I was nearly T-boned by a dark blue Hyundai Getz on the afternoon of July 1.
I was about to enter the mini circle – from a stop I might add – only to hit brakes. The Hyundai driver approaching from my right just shot straight through without acknowledging the intersection.
As I am in a double-cab, he could have incurred serious injury or worse, death!
It gets worse. After a quick hoot at him, he promptly turned around and proceeded to follow me home.
At my gate, he confronted me and said that as I was at the circle, I had to yield to the right, so he was justified in going through the intersection.
Being of average intellect, I promptly Googled and found the following AA website information.
I have taken the liberty to cut and paste it.
It says:
The rules of driving on public roads apply the same throughout South Africa, irrespective of the province.
According to the K53 driving manual, a motorist at a traffic circle must yield to traffic from the right, and only enter the circle if there is a break in traffic, and after making certain that it is safe to do so.
The rules specifically state proceed, if safe and stop, if necessary.
The yield sign indicates to a motorist to slow down upon approaching a traffic circle, but ideally one is not required to stop.
However, a motorist must stop and wait at the yield sign if there is no safe opportunity to enter the traffic circle.
It must be remembered that traffic circles are meant to facilitate the constant flow of traffic at an intersection, but stopping completely may be required if necessary.
The K53 driving manual distinguishes between roundabouts and mini-circles. The rules that apply to mini-circles state that right of way shall be given to traffic crossing the yield line first. This may ultimately mean that it would operate similarly to a four-way stop.
Having read the above, I have one question:
Are the “circles” in Atlasville traffic roundabouts or mini-circles?
I am a little shocked that there is a driver out there who can drive straight through a mini circle thinking they have done nothing wrong, endanger themselves and others, and aggressively pursue another driver to state that, I am right, I had right of way and you must read the rules!”
