What is this called?

[Foreverfox]

there's also actually a slight distinction between roundabouts and traffic circles !! the latter isn't super common anymore, and roundabouts tend to have a smaller diameter. traffic circles also tend to operate with stop signs etc. (i think we have these; roundabouts with traffic lights that dictate entry.) roundabouts, on the other hand, operate with a yield rule; i.e. vehicles already on the roundabout have the right of way, and vehicles wanting to enter have to wait for a gap. i still call them both roundabouts though lol.

Oh wow! I didn’t know there was a difference! Ours are roundabouts then - I like them, they’re just sooo much smoother in operation than intersections, at least in areas with the proper amount of traffic for them.

 

[redpandness]

Roundabout. Something I learned recently is that where I'm from they are way more common than other places. They are used for when there would be more traffic for a stop sign but too little for a light. And with my entire state being pretty low I population we have quite a bit. My mom said she never saw any when growing up in California though!

 

[Parkai]

I think traffic circles have stop signs at the entry points and they're usually several lanes wide

 

[Corrie]

We call it a roundabout in Ontario, Canada. Hilariously enough, it's not taught about in driving school so nobody seems to know how they work. I had to Google it myself to know. We have them here now in some places so they should teach it.

 

[Imbri]

Neither. It's a rotary. We have them all over the place where I live. Traffic on the rotary has the right of way, while traffic entering has to yield.

 

[Dim]

I heard it’s called hell

I never driven in a roundabout myself so it’s not like I know

 

[Imbri]

They really aren't that difficult. If you miss the exit you want, you can just continue around the circle and take it the next time around.

 

[S.J.]

I call them roundabouts. I've never heard someone in Australia call them traffic circles, but GoogleMaps will often call it a traffic circle!

When I think of a traffic circle, I think of a bunch of cars driving around in a circle, but they never exit the circle, they just go round and round forever.

Also, how does everybody feel about 3 laned roundabouts? One lane, I love. Two lanes is fine. Three lanes, I will just find a different road, no thank you.

 

[Imbri]

Most of the rotaries where I am are one-lane. There are a few two-lane, but I generally stay to the outside, since it's easiest. I can't think of anywhere that has a three-lane. That's just crazy.

 

[Shellzilla_515]

I refer to them as roundabouts. Even the driver's handbook in my province refers to them as roundabouts. The traffic circle term is a new thing to me. Anyway, I do bump into them a few times, but they're small and typically in less busy areas on the road. Personally, I like them a lot as it doesn't seem to interrupt the flow of traffic all that much. Unfortunately, the driving standards here are horrible and it's probably too much work for them to stay aware and use these roundabouts properly.

 

[honeyaura]

I call them roundabouts, I don’t think I’ve heard of “traffic circle” before. You learn new something everyday it seems!

 

[Millysaurusrexjr]

I call them roundabouts. I've never heard someone in Australia call them traffic circles, but GoogleMaps will often call it a traffic circle!

When I think of a traffic circle, I think of a bunch of cars driving around in a circle, but they never exit the circle, they just go round and round forever.

Also, how does everybody feel about 3 laned roundabouts? One lane, I love. Two lanes is fine. Three lanes, I will just find a different road, no thank you.

I have a hard enough time already with the two lane roundabouts; three sounds like a nightmare!!!

 

[Snek]

Roundabouts. I've never heard them be called traffic circles.

 

[Alienfish]

not heard of a traffic circle until this post. i reckon that's a roundabout

this, i always called them roundabouts in english so this was definitely TIL it also could have another word.

 

[Violet Witch]

It's a roundabout a.k.a road rage hell.

 

[oath2order]

I came in here ready to throw down but I don't have to.

Roundabout indeed.