CIRCLES ARE NOT THE MONSTERS EVERYONE MAKES THEM OUT TO BE. They're just different, that's all. But it's the public choice: circles, or annoying four-way stop signs, or expensive tax-increasing traffic lights?

Circles are better than 4-way stops, because you don't have to stop at a circle if there's no traffic. You have to stop at a 4-way whether there's traffic or not.

Plus, at a circle, the traffic "merges" instead of "alternates," so it flows better.

Thirdly, circles are safer, and finally, they are cheaper than traffic lights. The city can't afford to put traffic lights at every intersection, so it's either stop signs or circles, or nothing at all. And of course, nothing at all is the worst option.

A CIRCLE is like a revolving door. You must wait for whoever is in the revolving door to go first. When there is a space in the revolving door you can go in (quickly, before the other people get there,) and then the other cars must then wait for you to exit the revolving door; you can exit the revolving door at any time you wish without having to stop again. Remember to signal (right) when you exit and go with the flow!

With two-lane circles, the rule is the same as the revolving door, except that there are two lanes instead of one. The cars closest to the circle go first! (Don't forget to select the lane you want, left lane or right lane, before you get to the circle!)

Although not illegal, it is recommended that you only use the right lane for right turns. Only advanced drivers may use the right lane to go around the circle (because they know better.)

And though it isn't necessary to signal left, use both signals to aid the stupid drivers who don't understand that if you are not signalling then that means you are not exiting, you are going around the circle. Using both signals, one to go around the circle (left) and one to exit the circle (right) eliminates confusion for the easily confused. Be nice, signal twice! (Thank you. I coined that phrase myself!)

Only one easy rule to remember: car on your left gets to cut in front of you. (Watch for signal!)

Only one easy rule to remember: car on your left gets to cut in front of you. (Watch for signal!)

Now be a good driver and go visit the links!

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OTHER PROBLEMS:

Q: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SINGLE SOLID YELLOW LINE AND A DOUBLE SOLID YELLOW LINE?

A: You may pass against the single yellow within city limits (including towns,) but you may not pass against a double yellow. (Outside the city you may not pass against a solid yellow, whether single or solid.)

Q: IS IT LEGAL TO PASS ON THE RIGHT?

A: Yes, if the line is a broken line. You may not pass against a solid white line, or on the shoulder of the road.

Q: IS IT LEGAL TO TURN LEFT OVER A DOUBLE SOLID LINE? INTO A GAS STATION, FOR EXAMPLE?

A: No. It's also illegal to turn left from the gas station, over a double yellow.

Q: IS THE LEFT LANE THE FAST LANE?

A: No. The right lane is the slow lane, but that doesn't mean the left lane is the fast lane. The speed limit applies to all lanes equally.

Q: WILL I GET A TICKET IF I GO ONE DIGIT OVER THE LIMIT?

A: Not likely, not even if you go 5 over the limit. The speed limit is not a magic number, it is the applicable number. But you can get a ticket even if you're under the limit, if the roads are slippery, for example in the winter.

Q: IS IT ILLEGAL TO DRIVE FASTER THAN THE SPEED POSTED ON A YELLOW SPEED SIGN?

A: No. A white speed sign is the legal limit, a yellow speed sign is a suggested speed, especially if the road is wet or icy.

Q: IS IT SAFER TO DRIVE SLOW?

A: No. The law says you must be near the speed limit. Traffic is only safe if everyone drives approximately the same speed.

Q: SHOULD I DRIVE SLOWER IF I'M CARRYING A DELICATE LOAD, LIKE NEW FURNITURE ON MY ROOF, FOR EXAMPLE?

A: No. Driving slower won't make a difference. The key is drive smoothly.

Q: WHY DO WE PARK ON A DRIVEWAY AND DRIVE ON A PARKWAY?

A: The driveway leads to the drive and the parkway leads to the park.

Q: IS AN INTERSECTION WITH STOP SIGNS INSTEAD OF TRAFFIC LIGHTS CALLED AN "UNCONTROLLED" INTERSECTION?

A: No. A stop sign is a "control" device. An intersection with stop signs instead of traffic lights is a "controlled" intersection. This is important to understand the rule of "uncontrolled" intersections!

Q: WHY IS IT CALLED "PARKING"?

A: Placing the car in a field, which in the olden days became known as the car "park," where we get the word "parking" from.

Q: DOES ANYONE HAVE THE RIGHT OF WAY IN A PARKING LOT?

A: Yes, the rules apply to parking lots as well. Remember, the rules are designed to increase the flow of traffic, even in a parking lot. So when you back up, however, you wait. When you drive forward you don't wait. It can't be both - someone has to wait - and you have to wait for main traffic to flow before you back out!

ALSO:

LOOK LEFT TWICE BEFORE TURNING RIGHT

First to look for a space in traffic before you turn, then look again as you go to make sure some dummy doesn't change lanes while you turn.

It's the other driver's fault, but then you have to get yourself fixed.

Remember, you must look for both the pedestrian and the cars. If you have a red sign or light you must wait for all other traffic to go first.

VIDEO BELOW: DO NOT TURN RIGHT IN FRONT OF BUSSES GOING DOWN SLIPPERY HILLS!

The car that turns right (from the left of the picture) turned in front of the bus, instead of waiting for the bus to go first. The bus is big and heavey, which is difficult to stop in the first place, and it was going downhill, which makes it harder to stop, and the road was wet, making it slippery. All the driver had to do was wait a few more seconds, adding to a combination of problems, which is usually the case (a combo is the case.) Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Now be a good driver and go visit the links!

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