Out and round a bout

[old phart]

More of a driving than Aston related query. Please tell me things will get better. I don't know if this is a form of revenge or if we've just gone ahead and shot ourselves in the foot. Round-a-bouts are slowly popping up everywhere over here. I can only speak to central California and the Pheonix area in Arizona. If no one is around I will say they are a pleasure compared to a 4 way stop. But 99.9% of the people that come up to them have no idea what to do. They either stop, or slow waaaaay down.
Please tell me that things will get better. Have they been over there 'forever' or are any of you 'mature' enough to remember when they were introduced and the growing pains that ensued?

[Graze01]

it will improve, but there will still be a bunch of people who will have no idea, and dont indicate when leaving the round-a-bout - so watch closely

and you'll start to scrub out front right tyres (left over here)

Graze

[quench]

Yes, most North Americans (Canadian, here) are confused by them. In the small town closest to me, they built one about ten years ago. For the first week after it was opened, they had to post a cop on site solely for the purpose of directing those who were so confused they did not know what to do. Some people tried to go the wrong way around, believe it or not

[pschlute]

quench said:

Yes, most North Americans (Canadian, here) are confused by them.

We have had them in the UK for many, many decades, and half the drivers here still don't know how to use them

[David W.]

In China the cars joining the round-about had priority over those already on it! It seemed to work.

[Loose_Cannon]

Our local County Council hate roundabouts and instead replace them with incredibly complicated light controlled junctions which are great if you are a local, a nightmare for a visitor.

Similarly somone in neighbouring Newcastle said the new Council boss was an American so was ripping out the roundabouts wholescale to replace with lights!

[djmac56]

I personally think that roundabouts are better than lights for most junctions - they keep the traffic moving. Some larger roundabouts near me have lights as well at busy times which gives all directions a fair shot at joining different roads which is helpful.

It is flipping ridiculous that they have replaced Billy Mill roundabout in Newcastle with lights.

[Jon39]

old phart said:

Please tell me that things will get better.

When you say roundabout Steve, are you talking about an ordinary little infant roundabout, or a proper grown up roundabout?
Don' t let your highway planners see this.

[Simpo Two]

I encountered the '4-way-stop' for the first time in Canada. The Englishman, highly experienced in vehicular combat along the infamous M25 and infinite wheezes devised by numpties in small offices, instinctively looks for guidance by way of signage. But there is none. Such lack of restriction initially surprises the Englishman, for he is used to every inch of his progress being governed by rules. And so after a moments' glance at the other three drivers, simply shouts 'Banzai!' and hoofs it across before they can react

[old phart]

My father was in the military and told me stories of driving in Japan. He said intersections were a brawl but that if you got the locals to make eye contact with you they were polite as all getout.

[old phart]

Jon39 said:

When you say roundabout Steve, are you talking about an ordinary little infant roundabout, or a proper grown up roundabout?
Don' t let your highway planners see this.

Oh My God! That's amazing!

[steveway]

old phart said:

Oh My God! That's amazing!

Is this the "magic Roundabout" of Swindon fame, if it is been around that a few times

[Jon39]

steveway said:

old phart said:

Oh My God! That's amazing!

Is this the "magic Roundabout" of Swindon fame, if it is been around that a few times

Yes, the Swindon Magic Roundabouts.
I often use the Swindon bypass, but have not yet see their famed Magic Roundabout.

Drivers who are not familiar with it, must presumably be quite timid. The ground level photo appears to show traffic going anti- clockwise around the centre roundabout. Most odd.

Does anyone know whether the design has improved traffic flow through those junctions, and what system was in use before this?

[Shnozz]

Simpo Two said:

I encountered the '4-way-stop' for the first time in Canada. The Englishman, highly experienced in vehicular combat along the infamous M25 and infinite wheezes devised by numpties in small offices, instinctively looks for guidance by way of signage. But there is none. Such lack of restriction initially surprises the Englishman, for he is used to every inch of his progress being governed by rules. And so after a moments' glance at the other three drivers, simply shouts 'Banzai!' and hoofs it across before they can react

ha ha ha! Me too, The backroads around Toronto. Added to that the fact I was sat stationary being honked for not merging right against a red light at a crossroad.

[Ken Figenus]

That Swindon one is shocking! Room for a McDonalds in the middle too!

What is your priority system there Steve - priority for those already on the roundabout? Often think that is best... Was just driving in Argentina and they switch between the two priority systems there per roundabout dependent on some voodoo I didn't quite work out, but that can then be overruled by machismo and local custom and practice. Was kept somewhat on my toes ! You have it easy