Bluegrass Lass

Guess they've answered the old argument that comes up here every so often!

http://www.autoblog.com/2013/10/07/m...ut-video-poll/

Michael

I think it was pretty obvious which would be better on a relatively busy intersection but 4 way stops (in my experience) are seldom used on a relatively busy intersection but traffic lights are primarily used and right turn on red after stop is allowed.

I think a more accurate comparison would be to compare roundabouts to sensor traffic lights during a relatively busy period as well as a very busy period. Then I'm not as certain which would be better. Also another thing that can affect traffic flow using traffic lights is whether traffic lights are synchronized correctly so that flow will continue in all directions. On some streets the traffic lights are synchronized so well that once you get on that street, you can travel for miles without slowing while other are so poorly synchronized that you end up stopping at every light.

RoadWarriorFromLP

The greatest benefit to roundabouts is that they're safer. The roundabout provides fewer contact points, since no turns are being made across traffic, which means that there are fewer crashes and the crashes that do occur tend to be less severe.

They're also safer because they encourage drivers to slow down. It is tempting for some to blow through stop signs, believing that they can get to whereever they're going more quickly. But even a maniac won't want to collide with the barrier in the middle.

Roundabouts are also safer for pedestrians, as there is a safety island in the middle and the traffic is only approaching them from one direction.

Michael

I think roundabouts are more attractive but not sure they are safer compared to traffic lights for pedestrians. Also roundabouts take up far more space than a crossing with traffic lights and may possibly be even less safe if there is more than one lane in each direction.

RoadWarriorFromLP

Traffic lights only stop those who wish to be law-abiding. Scofflaws who are self-important or in a hurry will take risks, hoping to be rewarded with a faster trip by beating the light.

Roundabouts slow drivers down through self-interest. They don't want to hit the barrier in the middle -- excessive speed isn't rewarded in a roundabout. You get better results when drivers do what they do for selfish reasons than if you expect them to act out of charity.

Sally Redux

Roundabouts have become more sophisticated in some parts of England I noticed, having a lane along the side so you do not have to enter it to go straight on.

Where I live now, they are mainly cramped little things which slow down traffic in residential areas. They have to have stop signs on them anyway because no-one knows how to use them. A big roundabout would mean carnage.

Michael

I primarily agree with that if there is light or moderate traffic on a roundabout but when traffic barely moves around the roundabout, people tend to take the best possible advantage for themselves.

Bob

Amusingly....today a 18 wheeler went around one the wrong way in town, causing about 5-6 cars to have to reverse out of it's way.

Xebedee

Was recently in Gettysburg and noticed that some of the older towns in the area have a central roundabout in the town.
Nice idea as they built the shops in a big circle around the perimeter and there are small park-like areas in the middle. One had a nice bandstand on it.
Not much indicating going on, but people seemed to be using them to good effect.

Jonion

The fist time my OH came over to the UK I got to the first roundabout and heard: "WTF!?" from the passenger seat.
She'd never seen a UK style roundabout before.

Pulaski

How much space they take up depends on the design. While fitting a roundabout into an urban grid intersection space typical of virtually any US city or town, is clearly not practical, a roundabout would fit fairly well into the massive space reserved for suburban intersections of four or six lane highways, where two lanes are reserved for turning left, two for going straight forward, and another for turning right. This amount of paved area, repeated four times, in each leg of the junction could easily accommodate a substantial (appropriately sized) roundabout. The space taken up by most proportionally smaller junctions in a suburban or rural setting could usually, IMO, accommodate a suitably sized roundabout.

Jonion

Given that much of the US has (afaik) no roundabouts and most of my OH's family/friends etc have little idea what they are....

I wonder what they'd make of the Magic Roundabout.

Sally Redux

Time for bed!

Jonion

I almost edited it, then decided to see how long it would take to get a reference... said Zebedee.


For those who have no idea what I'm talking about:

Sally Redux

I thought of Zebedee first but then realized what you meant

My BIL lives in Swindon and I have driven on it