Roundabout issue - need help
Discussion
Hi,
On my way to work in my local area, there is a roundabout that was put in where there used to be a T-Junction. This T-Junction was terrible so it has made an improvement. However the roundabout layout is terrible.
Basically the problem lies where there are two lanes, left hand lane clearly marked to go halfway round the roundabout to the first main left, the righthand land clearly marked to go right to the 3rd exit and that alone.
Every f
king morning, I almost have someone swiping into the side of me as they suddenly cut across from the clearly marked right hand lane into the left without bothering to look at the signs or the road markings. I see it happen to other people as well all the time. Without wishing to stereotype, every morning this week it has been a different middle aged woman with a vacent look in her eye 
Although I take the defensive driving posture and I know its going to happen, therefore try to minimise my risk by manuvering myself so there is nobody on the right of me at this point - its clear to me that the roundabout is not designed for the below average driver as it is simply not blindingly obvious enough what you are supposed to do.
Who do I complain to, would it be the council or the local police in terms of the amount of sheer near misses this thing has?
Cheers
LS
On my way to work in my local area, there is a roundabout that was put in where there used to be a T-Junction. This T-Junction was terrible so it has made an improvement. However the roundabout layout is terrible.
Basically the problem lies where there are two lanes, left hand lane clearly marked to go halfway round the roundabout to the first main left, the righthand land clearly marked to go right to the 3rd exit and that alone.
Every f
king morning, I almost have someone swiping into the side of me as they suddenly cut across from the clearly marked right hand lane into the left without bothering to look at the signs or the road markings. I see it happen to other people as well all the time. Without wishing to stereotype, every morning this week it has been a different middle aged woman with a vacent look in her eye Although I take the defensive driving posture and I know its going to happen, therefore try to minimise my risk by manuvering myself so there is nobody on the right of me at this point - its clear to me that the roundabout is not designed for the below average driver as it is simply not blindingly obvious enough what you are supposed to do.
Who do I complain to, would it be the council or the local police in terms of the amount of sheer near misses this thing has?
Cheers
LS
Had a similar problem near home when priorites changed at a busy traffic light controlled junction, with no change of signage. Glasgow City Council web site had an online form where I reported the problem and within a couple of weeks nice clear signs and lane markings had been installed. I like to think that enough people took the time to bring it to their attention that it made a difference.
Sent this to the local council today - hopefully they will respond?
*****************************
Dear Sirs,
The Arborfield Cross roundabout has been a cause of my and others growing concern of late. Obviously this roundabout was needed to replace the original T Junction and it has helped traffic flow considerably. However there is a large problem with driver's interpretation of the useage.
When you turn left from the B3030 to continue through the village, the layout of the roundabout as painted on the road dictates that the driver stays in the marked left hand lane until coming off at the second junction, whereas the right hand lane must follow round to the right either to Swallowfield or back toward Reading.
The problem occurs when drivers coming from the Reading direction stay in the right hand lane, then cut across to the left into drivers following the road directions, Every morning on my way to work I see at least 6 or 7 near misses and I have nearly been caught out several times myself, however I pride myself in my defensive driving skills and I am aware this is going to happen, therefore I avoid it. Unfortunately others have not been quite so fortunate.
Please can you put some extra signage up to make it abundantly clear as to which lane goes where. The markings on the road are simply ignored and it will not be long until someone is hurt or seriously injured.
I am bringing this to your attention as a health and safety issue and I hope it will be acted on in the shortest possible time.
Feel free to email me if you would like further information
**********************************************
Lets see if they are any good
*****************************
Dear Sirs,
The Arborfield Cross roundabout has been a cause of my and others growing concern of late. Obviously this roundabout was needed to replace the original T Junction and it has helped traffic flow considerably. However there is a large problem with driver's interpretation of the useage.
When you turn left from the B3030 to continue through the village, the layout of the roundabout as painted on the road dictates that the driver stays in the marked left hand lane until coming off at the second junction, whereas the right hand lane must follow round to the right either to Swallowfield or back toward Reading.
The problem occurs when drivers coming from the Reading direction stay in the right hand lane, then cut across to the left into drivers following the road directions, Every morning on my way to work I see at least 6 or 7 near misses and I have nearly been caught out several times myself, however I pride myself in my defensive driving skills and I am aware this is going to happen, therefore I avoid it. Unfortunately others have not been quite so fortunate.
Please can you put some extra signage up to make it abundantly clear as to which lane goes where. The markings on the road are simply ignored and it will not be long until someone is hurt or seriously injured.
I am bringing this to your attention as a health and safety issue and I hope it will be acted on in the shortest possible time.
Feel free to email me if you would like further information
**********************************************
Lets see if they are any good
puggit said:
IIRC there's been plenty of hoo-ha about it already
Fekking hope so! Its terrible!!! Worst one yet is a van driver who pushed me onto the kerb and then actually chased me down the duel carrageway! Why?! I didnt do anything wrong.
