What is it about roundabouts?

[MarinaFazer]

What is it about roundabouts and idiots?

I think the circle might have it's own gravitational pull that attracts morons who don't understand correct right of way...

multiple situations, but the most common is stopping to let the person on the RIGHT go in front of them, thus holding up traffic from the main road...

it's NOT that hard people!!!

 

[grommit]

Was almost taken out on a roundabout at the weekend. Dozzy mare decided to go right around the outside of the thing to turn right. I was going straight on. I spotted her but it was close.

 

[fast blue one]

Do you have many roundabouts in the USA ?

 

[MarinaFazer]

Not many, but it's part of the driving test....you HAVE to know how to navigate one for the written test....

plus it seems like common sense would ensue and it is usually marked with a yield sign for those coming on the left...it's self explanatory!

 

[fast blue one]

Trust me they're a way of life round here

 

[fast blue one]

We are getting more here in south central Pennsylvania. There are probably a dozen or so in York, Lancaster, and Adams county.

Just put Stevenage into google map and think yourself lucky

 

[Troubl]

When I took my trips to England, I loved the roundabouts. They helped keep traffic flowing smoothly (with the exception of near the airport) and wished we had more of them here.

Well, when I came back, they were paving a new road near me and put in a roundabout instead of a traffic light. Oh it's so much fun. The bad think about roundabouts, Americans are not use to them and do not know how to properly drive in them. Hence, all the "morons" and "idiots" when we get to them. I think we need to import some UK Driving Instructors to teach a course in "Driving the Roundabout"!

 

[fast blue one]

WOW! Holy Sheet!

Gets worse Bill the map don't show the mini roundabaouts :jawdrop:

 

[Cloned]

Roundabouts are rare in the US. So when people do come across them they have no idea what to do.

 

[Avalon786]

Man people dont have much common sense here, they really are "lost" once it rains or theres a turn in the road, or a roundabout its like they freak out...lol. More often than not i see people taking roundabouts in the opposite way :banghead: I'm used to them (lived in Europe, but people here really have no clue what to do... )

 

[Botch]

Statistics show that roundabouts cause more fender-benders, but fewer fatalities, than a 4-way stopsign, at least here in the US, so I guess that's a good thing.
Their success depends on two things: understanding what a fu*&%ing "Yield" sign means, and full attention (i.e. no cellphones while driving) so their ultimate success in the US remains to be seen...

 

[mdr]

It's interesting. In the USA we're slowly getting more of them. The stated intent of our city elders is to SLOW DOWN TRAFFIC.

I have one about 2 miles away and it's no big deal, but I'd have to agree that people need to be careful around them D) because not everyone knows how to deal with them.

 

[damnpoor]

Do you have many roundabouts in the USA ?

All the new real estate developments in my town have started using them, as if putting in roundabouts will make people think they're in a peaceful European village and not some crappy US block housing project. I've almost been hit plenty of times by people who charge in assuming it's clear.

 

[Sawblade]

They're pretty fun when there's no cages around though.

 

[codeblue]

Trust me they're a way of life round here

Plenty of vids on youtube with guys just going around and around and around on those darn roundabouts. I like watching motorcyle vids on youtube but not those, especially the ones with a cager trying to catch up to the rider.

 

[pedwards89]

Don't know about Stevenage but 'The Magic Roundabout' is pretty famous.

The Magic Roundabout in Swindon - Wiltshire


"Time for bed" said Zebedee

 

[Cloggy]

Just put Stevenage into google map and think yourself lucky

I know exactly what you mean, when my parents were living in a small village 8 miles North of Ware, stevenage was one of the nearest shopping centres, it was crazy I totally agree with roundabouts at major junctions as it speeds traffic up but in stevanage (new town) they would put in a mini roundabout for any sort of residential road joining the main road.

Bigger roundabouts can be fun if it's quiet, but watch out you're still at the mercy of cagers, and once you're in a good lean you're even more vulnerable.

Anyway wish yourself lucky that you don't live in Swindon and that you don't have to negotiate the magic roundabout. A mate of mine lives there and I've had to do it on more than one occasion

 

[Cloggy]

Don't know about Stevenage but 'The Magic Roundabout' is pretty famous.

The Magic Roundabout in Swindon - Wiltshire


"Time for bed" said Zebedee

Phil you beat me to it I was busy doing stuff whilst writing my post.

 

[Doorag]

Ok, here's the mother of all roundabouts. It's called a 'daisy roundabout' and there are many mini-roundabouts around a larger main roundabout. The first one I ever came across is at Heathrow airport the first time I tried to drive in the UK. Let's just say I didn't really do it right. Anyway, here's a link.

heathrow - Google Maps

Edit: I just saw the Magic Roundabout post. Same idea, but the one at H'row doesn't have any nice signs showing you what's coming up or how to work it. You just ruck up and have all these roads and roundabouts to figure out.

 

[bluenova]

In Belgium there are very few, which like the US means that nobody knows how to use them. It doesn't help either that a few years ago the law changed for who has priority. It used to be that traffic joining the roundabout had priority over traffic already on the roundabout, they changed it to be the same as the UK so that traffic already on the roundabout has priority, but a lot of older people just stop when they see someone coming because they are not sure who has priority and EVERYBODY comes to a complete stop when joining even if there is no traffic on the roundabout, which is silly as it's only a give way sign, not a stop sign. So this totally defeats the object of keeping the traffic flowing.