Traffic lights on roundabouts
Discussion
forks said:
Slightly OT, but during the course of my travels I've come across so-called 'Magic Roundabouts'. One in Swindon, and to a lesser degree, in Hemel Hempstead. No lights, but confusion nonetheless, especially if the traffics heavy!
The magic roundabout in Swindon never caused me any trouble. Countless roundabouts with traffic lights carrying far less traffic have held me up for days.The giveaway's how well the traffic flows when the lights aren't working - even though commuters will expect the traffic lights to be working, well, at least until they realise they've arrived at the roundabout without having to queue.
Einion Yrth said:
Famous Graham said:
Depends if the roads crossing are of disparate volumes. If a busy A road crosses a small country lane, the people trying to exit that lane have to wait bloody ages for an opportunity.
Under those circumstances it should be a light controlled crossroads though, surely?The Council down here traffic lighted 2 major roundabouts that I use.
IMO they massivley improved the experience in peak times. They are generally busy enough that you dont actually lose much if any time by waiting on the lights. And of course the stress and hassle is gone.
The only downside is that when it gets to around8pm you could argue the lights could go off - but even then you prob wouldnt see a assive difference in journey times.
Yes you could argue the chaos on a non lighted roundabout is caused by poor planning but at the end of the day when you have 5 major roads all meeting at one very small point what do you do? I bet my last penny you couldn't come up with anything much better than a traffic lighted system
IMO they massivley improved the experience in peak times. They are generally busy enough that you dont actually lose much if any time by waiting on the lights. And of course the stress and hassle is gone.
The only downside is that when it gets to around8pm you could argue the lights could go off - but even then you prob wouldnt see a assive difference in journey times.
Yes you could argue the chaos on a non lighted roundabout is caused by poor planning but at the end of the day when you have 5 major roads all meeting at one very small point what do you do? I bet my last penny you couldn't come up with anything much better than a traffic lighted system
Famous Graham said:
spurs-442 said:
Moar said:
HOGEPH said:
Whilst admiring the new traffic lights at Countess Services on the A303, the though occurred to me. "Why do roundabouts need traffic lights?" Surely the whole point of a roundabout is that it is a free for all, and providing everybody obeys the rule that traffic from the right has priority, it's self regulating?
It would never work on 4 lane roundabouts, let's get a little realistic here lol.Probably.
Those who know best have just, at significant expense, installed traffic lights on the roundabout at the end of the M65. This has involved painting multiple lanes over each other ad the roundabout progresses.
On thursday night we were delayed due to a multi vehicle accident which required the attendance of several police cars and an ambulance. This morning I witnessed a very near miss and understand how Thursday's RTA was caused... Good work fellas.
On thursday night we were delayed due to a multi vehicle accident which required the attendance of several police cars and an ambulance. This morning I witnessed a very near miss and understand how Thursday's RTA was caused... Good work fellas.
They're ruining Milton Keynes with traffic lights. Some roundabouts are just dangerous as a result. One changed in recent years now has a set on the roundabout but not before entering it, if that makes sense. What I find is that people will see a green light and just pull out in front of me despite the fact that I am on the roundabout and have right of way. Couple this with the fact it's a 3 lane one and it's a recipe for disaster.
It would even save electricity to keep the greenies happy. 
You are all missing the point of modern traffic control.
The objective of the traffic planners is to slow it all down, having been very successful at this means that accidents are less hence more taxes can be spent on pensions instead of repairing broken people.
Downside of this is the rage that it creates in some road users, however given time we will get used to slow travelling.
Its over gentlemen, the car has had its day.
The objective of the traffic planners is to slow it all down, having been very successful at this means that accidents are less hence more taxes can be spent on pensions instead of repairing broken people.
Downside of this is the rage that it creates in some road users, however given time we will get used to slow travelling.
Its over gentlemen, the car has had its day.
).Another vote for MK making a right balls up! They had one of the best vehicular access systems of any town in the UK, but now, well, what a flipping disaster!
(they have put traffic lights on a roundabout, because maybe once in a blue mooon, when there is a match on, the traffic can que back a bit onto the A5. Except, for the other 99.9% of the time, me and about 10,000 other drivers a day, needlessly stop and waste fuel and time at some lights to give way to exactly no one. Emailed council and they won't change to part time lights because it might "confuse some drivers" (their words) FFS!! being confused by a light?? WTF, if that is the case you shouldn't really have a driving licence...... (and as to the A5 que? so what, drivers ARE able to look up the road in advance arent they? they have brakes and a steering wheel? if you fail to spot a stationary que of traffic and plow into it, you deserve to have the book thrown at you!!))
;-)
and in Northampton, they added traffic lights to the main road into the town from the M1, and then had the cheek to claim "new traffic system reduces town centre congestion by 30%" too bloody right it does, we are now all stuck on the ring road!! (tbh, now, when i get there and am faced with a deserted r/about a red light but no cars at say 2.00am, i check no one is around, then jump the lights at 3mph........)
[/rant]
(they have put traffic lights on a roundabout, because maybe once in a blue mooon, when there is a match on, the traffic can que back a bit onto the A5. Except, for the other 99.9% of the time, me and about 10,000 other drivers a day, needlessly stop and waste fuel and time at some lights to give way to exactly no one. Emailed council and they won't change to part time lights because it might "confuse some drivers" (their words) FFS!! being confused by a light?? WTF, if that is the case you shouldn't really have a driving licence...... (and as to the A5 que? so what, drivers ARE able to look up the road in advance arent they? they have brakes and a steering wheel? if you fail to spot a stationary que of traffic and plow into it, you deserve to have the book thrown at you!!))
;-)
and in Northampton, they added traffic lights to the main road into the town from the M1, and then had the cheek to claim "new traffic system reduces town centre congestion by 30%" too bloody right it does, we are now all stuck on the ring road!! (tbh, now, when i get there and am faced with a deserted r/about a red light but no cars at say 2.00am, i check no one is around, then jump the lights at 3mph........)
[/rant]
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 17th May 18:15
k all traffic on the roundabout.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff