When approaching a traffic circle, what should you do at a yield sign?
In my state, there is a traffic circle, at each entrance to the circle are clear and visible YIELD signs. Now the circle traffic moves to the right. So you can only turn right to go into the circle. Also, I know that yield means to slow down, look to your left and proceed if safe to do so.
Most times if I am already in the circle, other drivers will barrel into the circle, ignoring the YIELD signs, as if they're supposed to zipper merge into the circle.
So two questions, if vehicles are zipper merging into the circle instead of yielding to traffic already in the circle, aren't they in the wrong? Why can't drivers be bothered to wait a measly 2 seconds for you to go by so they can enter the circle?
2020-10-16T00:46:21Z
I say yield means slow down and look to your left, because when I enter the traffic circle, any on-coming traffic is going to be coming toward me, from my left.
?2020-10-16T12:49:32Z
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When approaching a YIELD sign, at a roundabout or anywhere else, you should definitely yield. Kind of like the sign says.
In a roundabout, traffic already inside the circle has right of way. Vehicles entering the intersection do not, hence the yield signs. If you fail to yield to traffic already inside the circle, anything that happens accident-wise is your fault because they had right of way and you didn't.
Yes, those zipper-merging cars are in the wrong. If you end up side-swiping one of them because they tried to cut in front of (or beside) you, the accident will be 100% their fault.
Stop if there is a car already in the circle approaching the entry point, slow, and go if there isn't. (Hard to believe, but "yield" means "yield".) What absolutely drives (pardon the pun!) me crazy is people who get into the RIGHT lane of the roundabout (from which you can either turn right at the next exit or travel straight through), but try to turn LEFT, or cars "who can't be bothered to wait for stopped buses (picking up passengers, not just sitting there)", and turn RIGHT from the left lane ACROSS the bus' lane.
Merging traffic from two or more streets without stopping is the whole point of having a roundabout instead of a stop sign or signal light Yield means you have the responsibility to enter the circle without forcing cars already in the circle to have to brake to accommodate your entry, or colliding with a car already in the circle. The zipper analogy is a good description of the result of everyone doing what they are each expected to do.