People have inexplicable problems negotiating this circle but it is really not hard and it is also IMHO completely intuitive but that is hard for people around here because drivers, particularly from MD, are so self absorbed and impatient.

If you are exiting onto Connecticut Avenue enter onto any of the 3 lanes and stay in that lane until you exit.

If you are exiting onto Western Avenue or Grafton or Chevy Chase Parkway only enter into the right most lane and stay in that lane until you exit.

There is absolutely no reason for anyone who knows where they are going to ever change lanes in the circle. I get that this seems harder than it is to some people because being in the right lane means crossing two lanes of the CT Ave bound traffic instead of just 1 or no lanes from an inner lane if you are entering from a secondary road but the point of the yield sign is that you yield to the cars already coming around and go around the circle behind rather than in front of the traffic. The SB to CT traffic is usually bunched and backed up anyhow so as long as you wait for the break like you are supposed to from my experience it is rare that you get held up having to cut across the other two lanes.

If you are too stupid to figure this out then just enter into the right lane and stay in that lane until you exit - from the right lane you can exit onto all of the roadways that connect to the circle.

Also please use your turn signal if you are exiting onto one of the secondary (not CT) roads - lots of people who could enter the circle are not able to because they wait assuming that the approaching car is continuing around when it is exiting.

I actually think the circle is quite efficient and works as designed in that cars aren't held up by what can be arbitrary traffic signals that have cars queuing when there is available space in the circle - the only problem as I see it is that the nice fountain and benches in the middle have no safe access to them for pedestrians and that is a real shame. Hopefully DDOT won't screw up something that works just fine by adding traffic signals though that might be the only way to enable pedestrian access.

A couple of other observations as a long time almost daily user of the circle - I think the circle works much better since the traffic cameras went up in Chevy Chase Village - with traffic slowed as it approaches the circle it is much more spread out which enables most cars to slow down and merge without having to come to a stop. It used to be that cars would speed through that stretch and arrive en masse and then all queue up at the circle and have a hard time entering in part because as a bunch of cars inch out they block one anothers sight lines and then have trouble safely entering.

Also one night about 6 years ago I was behind a car headed SB on CT that went straight across all 3 lanes in the circle, completely ran over a small tree and came to a stop only after hitting the fountain. Unsurprisingly it was a MD driver.

Anonymous wrote:Can't they just build a fast tunnel under Chevy Chase Circle like at Dupont? It would certainly simplify my Connecticut Ave. commute to my firm downtown, esp. now that Beach Drive is shut.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA that those neighborhoods would ever permit this.

And, the tunnels under Dupont and other downtown circles weren't built there for cars. They were for the streetcars. Once We no longer had streetcars it was easy to retrofit the tunnels for cars. A lot easier than attempting a major road construction project at the intersection of NIMBY, DC and NIMBY, MD.

My "favorite" CC Circle driver was the woman driving south to the circle and as she hit the circle-at morning rush no less-she made a U-turn from inner left lane!!!!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I drive through chevy chase circle twice a day and twice a day i am amazed at the people who don't know how to properly use a traffic circle. i can't tell you the number of times i've almost been hit by a person on the innermost circle cutting across 2 lanes to exit the circle immediately. i know this is extremely petty but i just needed to vent. because of the stops i have to make in the morning this is the fastest way to and from work but i've had it!

The only solution is to add large, non-signaled pedestrian crosswalks to the circle. They've done this with Ward Circle and it has calmed traffic tremendously. Having pedestrians at random intervals that motorists must yield to forced drivers to slow down, be alert and watch for pedestrians, bikers, who enter at random intervals etc..

That sounds like a recipe for a pedestrian fatality. Drivers focused on figuring out which lane they need to be to make their exit, while also needing to focus on pedestrians crossing?

I'm a local. You ARE able to exit the circle on to Connecticut from any lane. Don't even try pass a Connecticut exit from the middle or outer lane, especially during rush hour. You may do only exit a non CT exit from the outer lane if you are entering the circle from one of the CT entrances and are exiting before the other CT exit.