Tis the roundabout of stereotypes - You should see what the beemer drivers get up to on there
I wish...puggit said:
Wasn't this roundabout built and then torn up and then rebuilt because of shocking design in the first roundabout?
IIRC there's been plenty of hoo-ha about it already
Yes , artic's couldn't use it because the turn on/off the roundabout was too tight ! & this is on a main A road , not some country lane.
lightstepper said:
Sent this to the local council today - hopefully they will respond?
*****************************
Dear Sirs,
The Arborfield Cross roundabout has been a cause of my and others growing concern of late. Obviously this roundabout was needed to replace the original T Junction and it has helped traffic flow considerably. However there is a large problem with driver's interpretation of the useage.
When you turn left from the B3030 to continue through the village, the layout of the roundabout as painted on the road dictates that the driver stays in the marked left hand lane until coming off at the second junction, whereas the right hand lane must follow round to the right either to Swallowfield or back toward Reading.
The problem occurs when drivers coming from the Reading direction stay in the right hand lane, then cut across to the left into drivers following the road directions, Every morning on my way to work I see at least 6 or 7 near misses and I have nearly been caught out several times myself, however I pride myself in my defensive driving skills and I am aware this is going to happen, therefore I avoid it. Unfortunately others have not been quite so fortunate.
Please can you put some extra signage up to make it abundantly clear as to which lane goes where. The markings on the road are simply ignored and it will not be long until someone is hurt or seriously injured.
I am bringing this to your attention as a health and safety issue and I hope it will be acted on in the shortest possible time.
Feel free to email me if you would like further information
**********************************************
Lets see if they are any good
L.S. Seeing as you write a good letter , how about one for the 'black boy' roundabout ?
No..... , wait a minute , Wokingham council know about this one , there solution after continuing complaints is that drivers still need to get used to it / learn how to negotiate it properly , this being a YEAR after it opened !!!!!
puggit said:
Has the traffic eased since the Black Boy roundabout was thrown together? I used to commute across the predescessor from Lower Earley to Green Park
I don't go through there in rush hour any more either. First time I went through it after it was finished I remember thinking "What the f
k is going on here?!" though, so I assume that is a common response! It bet it's a magnet for numpty driving escapades though.lightstepper said:
..a van driver who pushed me onto the kerb and then actually chased me down the duel carrageway! Why?!
'Cos most Van drivers seem to have the same number of IQ points than the wheels on their vans (to the van drivers - hold up your hand, fold your thumb down (that's the big thick one on the edge) and whats left is the number of wheels). Repeat after me, wun, too, free, fower...well done.
I can't see the sense of markings only on the road (i.e. no high visible signage). Road empty, markings not needed, road busy, markings can't be seen.
Keep up the defensive driving, it is the only way.
They'veruined a couple of r/abouts nr. me (one I can't remember where) and the other at the end of the Farnbrough bypass, where you join the Hogs back - they've gone and put a fence in the central resevation to reduce visability, yep, reduce - now I can see the point that it slows people down as they can't see, but reducing visability is in my opinion a ******* stupid idea.
Mindless idiots some of these road planners.
Martin
Mindless idiots some of these road planners.
Martin
supermono said:
Good letter -- just make sure you change "driver's" to "drivers'". Unless just one middle aged woman with a vacant expression is getting it wrong...
SM
If you are referring to "driver's interpretation" - it could be referering to each und every driver's interpretation of these less than adequate signs. On the other hand ... could be drivers' interpretation as in all drivers using this roundabout interpreting the wrong way....
Am just a "blinkin' foreigner"
und we Swissy are a bit prissy Und in any case - you want a daft roundabout ...?
Ist one on M60 - J5 und you can end up back on M60 heading back East if you follow the signs on the road from the West... or end up on wrong road... but no matter ... have feline sense of direction
... Wildy here managed to find her way to Tiddles in Stockport ...und back to Keswick... >> Edited by WildCat on Friday 3rd February 07:45
WildCat said:
Good letter -- just make sure you change "driver's" to "drivers'". Unless just one middle aged woman with a vacant expression is getting it wrong...
SM
If you are referring to "driver's interpretation" - it could be referering to each und every driver's interpretation of these less than adequate signs. On the other hand ... could be drivers' interpretation as in all drivers using this roundabout interpreting the wrong way....
Am just a "blinkin' foreigner"
Und in any case - you want a daft roundabout ...?
Ist one on M60 - J5 und you can end up back on M60 heading back East if you follow the signs on the road from the West... or end up on wrong road... but no matter ... have feline sense of direction
>> Edited by WildCat on Friday 3rd February 07:45
no both of the ones the serve the trafford centre off the m60
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