Re: Pet Peeves?
 

There's talk of introducing roundabouts at some intersections in California cities. I don't see the point. 4 way stops signs have worked perfectly well for years. This is yet another screwy idea along with the 90 billion dollar high speed rail system

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Roundabouts are demonstrably better than 4 way stops. The only negative part is the impact on traffic while they close the intersection to build it but every roundabout they have installed round our way has made a vast and very noticeable improvement to traffic control.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Yes but we're not used to them here. I see a few smash up derbys and road rage before people here learn to navigate them in the heavy traffic which is always more or less heavy in these parts any time of day.

I've been driving here for 42 years. I've never had a problem navigating a 4 way stop

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

4 way stops are shite. They hold traffic up way more than it needs to be at busy times of the day. It's not that they are hard to navigate, they are just ineffective and a poor substitute for traffic lights.

Roundabouts keep traffic moving by allowing on car from each off-road to effectively enter the circle at the same time, reducing wait times. Also, they regulate the speed and offset the angle so that any collisions in the circle result in less damage/injury than a t-bone style collision.

Roundabouts are the way forward. Get on board or GTFO ;)

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Not the way I take 'em, they don't. :lol:

The ones I take most often I am going straight across, and I take them like a chicane, right-left- right, foot down, in second gear! :D

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

And you can't do that at a 4-way stop. Either way, you're still proving my point that roundabouts are just better :nod:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Yes they are, and more fun too! :nod:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Clearly :lol:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

...and there's another pet peeve of mine. Nothing like giving someone a tirade of abuse and getting blank looks because they haven't got the foggiest that you are belittling them. :tape:

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

I agree and despite the issues of people not knowing how to use them, and sometimes a few close calls with people using lanes incorrectly, they overall still make traffic flow nicer.

Now if only they built them large enough to accommodate semi trucks more easily.

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

They wont be coming around our way so I don't really give a ****, If they ever get around to actually installing them in the LA area I hope they build one or two on a strictly trial basis first. The geniuses who come up with ideas to improve traffic circulation don't always get it right the first time round.
The old Pasadena freeway on ramps were a prime example and those who had to use them every day were cursed for decades afterwards

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Good point. I can see some of those 18 wheelers demolishing a few homeless camps as they navigate the turns on LA's roundabouts.

I haven't done much driving myself on Britain's motorways, only as a passenger but what I've seen on them during peak periods, for all their roundabouts is the same congested mess that exists here in greater LA

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

British motorways don't have roundabouts, they are not dissimilar to interstates. At 698 head per square mile one expects a bit of congestion on a dinky little island's roads, there's little excuse for the US with 85 head per sq. mile. Mebbe a few more Californians should park themselves in a 'fly-over' state ;)

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

To be fair though once outside the city's, the road is pretty wide open and congestion free.

Now one of the saddest places for congestion is Vancouver, BC, generally ranks in the top 4 spots of worst congestion in North America coming out worse then NYC.

Amazing a metro area of only 2.4 million roughly with worse congestion then a metro area of 20 million people.

Traffic survey ranks Vancouver, Toronto among worst commutes in North America | Driving

Re: Pet Peeves?
 

Yes UK motorways do at major junctions and they're not rinky dink motorways either. I found them every bit as good as US Interstates, some even having a lane or two more than here and much nicer rest stops.

BTW it's California drivers who bring their money to other states that by comparison are somewhat down at heel. :p