Our city politicians seem to love roundabouts as we're seeing more and more of them appear everywhere here, including two that were just built, very close to each other believe it or not, near our home. DH and some of our (senior) friends and neighbours really hate them. They believe that roundabouts are basically unsafe and a total waste of taxpayer money.
I think they are great. You have to watch the other guy. We have two in a row and most people go "straight" through the roundabout but some circle to go into more residential areas. And some assume, it seems, that most are going to keep going straight. So I watch for that. I've even noted some people put their signal on if they are going to make that half circle. Once I was waiting at the roundabout for cars and some jerk behind me honked the horn. It was not safe to proceed. But for the most part, I do like them.
AFAIC, you guys praising roundabouts are nuts. Ask, and I'll tell why I think so. Don't ask, I'll shut up. Frank
We have them EVERYWHERE, in just about every road..including little suburban B roads..probably for the last 50 years......some are more difficult than other to negotiate...like this one near where I live...which has several smaller roundabouts dotted around a very large one in the middle, and the traffic goes in all different directions around the large and small roundabouts... I can negotiate it very well...although it's a bit hairy, but I know people who will drive miles out of their way to avoid going through the town centre where the R/A is situated.. That said they've been proven to be the safest method of traffic control in the world
I dislike them, but will use them if necessary and always proceeding with extra caution. Perhaps I'm being way too optimistic, but I'm hoping... really hoping... that these roundabouts may ultimately help slow down some of the more aggressive drivers out there.
Round abouts were one of the things they discussed on the AARP Driver's Refresher Course that I took online to save 10% on my auto insurance premiums. We have two of them we go through when we go to our Primary Doctor and there are a few more here in our City too. I don't mind them but I do watch what other drivers are doing to make sure we all our "following the directions" ... and I found the discussion on them in my Course was helpful too. I don't mind them...but if I would find one to complicated...I might change my mind on this.
I got used to them in Hungary but hardly see any here. There's one in River Plaza and that's about it I think.
Ann, you are more optimistic than me regarding bad drivers. We have a bridge that goes over the freeway. It's a bottle neck and I have seen so many accidents there. I'd drive it daily going to work in the afternoon. I even would see people pass the accident, slowly of coarse, and then speed off. Seems nothing stops some.
@Kitty Carmel Oh, Oh! I was afraid of that. Our town here has only one main drag through it, which is a state highway, at that, AZ 95, linking Yuma, Parker, Lake Havasu City, and Bullhead City, a distance of nearly 200 miles. This stretch averages several serious vehicular accidents every week! A fatality about twice monthly. The County is proposing installing roundabouts on two of the main intersections, neither within any city limits. An Arizona State Highways Engineer has gone on record a stating that, unless the mind-set of the type of drivers using this route can be altered, which of course it cannot, he fears far more carnage if the roundabouts are installed. In a nutshell, the main problem is that nearly everyone drives way too fast, not having any clue about stopping distance. Added to the tailgating, disaster lurks constantly. The greater majority of drivers are tourists from California bound for the casinos. They seem unable to get to them fast enough. In our 5 years here, we have seen at least a dozen rear-end collisions with fatalities. It remains to be seen, of course, whether the roundabouts will slow them down sufficiently to prove safer than what we have. The vast majority of opinion, both public and Municipal, predicts terrible results. Frank
oooh it's so funny reading all of your posts about something that's an integral part of our road newtwork here. believe me they are far more user friendly that stop lights at junctions. On R/A you have to stop to give way to the right... or in your Case in America ..to the left..it's been proven in other countries after they adopted the Roundabout system that traffic accidents have been reduced significantly...
I agree that they are one of the safest ways to control flow of traffic. Problem will be getting people here (U.S.) to give them a chance. Like the Metric system, it makes so much sense. When we did humanitian projects in Europe, all the plans and material were set up for the Metric system. First thing I did was buy my crew a Stanley 10 meter tape measure. Once they figured out that you just add or subtract whole numbers, the idea of doing this with fractions seem ridiculous.
@Frank Sanoica Thanks for your interesting response. I have no doubt that the accidents are caused mainly by human bad and unsafe driving. Are the intersections with stop signs only or are there signal lights? When I lived in a different town in this county there were what were essentially freeways but with cross traffic stop signs. It was a mess and there were a lot of accidents. Heavily traveled too since it was on the way to the town that's the county seat and people would commute to this town. Not to mention a stretch of about 8 miles that was only one lane each way and undivided. They finally did put up under and over passes and made that stretch divided 4 lane so now it's a true freeway. Nothing stops bad and dangerous driving though.
I'm going to get it for this but I'll say it anyway: America is always behind Europe. Yes I think it's true. My mother, from Europe, said the same thing. Sorry. Don't attack please.