Roundabout, corner, zebra!
Discussion
Is it just me or do others also find this combination rather hazardous?
You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
jimxms said:
Is it just me or do others also find this combination rather hazardous?
You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
Yeah, there's a roundabout with this problem near the offices that my GF works. It has crossings about two/three metres from each of the four exits. There are fairly regular minor crashes, for the reasons you mention.You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
aizvara said:
Yeah, there's a roundabout with this problem near the offices that my GF works. It has crossings about two/three metres from each of the four exits. There are fairly regular minor crashes, for the reasons you mention.
I just can't believe how stupid the councils (or whoever it is) are to design it this way. Most of the times I've encountered this, there has been plenty of road beyond the zebra crossing to have moved it further away!jimxms said:
Is it just me or do others also find this combination rather hazardous?
You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
Fully agree - stupid idea.You navigate the roundabout, come off at your desired exit, there's about a 10 foot of road and then a zebra crossing!
If there's someone crossing, its a quick application of the brakes followed by a cringe while you check the mirror for the next car taking your exit to either stop in an even shorter distance than you, or smack you up the backside.
jimxms said:
I just can't believe how stupid the councils (or whoever it is) are to design it this way. Most of the times I've encountered this, there has been plenty of road beyond the zebra crossing to have moved it further away!
Councils priortise pedestrians & cyclists and as we all know, ANY incident involving either party is automatically the motorists fault. If pedestrians want a crossing 5 yards down from a roundabout exit, because it saves them 20 yards, so be it, they get it.
If motorists want a drop kerb in front of their house. Yeah, that'll 3 grand, months of red tape and months of waiting.
jimxms said:
I just can't believe how stupid the councils (or whoever it is) are to design it this way. Most of the times I've encountered this, there has been plenty of road beyond the zebra crossing to have moved it further away!
That is certainly the case in the situation I described. You are always going to get people trying to cross right at the roundabout exit/entrances, but moving the proper crossings (particularly on the major routes which cross the roundabout) a bit further would really help. Personally I hate crossing near anything but the smallest roundabouts, as I'm unwilling to put my faith in the zebra markings if I can't see what might be coming.
aizvara said:
Personally I hate crossing near anything but the smallest roundabouts, as I'm unwilling to put my faith in the zebra markings if I can't see what might be coming.
Yep. My son and I almost got knocked down while crossign one a few years back. I wanted to rage at the driver, but it really was a poor layout and I shouldn't have crossed there. My wife however turned the air blue with both vocal and visual profanities.I've seen a few and they really annoy me at the lack of thought and how dangerous they can be. This one in Derby I've seen plenty of people who've been rear ended or side swipped coming off the roundabout and then stopping at that stupid placement for a crossing which they could have placed a little further down the road.
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=52.9290...
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ll=52.9290...
I raise you:
http://goo.gl/maps/jYLzl
Click the link, and rotate the camera to see 8 zebra crossings within yards of each roundabout exits
http://goo.gl/maps/jYLzl
Click the link, and rotate the camera to see 8 zebra crossings within yards of each roundabout exits
SuperchargedVR6 said:
Councils priortise pedestrians & cyclists and as we all know, ANY incident involving either party is automatically the motorists fault.
If pedestrians want a crossing 5 yards down from a roundabout exit, because it saves them 20 yards, so be it, they get it.
If motorists want a drop kerb in front of their house. Yeah, that'll 3 grand, months of red tape and months of waiting.
Not quite.If pedestrians want a crossing 5 yards down from a roundabout exit, because it saves them 20 yards, so be it, they get it.
If motorists want a drop kerb in front of their house. Yeah, that'll 3 grand, months of red tape and months of waiting.
If a crossing is put 20m away from a roundabout (where the desire line is straight across), peds won't use the crossing, they'll cross using the splitter islands at the roundabout. Then when someone is mowed down, the crossing will be moved to suit the desire line, an engineer ends up in front of a judge, and armchair experts will then go on the internet and whinge and cry about the waste of money putting the first crossing in.
If a homeowner wants a drop kerb, they can have it, but why should the council pay? You're adding value to your property. Not to mention removing an on-street parking facility for other residents. Not to mention the probability of affecting water/gas/BT/cable TV/streetlighting plant. (They demand at least 4 weeks just to confirm and send a copy of their plans to the LA, even if unaffected.) The work is carried out by contractors who have the relevant experience (not a bunch of
s), and the work is guaranteed for 20 years. Actually, a bit of a bargain really. simoid said:
I raise you:
http://goo.gl/maps/jYLzl
Click the link, and rotate the camera to see 8 zebra crossings within yards of each roundabout exits
Yes, but that's Edinburgh. You're not supposed to drive in Edinburgh. http://goo.gl/maps/jYLzl
Click the link, and rotate the camera to see 8 zebra crossings within yards of each roundabout exits
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