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Better than Traffic Lights?
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Aug 11, 2021 10:18:05   #
williejoha
 
I was born in Germany and grew up with roundabouts. They work like a charm if designed correctly. What I find in our area is that the true roundabout has been modified and no longer has the benefit of the true roundabout which is that you only have to watch your left side when entering. Now they have bypass lanes and all other kind of BS that defeats the whole purpose. It’s called PROGRESS, some call it BS.
wJH

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Aug 11, 2021 10:29:58   #
sippyjug104 Loc: Missouri
 
"Around and around she goes and where she stops...nobody knows!"

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Aug 11, 2021 10:34:12   #
odujim Loc: New Jersey
 
MSW wrote:
the technical term for this is

(wait for it)


crappy design



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Aug 11, 2021 10:40:19   #
StanMac Loc: Tennessee
 
Longshadow wrote:
They key is getting used to them.
SO many people never see one and don't know how to drive through (around?) them.


True. Also, the American “my needs are more important than anybody else’s” attitude and lack of common courtesy are also factors.

Stan

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Aug 11, 2021 10:47:27   #
Stash Loc: South Central Massachusetts
 
It looks confusing from air level also.

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Aug 11, 2021 10:50:39   #
waynec
 
They build them the same way in Colorado. Too small for large vehicles, then to cap it off, a hill in the center with tall plants to further conceal what is coming.

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Aug 11, 2021 10:52:50   #
sgt hop Loc: baltimore md,now in salisbury md
 
they opened one like yours down here.....i avoid it ....go outta my way to miss it......

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Aug 11, 2021 10:56:46   #
RolandDieter
 
The worst is one in Malta with traffic lights in it

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Aug 11, 2021 10:57:20   #
gleneric Loc: Calgary, Alberta
 
waynec wrote:
They build them the same way in Colorado. Too small for large vehicles, then to cap it off, a hill in the center with tall plants to further conceal what is coming.


Unfortunately there is one problem that can come up when they don't put visual obstructions in the central island ... in poorly lit areas in particular, an approaching driver might see the road beyond the roundabout and not realize that it is a roundabout with an island and try to drive straight through the middle of the whole thing. Sometimes you just can't win

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Aug 11, 2021 11:05:08   #
marine73 Loc: Modesto California
 
My first experience with the round about (traffic circle) was at Camp Lejune (sp) NC, we called it swoop circle where marine and sailors could catch a ride home or there home state. It was two lanes and come 1600 on Friday if you were on the inside lane you might spend 30 minutes going around in a circle before you would be able to exit.

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Aug 11, 2021 11:58:24   #
tbrad57 Loc: Cottonwood, AZ
 
Where I live in Cottonwood, AZ we have numerous roundabouts to naivagate. Heading down the 260 to the 17 I have 7 of them in about an 8 mile stretch and is a route I take often. On the 89A I have 5 heading towards Jerome. They are to eliminate the need for the electrical infrastructure required to operate traffic signals. I live about 20 miles from Sedona and if you have ever been there you know the traffic congestion they are causing there.

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Aug 11, 2021 12:46:50   #
Huey Driver Loc: Texas
 
In high traffic areas they are a danger to everyone who dares to enter. (just my opinion). Lot's of them in Britain. Never used one I liked.

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Aug 11, 2021 13:04:11   #
Canonuser Loc: UK and South Africa
 
We have them all over the UK, both very large and very small. They work fine.
When I’ve been driven by American friends over here, it’s obvious that most don’t have a clue how to negotiate them and immediately cause chaos and confusion for those who do.

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Aug 11, 2021 13:27:55   #
alltoptom
 
I worked in Swindon UK for many years and had to navigate the magic roundabout during rush hour. I must say that as an American driver this scared the hell out of me. I would use the outside circle most of the time. Google the "Magic Roundabout Swindon" Take a look https://youtu.be/6OGvj7GZSIo

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Aug 11, 2021 13:28:22   #
One Rude Dawg Loc: Athol, ID
 
jerryc41 wrote:
Do a search for "roundabouts," and you'll find articles saying how great they are. Judging by the new ones in Kingston, NY, they aren't great.

We used to have a large traffic circle by the Thruway entrance. Four roads fed into it, and it was large enough that you could enter even if a car had just entered on your left. The new one - a roundabout - is so small that 18-wheelers must use both lanes. If you're waiting to enter, and a car enters on your left, it's too close for you to drive into the circle. The result is a line of cars waiting to enter the roundabout. As if that weren't band enough, cars in the left lane are allowed to make right turns to exit in front of cars in the right lane.

Now we have a brand new roundabout. We used to have traffic lights. Red - stop; green - go. Now we have this confusing roundabout, which people are avoiding by driving out of their way by several miles. I'm glad I found this picture so you can so what it's like. Of course, from the air, it's easier to get a good view and understand it. Down on ground level, with cars entering from every angle, it's very confusing.
Do a search for "roundabouts," and you'l... (show quote)


They are great assuming that you don' get more than one dumb ass at a time in their that can not figure it out.

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