It's a matter of education. When it comes to traffic circles, it seems some drivers in Prince George don't know how they work.
At the Nechako River Bridge, when drivers are heading into the traffic circle, they seem to think they have the right of way. They do not. They may think they do because they have a nice straight line off of the bridge onto the circle, unlike the other three entrances where the approach is at a bit of an angle, and drivers are forced to slow down when entering the circle, giving another driver a turn. So while the bridge traffic empties into the circle, the westbound traffic piles up, waiting for a break between the bumper to bumper bridge traffic.
Have a look these rules from ICBC's website. The rules on traffic circles are clear:
To go through a traffic circle:
1. Slow down as you approach the intersection.
2. Yield to any traffic in the traffic circle. If another vehicle arrives at the same time as you do, yield to the vehicle on your right.
3. Go around the traffic circle to the right (in a counterclockwise direction).
If the police were to go watch this pattern, and issue a few tickets, drivers may approach the traffic circle with a new 'knowledge' and may, in the future, have a little courtesy for their fellow driver, who is also on the way home from work.
Laurie Loewen
Prince George
