Roundabouts in the US
Aug 16th 2013, 3:41 pm
#61
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Aug 16th 2013, 4:27 pm
#62
Wolf In Sheeps Clothing
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 947
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!
Aug 16th 2013, 4:32 pm
#63
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Aug 16th 2013, 4:48 pm
#64
gurt mint nit?
Thread Starter
Joined: Nov 2007
Location: In my shed
Posts: 2,776
Aug 16th 2013, 4:49 pm
#65
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Aug 17th 2013, 5:22 pm
#66
Wolf In Sheeps Clothing
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: San Antonio, TX
Posts: 947
Aug 17th 2013, 5:26 pm
#67
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2011
Location: San Diego for now. Seattle wa from two weeks time!
Posts: 92
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).
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).
Aug 17th 2013, 9:15 pm
#68
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 975
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.
Aug 20th 2013, 5:52 pm
#69
Grumpy Know-it-all
Joined: Jul 2010
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Posts: 8,928
Re: Roundabouts in the US
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.
Aug 25th 2013, 11:55 pm
#70
Chocoholic !
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Houston, TX - Officially Not Shit since 2009
Posts: 2,324
Re: Roundabouts in the US
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!
P.S. my tom tom says it's a rotunda!
Aug 26th 2013, 2:46 am
#71
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 22,105
Re: Roundabouts in the US
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.
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'd prefer a roundabout any day over a four way stop!
Aug 26th 2013, 2:33 pm
#73
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Roundabouts in the US
Last night I found another roundabout under construction! 
Aug 26th 2013, 2:36 pm
#74
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
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.
Had the original 4-way stop still be in place it would not have flowed anywhere near as nicely.
