Traffic Patterns!

We've been having an interesting discussion over on the French blog for the students here that I decided I could bring over. The professor posted this video from TF1 about people in a small town in France being confused by the 4 way stop.

You see, in France, the 4 way stop, not a common appearance. They do the roundabouts. You might have seen one, they have been popping up like CRAZY in new suburban neighborhoods that are going for that European flair in the US. These Frenchmen and women come to the 4 way stop and don't know who should go first. (Not that I think Americans really know this better...)

Would not be so weird but for the fact that when I was driving home from my parents' place this weekend listening to NPR for a few hours, I hear a short clip about a woman who got "stuck" on a roundabout in the US because she couldn't find the exit! If I remember correctly, she went around and around on that for 15-20 minutes until policemen were called to escort her off! If you can find the place where I heard this, you win the prize because I can't. I hear this small clips on shows like Marketplace and On Point and then can never find them again...

Lesson learned: do not import traffic patterns from other countries. It will confuse the people of your country!