RE: America Discovers the Roundabout

[Dan]

If roundabouts are so much safer, why is it that British councils suddenly seem to have become major shareholders in Traffic light manufacturers???? There seem to be a new set every other week near my home!!!

[muley]

I wish ! THREE roundabouts have sprung up in a one mile radius of where I live (south of Wokingham). mind you it does make for a safer set of road junctions.

[alfa dave]

The popular approach in sunny Essex seems to be both. Build a roundabout and then put several sets of traffic lights round it. To ensure complete confusion these work best if you only turn them on at random times. I have been experimenting with the Drive & Survive suggestion of 'Wipers on - Lights on' and have found that when the wipers are on intermittent turning the lights on and off every 5 seconds is very distracting and time consuming. I cannot recommend this (unless you are stuck at a roundabout with traffic lights on - in which case it helps to pass the time) Alfa Dave

[PetrolTed]

Perhaps you should wire up your lights to your wipers. I had a car once that had driving lights that would only come on if the radio was on...

[alfa dave]

Groovy - it's starting to sound like a disco, replace that rear view with a mirror ball and I think we might be on to something....

[Jason F]

[I had a car once that had driving lights that would only come on if the radio was on... A TVR ?? On my S the Wipers Wouldn`t go if the Headlights came on...

[PetrolTed]

quote:[I had a car once that had driving lights that would only come on if the radio was on... A TVR ??

A Volkswagen 'Santana' Cracking five cylinder houseboat...

[philshort]

Maybe these traffic lights on roundabouts should be optional, like at junctions in the States where you can ignore them and turn right if no-one is coming. Theres nowt worse than having to sit like a charlie at a set of lights in the middle of a roundabout at 2 in the morning when you are the only one on the road.

[jman]

I have to drive through a roundabout (St.Pete FL) every day for work. It works good, but it is also right next to the baseball (our National game) Dome. (we shouldn't have given away our NHL hockey team It causes some dumb ass drivers to just sit there with egg on their faces, and wonder what to do.

[PetrolTed]

Don't mention Domes to us Brits...

[Marshy]

I find that lane discipline and use of indicators on roundabouts (uh, circles) is even worse in the USA than here. Imagine that.

[muley]

Well, as a Brit I found the right of way rules a bit of a challenge at a USA 4 way stop in the Bismarck, ND 'rush hour' !

[Naunt]

There is nothing better than arriving at a town or village, than to be greeted by a lurvely floral display expressing the welcoming feelings of the locals. It was even better when the courts handed out community service orders to some petty criminals and they proceeded to plant the bulbs in a message, which was rather offensive. The council didn’t realise until they got irate calls weeks later when the plants began to flower – Bloomin’ marvellous

[raceboy]

Am I the only one who thinks islands are great fun? Traffic permitting right turns with a large dose of right foot, and a load of oppossite lock, I sometimes go around twice its such a laugh.

[Jason F]

Raceboy, you don`t live in Essex where the Wonder of Keeping traffic moving on a roundabout ( I`m sure that was once the idea ) has been changed to keep traffic kept. On the Roundabout. With some Extra Traffic lights.. But, if you manage to change into the correct lane while negotiating these bloomin` lights, they`ll slot a Zebra crossing 10ft off the exit of the damn thing..... A**e

[alfa dave]

This does seem to be a new fashion. Recently there seem to have been a number of traditionally bad roundabouts with lights on that have been "improved" by the addition of very narrow lanes that do not join up with each other or any particular exit. Brook St roundabout (M25 J28) is a terrific example... All we need to add now is some cycle lanes. Preferably running in the opposite direction.

[raceboy]

I must be lucky, my local town has a great by-pass with 2 really great wide islands, perfect for tail out moments, it's probably only a matter of time until a zebra crossing appears on them, ah well going out to make the most of them before they ruin them.

[graham]

The first step will be to block your view across the island so you carnt sight through it then a zebra crossing on the exit...