Rant: American's inability to negotiate a Roundabout

[shemp]

Roundabouts have been popping up around here at an alarming rate. I personally love them. In theory they are far better than a stop sign that requires you to stop even if no one is around (causing unneccesary break wear, and fuel consumption). Plus when they are empty they provide a perfect opportunity to practice your racing line. What irritates me are the chowder-heads who can't seem to pull it off. I know they are sort of new here in the states (in SE Mich at least), but it's really not that hard. Those entering must yeild to traffic already in the roundabout. Sounds pretty simple... yet I'm amazed at the number of people who either come to a complete stop before entering when there is no traffic around, or the people who just plow thru when there is traffic. Add to that the occasional numb-skull who stops in the roundabout to let someone in.... grrrrr. It makes me want to shove a pencil in my eye. Are you guys seeing the same thing in other parts?

[zionzr2]

I feel your pain!Not to many around here though!

[ou.grizzly]

1. 24 Mile and Hayes2. 25 Mile near Washington Road and then near Stoney Creek High3. Van (removed) X Way and 18 1/2

[808 Vibes]

(scratches head) no idea. But don't worry...I won't do any driving in MI, LOL

[Kari]

Do you have the ones who try to go around to the LEFT instead of to the right, because the street they want to go to is closer that way?There is one in a shopping center where mom and dad live where people repeatedly go to the left of the roundabout if they want to go to Hobby Lobby. And it's funny because the people there can't use the excuse "Oh I didn't know how to negotiate it." There is a HUGE traffic circle with like 6 streets downtown that has been there all of my life and EVERYONE has surely been through it many times. Yet they don't seem to apply that knowledge to the smaller scale in the shopping center.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by HawaiiPontiacLover »(scratches head) no idea. But don't worry...I won't do any driving in MI, LOL Want me to scratch your head? Round-a-bouts are interesting for sure.

[shemp]

For some reason, he's listing the roundabouts in our area, HPL.... not sure what relevance it has, but it probably makes sense to him.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by shemp »For some reason, he's listing the roundabouts in our area, HPL.... not what relevance it has, but it probably makes sense to him.Which round-a-bout is giving you grief?

[shemp]

Quote, originally posted by Kari »Do you have the ones who try to go around to the LEFT instead of to the right, because the street they want to go to is closer that way?LOL, no I haven't seen that one yet..... wouldn't suprise me though.

[northvibe]

have been in a small one in duluth...I actually drove around it in circles many times ahahha. They are fun and at first maybe awkward but I like them better

[shemp]

All of the above, but perhaps the worst around here is Utica Rd & Dodge Park.

[shemp]

Quote, originally posted by northvibe »...I actually drove around it in circles many times ahahha. Look kids! Big Ben... Parliament.

[ou.grizzly]

Quote, originally posted by shemp »All of the above, but perhaps the worst around here is Utica Rd & Dodge Park.Yes, that is challenging during rush hour.

[808 Vibes]

Quote, originally posted by shemp » Look kids! Big Ben... Parliament.OK. NOW I know what you're talking about LOL. "We know, Dad...there's Big Ben". And no, we don't have any of those here.

[pick41]

its funny, they've started popping up around here too, everyone seems confused by them, or it might just be the mall traffic? Even though for as long as I can remember the Circle downtown Indy has always been that way.

[KNINE]

People around here can't negotiate a four way stop sign. How come nobody ever offered to scratch my head? Or rub my belly?

