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-   -   Roundabouts in the US (https://britishexpats.com/forum/usa-57/roundabouts-us-806007/)

SultanOfSwing Aug 16th 2013 3:41 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Nutmegger (Post 10854009)
Of course, if you're in Joisey, it's still the turnpike, though no early weapons have been spotted there lately! :sneaky:

It's only a matter of time ...

Sheepdip Aug 16th 2013 4:27 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
We have a few but one of the largest (so probably easiest to navigate?) had it's 'yield' signs changed to 'stop' ones!

SultanOfSwing Aug 16th 2013 4:32 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Sheepdip (Post 10854099)
We have a few but one of the largest (so probably easiest to navigate?) had it's 'yield' signs changed to 'stop' ones!

That rather defeats the purpose of having the roundabout in the first place, doesn't it?

Xebedee Aug 16th 2013 4:48 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Sheepdip (Post 10854099)
We have a few but one of the largest (so probably easiest to navigate?) had it's 'yield' signs changed to 'stop' ones!

Only a matter of time before some bright spark decides to put toll booths at each entrance....

SultanOfSwing Aug 16th 2013 4:49 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Xebedee (Post 10854125)
Only a matter of time before some bright spark decides to put toll booths at each entrance....

Well if they weren't thinking about it before, I'm sure the NSA will let them know after they read that post.

Sheepdip Aug 17th 2013 5:22 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by SultanOfSwing (Post 10854103)
That rather defeats the purpose of having the roundabout in the first place, doesn't it?

absolutely but they just don't seem to get the priority from the left idea of the roundabout!

Sassyjaybabe Aug 17th 2013 5:26 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
I have found a few here, they don't like them, there was an article in a local magazine about them too!

Saying that I never drove in the UK so I was a bit rusty on how to use them (I had lessons but never passed a test back there).

Mrs Danvers Aug 17th 2013 9:15 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
For the most part, Americans are OK with them. However, don't get lulled into a false sense of security that some damnedfool will not notice the "Yield to traffic in the circle" signs and just go swanning on through.

Steve_ Aug 20th 2013 5:52 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Lothianlad (Post 10853933)
I really can't understand why the Americans have not taken to the use of roundabouts on their highways

Because they cost more to build than a four-way intersection with traffic lights strung across. And the US has way more roads than the UK does. And municipalities usually have to raise the money themselves, which is hard to get over at a council meeting.

I posted it on here before ages ago, I actually have a letter from the DFT saying that the official reason the UK hasn't switched to metric road signs is because of the cost compared to Canada. This was after I asked why they couldn't follow Australia and Canada (because as soon as you mention anywhere in Europe they go into euronutty mode). Also because it would "confuse old people". And people have been taught miles->km conversion in school. I can't make this stuff up.

So confusing old people about converting everything else to metric was perfectly okay apparently, and the UK has more speed limit signs per capita than Canada or Australia? Really?

Anyway I wouldn't take too much notice of what they do in the UK, they're bonkers. Covering a small island in roads and then choking them with traffic being a key indicator.

I always think there must be a happy medium, not so many traffic lights but not too many roundabouts. They do slowly seem to be moving in that direction in Canada and the US now. But in the UK they've decided to surround all the roundabouts with traffic lights. Wonderful.

ChocolateBabz Aug 25th 2013 11:55 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by ChocolateBabz (Post 10850965)
Yep we had a car in the middle of our roundabout a few weeks backs on a tree, yes on a tree. Can only imagine that they tried to make a left at the roundabout exit instead of going round, saw traffic coming at them and panicked.

P.S. my tom tom says it's a rotunda!

addendum:

AmerLisa Aug 25th 2013 2:46 pm

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Lothianlad (Post 10853933)
I really can't understand why the Americans have not taken to the use of roundabouts on their highways as they definitely help to make the traffic flow much more freely without the need for trafiic lights which, of course, mean holdups.

So many Americans driving over here in the UK seem to be more wound up or at least a bit wary about roundabouts than they do about driving on the (sensible) side of the road they are not used to. Until the 18th/19th centuries everybody everywhere driving a cart or a carriage or riding a horse
kept to the left for practical reasons, except perhaps for left handed people, a minority group.

Then along came to dictators - Napolean and Hitler - and changed it all for reasons best known to them.

Why the bother about roundabouts as long as they aware of lane discipline, know theire and can follow the signs to their ultimate destinations. Easy peasy.

I'd really like to see an American driving around the metropolitan morass that is Milton Keynes - a roundabout virtually every 250m along every road and street in the city.

Here in this part of England, as in many other places, roundabouts have their own names - eg the Cherry Tree Roundabout, and most are ablaze with floral displays and shrubs of all kinds which people (most passengers of course) can admire as they negotiate the circle.

Named roubdabouts are perfect for identification purposes in respct of location finding.

Tell the Yanks to get real on this one.

I prefer roundabouts. When I first started driving in the UK, they were the easiest, for me, to get used to, however the very small roads were not.

I'd prefer a roundabout any day over a four way stop!

Pulaski Aug 26th 2013 2:30 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by AmerLisa (Post 10869210)
I prefer roundabouts. ...... I'd prefer a roundabout any day over a four way stop!

You're just not a real American, are you? :confused:

Pulaski Aug 26th 2013 2:33 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
Last night I found another roundabout under construction! :thumbsup:

SultanOfSwing Aug 26th 2013 2:36 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 
We went on our new roundabout twice on Saturday afternoon. I was quite impressed that everyone was using it properly, giving way to traffic in the circle and nobody was waiting more than a few seconds to slot in.

Had the original 4-way stop still be in place it would not have flowed anywhere near as nicely.

AmerLisa Aug 26th 2013 2:40 am

Re: Roundabouts in the US
 

Originally Posted by Pulaski (Post 10870163)
You're just not a real American, are you? :confused:

I suspect there are more out there like me... :unsure:


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