Who else hates the design of some roundabouts?

[phil]

"Roundabout" is not a word. They are called "traffic circles". This is why we fought the Revolutionary War.

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[The Electric Duo]

They're going the wrong direction.

Something really interesting (at least to me)...
I have vivid memories about that roundabout and another. But in my memory, we were on the other side of the road and going in the right direction. It's like my brain stored the memory American style.

The same thing goes for this railroad crossing. You might not think I'd remember a railroad crossing, but this one had manual gates. There was a guy that would run down from the office and close the gates, wait for the train to pass, and then open them back up. It was crazy that it was still manual up to the 2010s. I hated getting stuck there because they always closed the gates way early for each train so my memories are vivid for that too -- but reversed as well.

 

[Mach1E]

"Roundabout" is not a word. They are called "traffic circles". This is why we fought the Revolutionary War.

I have an alternative theory-

 

[ArthurDOB]

The purpose of roundabouts is to reduce the severity of accidents. They INCREASE the amount of accidents, but less people die, and the damage is less severe to vehicles.

Some studies state the increase in the number of crashes is temporary one, largely attributed to many drivers' unfamiliarity with navigating them. Other studies indicate all crashes are reduced. Time for more studies.

I love them. I hope they keep putting them in.

 

[ArthurDOB]

I was stationed in England for a few years, so I really like roundabouts. But, they generally confuse a lot of Americans and we don't train people on how to use them. In the US, I take them a lot more cautiously.

Here's one of the roundabouts right by the base I was at:

Did you stop at the Burger King?

 

[mdolan92869]

"Roundabout" is not a word. They are called "traffic circles". This is why we fought the Revolutionary War.

Don't get me started about people who call them Rotarys! ?

 

[milepost1]

There’s a couple roundabouts in my area. One is right before you enter the Keesler Air Force Base, and one by the airport. In my opinion, the one at the Air Force base is really setting up for accidents. The one by the airport, I don’t know why they can’t design all them like that one, but It’s one lane when you come in and once you’re in you have to exit or keep going to the next exit and keep on going around till you come back that exit, there’s no inside lane which really confuses a lot of people in my opinion. For instance, the one at the Air Force Base is like the example I put here they’ve got two lanes and most people come from that 9 o’clock position and they exit at the 3 o’clock position and they’re exiting from the inside and the lane. Like to go around and exit to the 12 o’clock position because that’s a better road to take, but it’s like no matter if you get on the outside or the inside lane someone’s coming from the inside lane and trying to broadside you because they want to exit at 3 o’clock , I don’t know why they don’t see this is an issue. So if the rule is you come in from 9 o’clock position on the inside lane and you want to exit at 12 o’clock you continue and then you cross over but then those people that are coming from. Let’s say the east, which is right around 2 o’clock position. They’re gonna force you to stay inside that lane if they come to the roundabout, not giving you the yield. I try to avoid it as much as I can, but you can’t help it because that’s the only way into the base lol.

Single lane is much safer and there’s hardly really any rules. I mean it’s almost obvious you either exit or you keep going around in circles.?

Love roundabouts that are built properly. Here in WA we extole the virtues of roundabouts but like to build 2 lane round abouts way to small. Barely fit two cars, and don't be in a roundabout with a truck! Either build 1 lane or don't put 2 lanes In same size roundabouts as 1 lane.

 

[mdolan92869]

20 years ago, I was on a business trip to London, Canary Wharf specifically. They had a roundabout near the hotel that had some monstrosity of a traffic signal. No wonder we won the war! ?

 

[ArthurDOB]

Surprised this song hasn't come up!

 

[DoogleMac]

The problem with 2 lane roundabouts is just that most North American drivers have no idea what the rules of roundabouts are in the first place. With two lanes the consequences become more significant. Ironically many immigrants have no problems with them because their home countries have had them for decades.

in Europe and many other places with roundabouts, people use turn signals to indicate when they will exit. Really helps those trying to enter!

 

[cafdiniz]

Roundabouts are super common in Brazil (my home country), but some with multiple lanes confuse even locals. I've been to small towns in Brazil and Europe that didn't even have traffic lights, they used roundabouts only!

 

[cafdiniz]

Surprised this song hasn't come up!

I‘ve been quietly singing it since I saw the first post!

 

[Jerrytball]

I‘ve been quietly singing it since I saw the first post!

I’ve gone/been around about is that the song?

 

[ArthurDOB]

I’ve gone/been around about is that the song?

Click the link!

 

[The Electric Duo]

Did you stop at the Burger King?

That wasn't there when I was stationed over there - and neither was the McDonald's. We had a Burger King on one of the bases and I'll admit that I ate their often. You begin to crave anything from the States after a few months overseas. When Taco Bell opened up on our base, there was a 2 1/2 hour line the first day!

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