Roundabouts are becoming an increasingly common feature on U.S. roadways, and in theory, they should provide improved traffic flow and greater overall efficiency. However, despite the increasing prevalence of roundabouts, some American drivers are still clueless about the unique rules required to navigate them. Now, a recent video has gone viral on social media showing a Chevy Tahoe driver learning those lessons the hard way.
Captured by a dash cam mounted on a semi-truck, the video shows the Chevy Tahoe and the semi navigating a two-lane roundabout. The Tahoe occupies the outer lane, while the semi circles in the inner lane. A dashed line separates the lanes and curves toward one of the exits.
As the vehicles approach the exit, the semi begins to merge out of the roundabout from the inner lane. However, rather than following the roundabout’s exit flow as indicated by the dashed line, the Tahoe driver crosses the line in an attempt to stay in the roundabout – cutting directly across the semi’s path.
The result is a jarring collision. The footage shows the Tahoe forced up onto a grassy divider, knocking down a traffic sign in the process. The driver appears uninjured, but is likely shaken up by the impact.
In multi-lane roundabouts, understanding lane positioning is key. In this case, the Chevy Tahoe should have exited the roundabout, rather than cross the dashed lane. The dashed line is a signal that vehicles in the outer lane should exit, while vehicles in the inner lane may continue around or exit, depending on their position.
Interestingly, the comments posted in this video appear to be just as confused as the driver behind the wheel of the Chevy Tahoe, arguing that it’s the truck driver’s fault for driving into the Tahoe.
Check out the full video for yourself right here:
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Comments
Secretary Hegseth, next time call a cab.
Well I’m not sure about that one. You ca cross dashed lines so I think the Tahoe driver was ok not exiting the roundabout and he did stay in his lane while the truck didn’t. However, in my state semi trucks have the right of way in roundabouts because they typically need all of the available lanes. Plus, surely the the Tahoe driver saw the huge truck, why didn’t he get out of the way?
obviously Mel you have no clue about how roundabouts work! You are “not sure” ? LOL what?
The city should pay for not marking that roundabout properly. There are no “exit-only” markings in the right lane, and the portion of the roundabout the driver was trying to get to should not have 2 lanes — that is what caused the confusion. The moral of the story is, don’t change lanes in front of a truck, but the city needs to be fined (sued) for creating an inappropriate traffic condition (and fire the person that designed that road).
Do you not see the dotted lines Tom? Same driving school that the clueless Tahoe driver went to apparently.
It’s a GMC Yukon.
lol
I was always taught when turning, stay in your lane, then look BEFORE you change lanes. Obviously this guy never learned that.