Zumo XT voice instruction at roundabout

[Mikey]

@Mikey - one last chance to check:

Do you have another routable map, other than the standard Garmin ones, installed? Sometimes the Zumo get's weird, especially with the voice announcements, when another routable map like OSM is installed and active!

Thanks Rofor, a good thought but no, my XT is used in its simplest form; just Basecamp prepared routes.
Mikey

[Rofor]

Just to be sure - i'm not talking about routes, the problem could be a other map (other than a Garmin) on the Zumo XT...

[Mikey]

Just to be sure - i'm not talking about routes, the problem could be a other map (other than a Garmin) on the Zumo XT...

Thanks Rofor, no other maps, all 100% Garmin.
Mikey

[Mikey]

I drove through this roundabout recently using both Apple Maps and Google maps.

Apple Maps announced: “Cross the roundabout”

Google Maps announced: “Continue straight to stay on Xx road”.

Thumbs up for these clear instructions.

Mikey.

[sussamb]

Not sure those would be clear on every roundabout, I far prefer 'take the x exit'

[Oop North John]

Not sure those would be clear on every roundabout, I far prefer 'take the x exit'

The litigation lawyers would have a field day if anyone ever went across the roundabout without turning! Probably why you don't get an exact turn here message?

[jfheath]

One common thing is that a roundabout may have a little side road joining it that is access to somewhere else - that only (say) workers would want to use, or local traffic only. Your brain dismisses it as irrelevant, but the satnav counts it.

The satnav often say 'Take the third exit to the A123', or 'Take the 2nd exit to Moreton'. This can be checked on the large signpost on the approach to every roundabout. Take the count from that, not the satnav. And if you end up not being sure, one really useful thing about roundabouts, is that you enter them in the right hand outer lane (Uk driving on the left), you get extra time to check out all of the exits before choosing the correct one second time round. If you enter in the left hand lane, and get it wrong, you cannot correct without risking an accident.

The satnav is an aid, not something that should be obeyed. If I end up not being certain for the roundabout up ahead - I'm going over to the outside lane on approach, preparing for a full circuit.

[Peobody]

I wish every significant roundabout here in the U.S. was like that. I probably have already described one near me that replaced and 4-way stop and was, IMO, designed beautifully with an inner lane and outer lane, and clear signage how to use both. In less that a year it was reduced to a single lane, with some weird lanes added that stay outside the roundabout then merge onto the egress roads just as cars are exiting the roundabout. It's nuts. It would be interesting to hear the verbal instructions from a variety of satnavs when navigating this nightmare. This roundabout has been like this for awhile so I guess it must be better than the original design but I I don't get it. No doubt the new design was to make it idiot proof. I guess I'm not an idiot.

[danham]

Adding to the confusion, of both humans and GPS units, is the chaos formerly known (here in Massachusetts) as "rotaries." Those of us who grew up with them learned, either by actually looking at the law or figuring it out by observing, that the right way to negotiate a rotary was to enter at the outer portion and as soon as safely possible, move to the inner (no lanes designated on the pavement), then back out just prior to the desired exit.

This worked adequately, except in areas such as where I live that host a lot of tourists from out of state. My South Carolina cousins every summer would go miles out of their way to avoid a rotary here. But now rotaries are mostly being replaced by roundabouts and despite lane markings, some of which are incredibly hard to interpret, all bets are off and no rules seem to apply. That helpful voice on the XT saying, "Be in the left lane" is of no use.

I think roundabouts could be a big improvement over both 4-way stops and rotaries, but we need some remedial training for drivers who never use a turn signal and think that a Yield sign means barge in and let the other guy handle the emergency braking.

-dan