 40 years of driving German roads, it only happened once that a driver took my right of way in a roundabout so I had to do an emergency brake, and he immediately gestured an apology and obviously had some kind of momentary blackout. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/142 "2026-03-06T15:34:09Z")
I love the YouTubes of somebody launching themselves airborne at speed when taking the straight-through path across the central mound of an unexpected roundabout. Comedy gold. Until somebody gets seriously hurt; that’s never funny. ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/143 "2026-03-06T15:43:32Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > I’m sorry, Thorny\_Locust. I misspoke. (Miswrote?) Anyone can make a mistake in an unfamiliar roundabout (or any other traffic situation, I suppose.) and feel like an idiot. Instead of “idiot,” I should have written, “reckless, aggressive, self-centered, bullying assholes.” But that was more letters. The ones I find so frustrating know exactly what they’re doing, and they’re happy with it - shortening their own wait time by barging ahead and making others wait, who should have had the right of way. They’re dangerous. But how do you tell the ones who know what they’re doing from the drivers who are just confused? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/144 "2026-03-06T15:51:28Z")
> [@Nyvaak](#): > > Anyone can make a mistake in an unfamiliar roundabout (or any other traffic situation, I suppose.) and feel like an idiot. A valid point because we don’t have that many Traffic Islands, and many drivers don’t understand the principles and rules of usage. Of course, when one doesn’t know those things, the sensible and responsible thing is to exercise caution and modest speed. That’s where the idiot part comes into play.. LOL ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/145 "2026-03-06T16:01:15Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > But how do you tell the ones who know what they’re doing from the drivers who are just confused? Look for the crumpled fenders and missing headlights? 🤪 More seriously, for novel driving situations you have a great point. There’s no way to tell the good but unfamiliar driver from the good and familiar driver. It’s often easier to spot the genuinely bad drivers with their crunched cars and erratic decisions. ---
**Author:** ![ricepad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@ricepad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ricepad)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/146 "2026-03-06T17:37:31Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > What did you think when you first saw a J-Turn intersection? IIRC, San Antonio has a lot of these, too, and I loved them. I may be misremembering, though. I was only there once, for just a couple of days. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/147 "2026-03-06T18:09:41Z")
> [@JohnGalt](#): > > he first time that I would have to figure it out - to turn left, you have to turn right and almost immediately make a U-turn into the left lane of the faster traffic - I would be very confused. They had these J-Turn intersections in Michigan when I was visiting 20 years ago. When I was told by my friend that I had to turn right to turn left, it was really easy to understand. I was driving around by myself with no problems at all in no time. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/148 "2026-03-07T22:42:39Z")
We had a busy day today, driving all over for birthday parties and shopping and back again. I just went back and counted - I went through THIRTY-SEVEN roundabouts today. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2026, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/149 "2026-03-07T22:50:18Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > I went through THIRTY-SEVEN roundabouts today. Based on an earlier post, you live in Carmel IN, the roundabout capital of the US. Someone has a web page dedicated to those roundabouts and others in its county: > **[Carmel Roundabouts](https://carmelroundabouts.wordpress.com/)** > > Running Circles ‘Round the Rest! ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/150 "2026-03-08T13:26:22Z")
> [@jjakucyk](#): > > but the signage is what should tell you what to do, not your memories or familiarity. Like if one intersection has a fully protected left turn signal with red/yellow/green arrows, so what if the next intersection has no turn arrows, or a flashing yellow arrow? They’re different setups and must be treated differently just like the different rotaries. At a left turn, I _always_ need to yield to oncoming traffic (unless I have a dedicated arrow) & even then, I’m slowing down because I’m making a turn. When one is more than 90° thru a turn & suddenly finds that they need to yield to other traffic, which means slow down even more/stop which is not the expected behavior & also short notice due to limited sight lines it’s a recipe for accidents. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2026, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/151 "2026-03-08T13:34:06Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Is there anyone here adamantly opposed to roundabouts? If so, why? Did a roundabout bite your sister? As we say, in colloquial British English, “it is all swings and roundabouts”… I personally prefer roundabouts to traffic lights, but that is because I learned to drive with both - but not the craziness of the infamous “Magic Roundabout” in Swindon, UK. But as long as everyone understands the rules, (and unfortunately many do not), I like roundabouts. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/152 "2026-04-04T02:19:50Z")
I like Diverging Diamonds, but those “J turns” seem like a real mess. Those aren’t Michigan lefts because, unless I’m misunderstanding something you can’t just go straight across. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/153 "2026-04-06T15:53:06Z")
I learnt driving just as roundabouts were beginning to become more common in Germany, so my driving instructor (and believe me, driving school is a serious thing in Germany) properly taught me how to navigate them, and I still benefit from that. However, I noticed that there are subtle differences in roundabout etiquette (or rules). For instance, I was taught that (in right-hand traffic) you don’t give any turn signals as you enter the roundabout, but you give a right one as you leave it; with the exception that you signal right as you enter the roundabout if you intend to leave it at the very next exit. Then they abolished that exception, so now it is “don’t signal anything as you enter, but signal right as you exit” in Germany. In the UK, the rule is that you set your indicator before you enter the roundabout in the direction in which you want to leave it, so you treat it as an ordinary intersection. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/154 "2026-04-06T15:59:21Z")
Can we stop beating around the bush? I prefer _direct_ hysteria. LIKE THIS!! 😂 🤣 😫 😩 😭 🤪 ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/155 "2026-04-06T16:06:07Z")
> [@Schnitte](#): > > In the UK, the rule is that you set your indicator before you enter the roundabout in the direction in which you want to leave it, so you treat it as an ordinary intersection. That seems dumb. The only car that would mean anything to is the car directly behind you before you enter the roundabout. If a car comes from any of the other entrances, a left-hand signal could mean any other exit. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/156 "2026-04-06T16:22:33Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Can we stop beating around the bush? I prefer _direct_ hysteria Many roundabouts have bushes in the middle of them. If you’re not beating it _around_ the bush you’ve just crashed your car _directly_ into said bush; is that what you mean by direct hysteria 'cause most people would be hysterical if they crashed their car. 🙃 ← Hopefully you’re not upside down in your after the crash! ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/157 "2026-04-06T16:24:44Z")
I’d buy _that_ for a dollar. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/158 "2026-04-06T16:27:50Z")
Which part, the upside down part? I would enjoy that because I get to come out & play with our toys; aka the “Jaws of Life” ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/159 "2026-04-06T17:04:05Z")
Did Spiderman join the fire department? Seems like a really good fit. ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2026, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186/160 "2026-04-06T17:04:51Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > Did Spiderman join the fire department? years ago [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/roundabout-hysteria/1028186.md?page=9)