No, I insist on driving like an idiot through Chevy Chase Circle, and everywhere else.

-Maryland driver

Anonymous wrote:The other problem is that most people entering from Conn Ave need to yield on to the circle from north and south, and they do no slow down at all just keep driving and end up hitting or almost hitting the cars coming around from Western etc.

THIS is my big pet peeve. Drivers approaching from Connecticut Ave. do not appropriately yield to drivers already in the circle. This is circle driving 101, folks. I cross the circle from Western 2x/day and am always prepared to be cut off.

My biggest problem with ChCh circle is that the lane markings are completely invisible. I can't see them at all when I drive through -- driving in from CT (going north) it's not clear to me how to even stay in my lane, because I the markings are so faded.

Anonymous wrote:I drive through chevy chase circle twice a day and twice a day i am amazed at the people who don't know how to properly use a traffic circle. i can't tell you the number of times i've almost been hit by a person on the innermost circle cutting across 2 lanes to exit the circle immediately. i know this is extremely petty but i just needed to vent. because of the stops i have to make in the morning this is the fastest way to and from work but i've had it!

I know exactly what you mean. Every traffic circle in DC is just as bad.

Yield to the circle doesn't mean race out into the cars in front of you.

I have nearly been rear ended more than once when stopping for a pedestrian in the cross walk. People behind honk like crazy, zip around me and nearly kill the pedestrian. It's 30 MPH. Slow the f*ck down people.

The other problem is that most people entering from Conn Ave need to yield on to the circle from north and south, and they do no slow down at all just keep driving and end up hitting or almost hitting the cars coming around from Western etc.

I grew up in a small town with a rotary (roundabout/traffic circle) at the center, so I definitely know the rules - esp that traffic on the circle has the right of way. I hate the stupidity that abounds in DC with these things. I genuinely think the worst one is Washington Circle, near GWU Hospital. Total insanity.

This is definitely a circle where you have to plan ahead. If going anywhere but north/south on Connecticut, stay left and then immediately cut right and honk at the incoming Connecticut ave traffic who are oblivious to yielding.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live near the circle and I agree. Though my biggest protest is that cars assume you are going to exit north or south on Conn. at rush hour. They honk and go hog wild if you continue going around the circle to Western Ave. They assume it's their right to exit on to Conn. from the very inner lane of the circle and go nuts when the car on in the middle lane continues around the circle.

This exactly. I have started driving like a granny because of the number of times I'm in the middle and the northbound dolt in the inner circle decides to continue north on Connct. It just happened again last night!

I think for locals to this neighbourhood, we get it right. It's the commuters who think they have circles down because never actually use any other spokes and they want to stay in the passing lane to continue north or south, unaware of crosstown traffic. Slow the hell down.

I think you are mistaken. Chevy Chase circle does NOT follow the conventional rules for a circle. The lane markings clearly show that all three lanes go north and south on Connecticut. If you want to continue past the Connecticut Avenue spoke, you must be in the innermost lane.

OK, actually, it's a confusing mess and it is a wonder that there are not more accidents. I drive it daily going Western to Western, which is quite the challenge!

Guess you're not such a local, bolded. All three lanes CAN go north. And they do. As the above PP said, this circle is not conventional. In fact, every time we do it (I try not to drive) driver stays innermost and shoots north staying in the left lane because our club is on the left. It's terrifying but it's how it's done. Please learn to drive this circle safely. Look at the lane markings on a time of slow traffic. If you are in the middle lane continuing in the circle, you are going to get t-boned and it will be your fault.

Can't they just build a fast tunnel under Chevy Chase Circle like at Dupont? It would certainly simplify my Connecticut Ave. commute to my firm downtown, esp. now that Beach Drive is shut.

OP you are being unfairly harsh.

I grew up here, and had to go around that specific circle 5 days a week just to get to school. So no big deal for me.

Now you take someone who has never navigated a traffic circle before....it is frightening I'm sure. You have to really have a set, and almost a Kamikaze mentality to even navigate a traffic circle like Chevy Chase Circle.

don't be such a bitch.