Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Both, around here. The one due to be finshed tomorrow is replacing a stop but others are replacing traffic lights.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

This is a fun one near us. Guaranteed to cause confusion to drivers not familiar with it.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

It used to be a nightmare on cape cod, all the tourists would come and none of them knew how to use a roundabout. Some of them had no idea that even had to yield to traffic already on the roundabout.

Funny enough when i went back to Enland I noticed that the larger roundabouts now have several sets of traffic lights all the way around.
It just ads to the frustrating stop start weaving in and out driving experience in the UK.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

We have a few in the area and a new one built in town... Thing is, the sign says there are two lanes going into it but they never built the second lane.

Had one guy not look and drive straight through and almost hit me and I've seen a 18 wheeler go around the wrong way along with someone else.

Town is also widening another across town, which doesn't need it as it isn't that busy, but they really should have put on else where, but they replaced the lights with more lights and it's a bigger mess now than before.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

The one and only one that I knew about in the Westchester area was done away with 40 years ago because of the numerous accidents on it. It was called the Hawthorne circle and I would go out of my way to avoid having to use it.

Would I use a circle if I needed to? Of course. I have used them on trips to Vegas and on trips in Massachusetts. I can't see the aged using them, however. Takes too much coordination and quick reflexes to use them correctly.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

If a four-way-yield (for that is what a roundabout effectively is), is too difficult, then they shouldn't be on the dämn road! :frown:

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

We have a few roundabouts in Vegas, at least 6 where I live.

So far I've had people stop on their way round to let me join.

One person did a U turn on the roundabout (not as in going all the way round):ohmy:

I've also had cars just pull straight on without stopping in front of me.

Finally, as I was going straight on at a roundabout a person pulled on from my right (my right of way) and tried to cross my lane. He just missed me and beeped really angry. The scary part was I don't think he realized he was in the wrong.

Oh yes and the driving test here in NV has nothing to do with roundabouts in it.:blink:

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

I used to drive through that thing twice a day for 5 years. We have a fair few roundabouts here in Bend. Some of them have been in place for 10+ years. The tourists seem to cope with them but the locals are hopeless. It's either a case of them stopping, even if the roundabout is clear, or barreling onto it without even a pause, even if there's traffic on it. Some of the people I know are of the belief that traffic entering the roundabout has the right of way, regardless of what the Oregon DMV manual says. Even the French gave that up as a bad job.
The other one that drives me up the wall are people who indicate right, when they are actually going to the 2nd or 3rd exit. Of course, no bugger actually signals when they're leaving the roundabout.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Perhaps it would help if they posted these signs in your area:

https://sphotos-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/h...53606324_n.jpg

(Are these aforementioned clueless Oregonians unaware of the meaning of a yield sign?)

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

It could be that they're so used to Stop signs everywhere, the concept of yielding gets them confused.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

The clever road designers in Anchorage managed to come up with this, which doesn't seem too bad when you look at it on a map. However each of the roundabouts are too tight for a semi to navigate them without taking up 2 lanes or riding up over the kerb. The best part of this is it is the closest outlet from a large industrial area to the Seward Hwy (Alaska's main arterial route north and south) and approximately half the trucks are doubles i.e. they have trailers.
Its a nightmare, my husband refused to use the interchange due to the high rate of accidents which were apparent by the pieces of car left all over the road.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Mmm, seen lots of: "Oh look at that, isn't it lovely, AAAAGGGGHHH" expressions on drivers in Sedona.

What frightens me is when people take shortcuts at roundabouts, i.e. they should come off at say, the third exit so they drive around it the wrong way to get to it faster.

I remember when they put the roundabout in on 37th St SW, first day I saw a pickup marooned on it with a collapsed front suspension, couple of days later, a car with a smashed front end, tried to drive over it I assume.

They are slowly becoming more common in the US and Canada so people are slowly starting to get the hang of them.

Europe - not enough traffic lights. North America - not enough roundabouts. Nothing gets on my nerves more than driving down a quiet road and having to stop at half a dozen sets of traffic lights for no apparent reason.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Have a look at a map of Blaine, Washington, look at the roundabouts at the first on-ramp south of the 49th parallel. Then imagine a semi getting stuck going around it. They're supposed to come off and go up the truck route on Highway 15 and of course everyone always follows that law to the letter.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

There are a couple of them in our neck of the woods and I still hesitate because I observe far too many folk bombing through without understanding when to yield. One day they may get it right.

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Watch the video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pke54GzMSjo

I like the bit about pedestrians and cyclists in that video. I always think it's mad that pedestrians can cross and block traffic coming off the island.