Putterham Circle is one of the
places where out-of-state drivers fret. Why a rotary? Four streets
converge but do not create a straight intersection. What attracted
me to the area was the nearby shops at Putterham including a
gourmet Chinese Restaurant and a good coffee shop with access to
Wi-Fi
Just in case you never knew or forgot, I have included the
Commonwealth's rules about rotary traffic:
"Rotaries are much more common in
Massachusetts than in other parts of the country. A rotary is an
intersection of roads coming together from several directions that
allows drivers to continue through the intersection without
stopping at a STOP sign or a traffic signal. There are yield signs
at the entrance to a rotary. There is a physical barrier (the
Central Island) in the center of the intersection that forces
traffic to travel around it. Big rotaries are designed to handle
traffic traveling at up to 40 miles per hour."
Rotary Traffic Rules
Traffic moves in a counter-clockwise direction around a
rotary.
You must always yield the right-of-way to vehicles already in the
rotary (unless directed differently by local signs or police
officers) and to pedestrians.
You should use your turn signals in the same way as any other
intersection: travel through the rotary and, when you are ready to
exit, use your right turn signal.
Choosing a Lane
If the rotary has a single lane, you must enter from the right lane
of the road you are coming from and exit onto the right lane of the
road you intend to travel on.
If the rotary has multiple lanes, look for signs to help you choose
the proper lane.
If there are no signs, you should do the following:
• For a quarter-turn, or to continue straight ahead, enter the
rotary from the right lane, stay in that lane, and exit onto the
right lane.
• For a three-quarter-turn, or a U-turn, enter the rotary from
the left lane, travel through the middle or inner lane, and exit
onto the right lane.
If coming from a road with a single lane, you should stay in the
right lane for the entire turn.
Be aware that, in a multiple-lane rotary, there may be traffic on
either side of your vehicle.
You should not attempt to move out of your lane until you have
determined it is safe to do so. If you miss your exit, don’t
get upset.
Check the traffic around you and, if it is safe to do so, go around
again and position your vehicle to properly and safely exit the
rotary.
Do not stop in the rotary.
Excerpts from The
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Drivers Manual © 2007
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
This cache is not far from the former Farbucks 11, inspired by
SBUX due to the nearby Starbucks Coffee Shop.
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