Round and Round we go

There is no way around it – California’s do not know how to use a roundabout. You all know the scene from National Lampoon’s European Vacation, when the Oswald’s are driving around the roundabout at Parliament Square saying “Hey kids there’s Big Ben, hey kids there’s the House of Parliament” over and over again? That is completely unrealistic. You see when a Californian is confronted by a roundabout their natural inclination is to stop. Even is they are in the roundabout and have the right of way.

On 2 separate occasions this week I have witnessed the following. Car in a roundabout who has the right of way stopping because another car is approaching the roundabout. They then continue to sit there until the car and any subsequent cars have gone before proceeding. Absolutely crazy. The main reason being that they do not have very many roundabouts here. In fact I can think of only 4 in the whole of Sacramento. They much prefer to have Stop signs, where even if you are on the main carriage way, and even if no one else is around you have to Stop, check in all directions and then proceed.

I am certainly not one to claim that I am an expert driver. I only drive an automatic, and have only passed my test around a 16 months ago, but some of the crazy driving that goes on here is unbelievable, the speed limit on some of the motorways is a mere 55MPH – I am sure snails go faster than that.

It’s not all bad though, the ability to turn right on red light is a wonderful experience and speeds up many a journey and I a, slowly getting over the feeling that I am doing something illegal.