[Whelan]

I love roundabouts, except for the morons who feelt he need to stop, look both ways and edge out into the circle. There are a few in RI near the shoreline and some in Mass. But I don't see many in CT. I know up in Saratoga, NY there are a few big ones right by 87 which makes it SOOOOO much easier to get around instead of waiting at lights.In Bermuda they have like two street lights, everything else on the island is a roundabout. Loved it! As for me, there was one put into place in the town next to mine. Small one with 3 entryways. My god people are stupid here. They stop and won't go when they see someone entering from the other side. Like they think it is one car at a time only. The whole point is that when there is no opposing traffic entering you can glide in and out easily. It's not a hard rule, once in the circle you have the right of way. I can agree with this post that most American's are clueless with rotaries, myself excluded. As a matter of fact, here is a picture I found of the exact Roundabout I am talking about in my neighboring town.And here is the literature on the town's website, apparently this is the first roundabout on a CT state road.The state Department of Transportation has completed the construction of the Oyster River roundabout at routes 162 and 705.The project, which is being done in conjunction with the city, involves the construction of the first modern roundabout, or traffic circle, on a state road at the intersection of Jones Hill Road and Ocean Avenue. Roundabouts are one-way circular intersections where traffic flows to the right around a central island at low speeds, which, when constructed at appropriate locations, results in significantly lower accident rates.Traffic entering a roundabout is required to yield to pedestrians and circulating traffic, which has the right of way, but otherwise does not have to stop, thereby reducing congestion, fuel consumption and pollution. For more details on the operation of roundabouts, including a two-minute traffic simulation video, visit the DOT’s Web site below. The video is divided into three visual segments: yield to pedestrians, all traffic stays right and yield to traffic in the roundabout.Link to a DOT video on roundabouts LOL!http://www.conndot.ct.gov/medi...ation

[KNINE]

It's also a good song by YES.

[kunkstyle]

Roundabouts? As in a traffic circle? There's a few here. It's rather depressing to watch people navigate them. Driving in circles in both lanes. The new one that was installed on a rather busy highway makes me laugh. It's a major trucking route through the mountains and the traffic circle is soooo small. Semis actually can't get around it without either taking up both lanes or riding the side barricade. Talk about planning.

[ClunkClunk]

I don't know of any here, but in Santa Barbara there were a few, and usually didn't cause a problem, other than people stopping completely even though the circle was empty.However the one right next to the freeway entrance was a dumb move on the city's part, as when rush hour occurs, it backs up on to the circle, causing through traffic to get clogged up as well.

[DarkSpork]

The only places I have seemed them it seemed unnecessary. I didn't have trouble with them but in the places they put them it seemed like it was designed to slow speeders down more than anything. My mom ran into the island of one of them once, that was sort of funny.SLORegal: There is a traffic circle on Fairview Ave in Hayward (in the hills) and another one on Orchard Ave.

[808 Vibes]

Quote, originally posted by K-NINE »How come nobody ever offered to scratch my head? Or rub my belly? Maybe because nobody wants to get "lipsticked"?

[jake75]

When they are really busy (like at rush hour) it is imposisble to get in the correct lane and you are forced into a right turn.

[Sputnik]

We've got two new ones on the Rockcliffe Parkway near my house. I'm not sure if there are any others in Ottawa.In St Lucia we were on a bus with some Americans who had taken the "all inclusive" drinking to heart and holy cow they were totally confused as to why the bus was going "around in circles." I'm leaing towards it was the alcohol that made them ask such a question although maybe they'd never seen one before? I think they are gaining in frequency up here. Watching them in London this fall was insane though... roundabouts with traffic lights!

[GoodVibErations2004]

theres 1 in Avon and 1 i Caledonia. Neither of which are anyheres near me but the inlaws live out that way.......they have actual yield signs and only one lane. bt still ppl manage to eff it up.lol

[harryyiii]

Dublin, Ohio, epicenter of the roundabout movement with dozens, big, small, safe, dangerous, some costing over a million dollars to build. The new solution to every traffic problem, put up another roundabout, regardless of if it makes any sense. The only advantage is when the idiot doesn't yield, he will 45 into the passenger side instead of t-bone the driver side.

[ajflan]

Haha I was just thinking about this the other day. And the Utica and Dodge Park one can be a mess sometimes. At least the ones I use most (on 25 on the way to Rochester) are never really that busy. Of course now we have to worry about a couple more when they put them in at the 26 mile rd and M-53 crossing. They are going to start in March, so while they tear down the bridge, a huge part of M-53 is going to be closed for quite a while.