Nick1994
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We don't really have any here in Phoenix, I don't think it would work in the big city like this. There would probably be a car accident every 20 minutes.
Little or no roundabouts in the U.S?
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There is one in this city of 23,000. Near the new high school in an area undergoing rapid development.
We have had them for a while and like others I'm on board with them in lower traffic areas but we have two of these now that are four lanes and they are in the outskirts of town on highways leading out of town. During rush hour (I have to chuckle when I say this in a town of 22,000) it's a pain in the rear end because of those that don't know how to use it.
We also have one in the middle of town which is mainly residential but the two roads are main routes thru town. Before it was a roundabout the north and south road had stop signs and the east and west road did not and you wouldn't believe the amount of people that still think going east and west have the right away. I try to avoid that one but like I said its in the middle of town and is the quickest way for me to get to the taco truck.
We also have one in the middle of town which is mainly residential but the two roads are main routes thru town. Before it was a roundabout the north and south road had stop signs and the east and west road did not and you wouldn't believe the amount of people that still think going east and west have the right away. I try to avoid that one but like I said its in the middle of town and is the quickest way for me to get to the taco truck.
CBC is calling this a roundabout, of all things:
Now, there are only a few days left of construction there, but that's not going to be a roundabout. But, they call flower pots in the middle of a virtually abandoned intersection roundabouts here, too.
Now, there are only a few days left of construction there, but that's not going to be a roundabout. But, they call flower pots in the middle of a virtually abandoned intersection roundabouts here, too.
There used to be one within 20 miles of my home. Now we've got at least 9. Folks don't handle them well. They don't get in the correct lane, use signals, or pull into the circle if anyone's within 100 feet of them. They also like to sideswipe each other. There used to be a bunch in Mass. but they've pulled them out and put in stoplights. Guess they got tired of the drivers being goofy in them as well as the more frequent fender benders. God forbid you're a pedestrian (or cyclist) near one.
As I understand, they typically use roundabouts to lower the number of personal injury accidents while increasing the number of collision damage accidents.
As I understand, they typically use roundabouts to lower the number of personal injury accidents while increasing the number of collision damage accidents.
We have a bunch here and they usually put them at intersections where you really need a light. Whenever I would be riding with one of my friends in either his 78 Bronco or his 06 Super Duty we would just go straight through the middle most of the time. There is one by the Chumash Casino and before it even officially opened there was a Prius on its roof in the middle.
I like them. They are more efficient in both heavier and light traffic times. Less stopping and more cars going through an intersection when it's busy and no stop required when it's light.
Some of the multi-lane designs get a little weird and each one gets built differently, which can be confusing.
I've used three of them twice a day for over five years and have yet to see an accident.
Some of the multi-lane designs get a little weird and each one gets built differently, which can be confusing.
I've used three of them twice a day for over five years and have yet to see an accident.
Many busy roundabouts in and around the Buffalo NY area. I encounter 3-4 of them on an almost daily basis. On my early morning commutes, I've seen more than one drunk crash right through them Dukes of Hazard style. Blow the tires out and keep going!
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They are popping up around my area quite a lot lately. Three within the last year. Personally i don't care for them, to the point of taking different routes to avoid them.
I was told by a guy who works for the DOT that the biggest knock on them was the amount of land that's required to build them otherwise they're great for keeping traffic moving.
Originally Posted By: Wheel
... As I understand, they typically use roundabouts to lower the number of personal injury accidents while increasing the number of collision damage accidents.
Yes, because the accidents that do occur in them usually are not T-bones or head-ons.
... As I understand, they typically use roundabouts to lower the number of personal injury accidents while increasing the number of collision damage accidents.
Yes, because the accidents that do occur in them usually are not T-bones or head-ons.
Originally Posted By: Claud
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
Originally Posted By: Claud
The only place I came across with roundabouts in Texas was Waco. I may be way out of date by now.
In the UK we have a problem ith European drivers not understanding the "Yield to the right" rule, basically whoever is already on the roundabout has right of way. Don't get confused, we drive on the left here!.
Properly designed and used, roundabouts are a great help in easing traffic flow, but if you are used to four way stop junctions then I see why it can cause confusion.
Claud.
That rule is the same everywhere Claud, so that's not the issue. But for European drivers it's often very hard to see the car coming from the left (with right of way) as it's blocked by the B-pillar/passenger seat headrest. LHD cars simply don't work right on UK roads, and vice versa. Very poor turn signal use in general isn't helping matters either but has nothing to with entering the roundabout. And putting lights on a roundabout defeats the purpose as you just created a bunch of intersections...
Just spent 14 days in Scotland with a LHD car, the situation is fresh in my memory.
