Roundabout: Traffic jam at roundabout is typical at rush hour. Brain child of the NY DOT. Previously there was a traffic light and traffic was only blocked in one direction. Now...

brent46 Loc: Grand Island, NY

Traffic jam at roundabout is typical at rush hour. Brain child of the NY DOT. Previously there was a traffic light and traffic was only blocked in one direction. Now traffic is blocked at all 4 entrances to the roundabout.

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WayneT Loc: Paris, TN

Typical.

OviedoPhotos

My experience with roundabouts is much different. They usually flow a lot better than traffic lights. Need more info here.

newsguygeorge Loc: Victoria, Texas

Instead of blaming NY DOT, how about considering that drivers will need to get used to this? After all, roundabouts aren’t that common in the U.S., although the Boston area has them (called rotaries in Mass.-speak) and they work well.

We just spent three weeks in Ireland and at most roundabouts, the traffic flow takes care of itself with some simple rules and good signage. Those in the roundabout have priority and those waiting yield (“give way”) and then merge. The signage for which exit is places far enough before the circle to prepare the driver and the lanes for these moves are well-marked, as are the exits themselves. On some of the very heavily travelled and busy urban roads in particular, traffic signals supplement the roundabouts’ traffic control. I wonder how much money is saved by not having traffic signals and the related infrastructure at so many intersections. Or, how less expensive it would be to acquire less land for highways.

Silverman Loc: Michigan

They need to having driver training class for "Roundabouts". I have been "cut-off" and almost hit numerous time using these traffic nightmares.

FrankR Loc: NYC

It's really simple, traffic in the circle has the right of way, drive accordingly. It's that way every place in the world. Except of course in NJ and Boston, where all bets are off and it's every man for himself.

Keldon Loc: Yukon, B.C.

Once people get used to them, roundabouts are a far superior method of moving cars through an intersection. They are both quicker and much more safer. At the least, in a roundabout you can't get "T-boned by some moron running a red light."

Smudgey Loc: Ohio, Calif, Now Arizona

Maybe they are better, more efficient, but I really dislike them.

paulrph1 Loc: Washington, Utah

brent46 wrote:

Traffic jam at roundabout is typical at rush hour. Brain child of the NY DOT. Previously there was a traffic light and traffic was only blocked in one direction. Now traffic is blocked at all 4 entrances to the roundabout.

We have a few roundabouts here in my city and they work fine for the most part but they are inherently dangerous. The city planners are more interested in landscaping than in traffic flow. They fill up the middle with statues, trees etc so one cannot see the cars on the other side until they are upon you. You cannot see them until they are rounding the corner.
Just curious. Why does there appear to be vehicles going the opposite direction on the same side of the roundabout?

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

FrankR wrote:

It's really simple, traffic in the circle has the right of way, drive accordingly. It's that way every place in the world. Except of course in NJ and Boston, where all bets are off and it's every man for himself.

Having grown up and learned to drive in the suburbs of NYC, I pretty much feel that it's not that way in most of NYC. The only thing that enables traffic to flow in Manhattan is the "don't get caught in the intersections" rule and I assume the still tough "no excuses, your guilty" expensive ticket enforcement.

AnnaZ Loc: SW Wis.

The Spousal Unit hates them in general............he hates them even more when he has to navigate one with the truck and 44 foot 5th wheel..............

brent46 Loc: Grand Island, NY

Paul,

There is a 5th outlet from the roundabout if you are referring to the van exiting to the left. It leads to a 1 way overpass that crosses the 190.

jimmya Loc: Phoenix

brent46 wrote:

Traffic jam at roundabout is typical at rush hour. Brain child of the NY DOT. Previously there was a traffic light and traffic was only blocked in one direction. Now traffic is blocked at all 4 entrances to the roundabout.

All you really have to do is look around the country and you'll find that DOT folks really aren't all that smart.

dead2fred Loc: Da Bronx

New Jersey has replaced most of the traffic circles with lights. I used to work on the Bayway circle in Elizabeth forty years ago and the daily accidents were always entertaining.

jeryh Loc: Oxfordshire UK

You really haven't seen the best ' try the magic roundabout at Swindon UK, Dunstable, UK, And the outskirts of London- there you have contra rotating traffic flows- believe me, you will wet yourself the first time ! And you really want to see it in a dense UK fog !! Guarantee you will head for thr first pub!