No, the rule for Belgium is the car entering a roundabout has right of way, the opposite of the UK. I have had several close calls with Belgian plate vehicles driving on to a roundabout in front of me, despite warning signs (most Belgians have a commendable grasp of the English language btw) and road markings they are still confused. I don't know if this is true of other European countries.
I drive a lhd car all over the UK, no problem with visibilty, but it is an old American car, no massive blind spots like modern cars.
Claud.
Originally Posted By: Jetronic
Originally Posted By: Claud
The only place I came across with roundabouts in Texas was Waco. I may be way out of date by now.
In the UK we have a problem ith European drivers not understanding the "Yield to the right" rule, basically whoever is already on the roundabout has right of way. Don't get confused, we drive on the left here!.
Properly designed and used, roundabouts are a great help in easing traffic flow, but if you are used to four way stop junctions then I see why it can cause confusion.
Claud.
That rule is the same everywhere Claud, so that's not the issue. But for European drivers it's often very hard to see the car coming from the left (with right of way) as it's blocked by the B-pillar/passenger seat headrest. LHD cars simply don't work right on UK roads, and vice versa. Very poor turn signal use in general isn't helping matters either but has nothing to with entering the roundabout. And putting lights on a roundabout defeats the purpose as you just created a bunch of intersections...
Just spent 14 days in Scotland with a LHD car, the situation is fresh in my memory.
No, the rule for Belgium is the car entering a roundabout has right of way, the opposite of the UK. I have had several close calls with Belgian plate vehicles driving on to a roundabout in front of me, despite warning signs (most Belgians have a commendable grasp of the English language btw) and road markings they are still confused. I don't know if this is true of other European countries.
I drive a lhd car all over the UK, no problem with visibilty, but it is an old American car, no massive blind spots like modern cars.
Claud.
In Chattanooga, TN there are a good amount of round abouts in popular areas. I hit one almost every day. They are dangerous with US don't care about anything driver's. I see wrecks all the time at round abouts. People don't yield and everyone thinks they all have right away at the same time. I've been a passenger in a round about wreck 2 in 3 years. If good drivers are on the road at that time, I prefer them over other options. I think as the 90's babies are at age things have gotten worse than ever. Just my 2 cents
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There's none in my immediate area, but if I got down the road there's a couple. One in Cearfoss, MD and two in Smithsburg, they aren't bad. Traveling all over the Northeast, I see plenty. The 2 lane ones are absolutely terrible (East Syracuse, NY, I'm looking at you...) and confuse everybody. Give me a 4 way stop anytime.
No roundabouts
Replace 95% of stop signs with "yield" ....
Replace 95% of stop signs with "yield" ....
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Having grown up in Canberra Australia, which is the roundabout capital of the world, the 4 way stop is infinitely more civilised...get there first, and it's your turn.
Living and working in Canberra ATM they are fun to drift around in the 3.2l work ute....
Having grown up in Canberra Australia, which is the roundabout capital of the world, the 4 way stop is infinitely more civilised...get there first, and it's your turn.
Living and working in Canberra ATM they are fun to drift around in the 3.2l work ute....
Originally Posted By: tdi-rick
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Having grown up in Canberra Australia, which is the roundabout capital of the world, the 4 way stop is infinitely more civilised...get there first, and it's your turn.
Living and working in Canberra ATM they are fun to drift around in the 3.2l work ute....
That monster one at Woden was my favourite with my LJ with 186, triples and 4 speed.
Although one day, I ran out of steering lock, and had to throttle balance an extra lap to get steering back in range (another day I spun).
Originally Posted By: Shannow
Having grown up in Canberra Australia, which is the roundabout capital of the world, the 4 way stop is infinitely more civilised...get there first, and it's your turn.
Living and working in Canberra ATM they are fun to drift around in the 3.2l work ute....
That monster one at Woden was my favourite with my LJ with 186, triples and 4 speed.
Although one day, I ran out of steering lock, and had to throttle balance an extra lap to get steering back in range (another day I spun).
The local motorcycle cop told us we should be able to get around the big Panmure roundabout at 50mph, that set the standard. Manu was a good/bad cop - he'd help us if we were broken down (British bikes) and slam us with a ticket if he caught us speeding. I'd seen him kickstart his Triumph Saint, pivot it around on the centre stand and launch in one fluid motion. Killed when he put his MkIV Zephyr into a tree, drunk.
Originally Posted By: Shannow
That monster one at Woden was my favourite with my LJ with 186, triples and 4 speed.
The roundabout I referenced earlier in this thread is going to be an actual large roundabout, except it's only going to be one lane, a big one, to ensure agricultural and construction equipment can use it. That should be interesting.
That monster one at Woden was my favourite with my LJ with 186, triples and 4 speed.
The roundabout I referenced earlier in this thread is going to be an actual large roundabout, except it's only going to be one lane, a big one, to ensure agricultural and construction equipment can use it. That should be interesting.
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