topic Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs in Community Chat

Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

bonnielu — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:03:30 GMT

We are about to get a roundabout. There is a blinking light at the intersection that is only busy at rush hour in the evening. We are talking about a rural neighborhood. We have been blindsided and our local and state govt say ITS A DONE DEAL and we can meet to talk about it. Not happy because they will take two months to make it happen with many detours. People rarely yield because in our area... it is always ME FIRST.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

lolakimono — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:05:16 GMT

I take one every day for work. No big deal, and the traffic moves quickly.

I grew up with an 8 way circle in the center of town.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Marienkaefer2 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:05:59 GMT

We have a ton of roundabouts where I live.

It's true, many people don't know how to go through them. As you enter, you're supposed to yield, not the traffic already in the roundabout.

Sometimes it works, sometimes there's been a near miss. I think overall, though, they work pretty well.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Marp — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:10:34 GMT

There are several being installed in my small, rural town against the wishes of the townspeople. Locals had no input into the decision.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Kachina624 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:11:46 GMT

We have them in quiet suburban neighborhoods where speeding was not a problem. It's like mayors had a convention and having roundabouts became the "in" thing to do. They probably brag about the number each has. The only thing they benefit are the paving contractors who build them. They're useless in places that get may be 10 cars an hour.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

BirkiLady — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:21:32 GMT

Change happens. Learn to drive on it and you'll love it. It you're against it, you'll hate it. I learned to drive on huge roundabouts in metropolitan Philadelphia, Cleveland and Pittsburgh in my 20's. When Nebraska began implementing small roundabouts, people were against them. What's with that nonsense? They're little two and three-lanes! Several years later, the naysayers still cannot negiotiate those simple circular lanes. It has to be with their attitudes. Pay attention; drive the speed limit and you be fine. Traffic does flow very smoothly! And, yes, they are easy peasy. No stop-and-go wear-and-tear on your vehicle anymore. They are a great thing!

Am a little anxious, but also curous, about an upcoming double-decker roundabout several block from where I live. There have been many fatal accidents at a very busy intersection and the City Planning Commission has decided a double-decker may be the only alternative. Interesting. Have driven of double and triple highways, but not a roundabout. First time for everything! And, it will be used frequently to return home.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Sunshine Kate — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:18:01 GMT

I'm getting used to roundabouts. I hated it at first. I just have to remember whoever (car) is in the circle has the right of way.

It's less expensive than traffic lights and you don't have to worry about cars running red lights.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

sunshine45 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:20:29 GMT

yes, we have a number of roundabouts in our general area.

you just have to be overly cautious about OTHERS who just dont seem to be comfortable about using them.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

september — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:22:52 GMT

We have a newer one at a big intersection close to me. When it was first proposed, there was a lot of criticism.

I was for it...lived other places (esp.in Europe) where they're common.

It's been a huge success. Where there was always a big backup of traffic in the past...that's gone. Round-abouts keep the traffic moving.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Shanus — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:28:43 GMT

A roundabout was put on a Main Street through our neighborhood. It is the first one and after a year, there are still frequent accidents because no one “gets it”.

The newspaper said to yield to cars on your right or cars already in the roundabout. Every time I come to it, it’s a 10 minute standoff w/ cars creeping out & stopping abruptly, not sure whether to go or not.

It’s like watching an episode w/ Lucy and Ethel.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

eddyandme — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:33:46 GMT

Good Luck! Same thing happened in my town. So far managed to avoid it, but from what I've read on the local facebook site it's like dodge-ems!

Also, was mentioned tonite 'cause we're getting snow tomorrow it's very hard to plow - this one is a 'double roundabout'. Plus they were joking 'cause can't see yellow lines in this weather.

Perhaps the POB like the sport!

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

skuggles — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:39:58 GMT

If it's a new concept in the area and there are difficulties , it may be worth a call to your local mayor/manager and ask for a community wide educational effort. Maybe suggest some form of reminder of the driving laws for a roundabout like speed and who must yield to whom and the correct position for turn off and signaling etc to be run in an article or something that lots of people frequent. Maybe your city/town has a local facebook page or website where these reminderrs/refreshers could be posted as well. Just try and hit all the bases with the info.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

x Hedge — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:41:28 GMT

I hate them. They're dangerous. They actually manage to both slow down traffic and cause more accidents at the same time.
After roundabouts are put up, people re- plan their usual routes, driving way out of their way to avoid these things. They drive more miles and put more pollution into the air to avoid having to go through roundabouts. People who live in or regularly drive thru these areas have no say about them. What a waste of tax money!

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

DiAnne — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:43:58 GMT

We have many in the city where I live and they do slow the traffic in the residential neighborhoods. You get used to them.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:50:32 GMT

I do not like them......unfortunately they are becoming much more popular....not sure why.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

Tribesters — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:51:39 GMT

@x Hedge

I agree with you 100%. They put 3 or 4 in my neighboring town. I hate them & go out of my way to avoid them. When DH is driving he goes through them & I hold my breath. Traffic is way more backed up since the roundabouts than it was before. There used to be 2 lanes heading into the intersections now it’s just one so cars are backed up waiting to enter the roundabout. Tractor trailers can’t negotiate them. Plowing I’m sure isn’t easy. I used to go to the mall or other businesses but since they put these in I seldom go anymore. I read where some towns have actually removed them a few years later. What was wrong with traffic lights?

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

JaneMarple — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:55:43 GMT

We have them all over Massachusetts where they're called "Rotaries", They are all over Cape Cod and driving around them is not too bad. In New Jersey they're known as "circles". If they'r not too small then the traffic flows better.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

happycat — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 01:57:41 GMT

They put a new one in where I live. Its not in a busy area, thank goodness.

There are several in a close by city. Now, those are a mess. Everyone tries to go first, no body wants to wait. Many near misses.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

viva923 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:02:10 GMT

round abouts are over my state. They are a disastrous. Many of the drivers in my state are in such a hurry it is get out of my way I am moving thru. Round abouts are supposedly to keep traffic moving. You have to know exactly which way to go once you reach the round about, make sure you are in the correct lane, if anyone is next to you, you have to figure out how to get over correctly in a matter of a few short feet. They are horrible to navigate. I have had people in such a hurry they don’t follow the round about,they actually drive in the opposite direction. Sometimes it is a free for all. Good luck with your round abouts.

Re: Anyone have experience with Roundabouts instead of traffic lights or stop signs

kitcat51 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 02:03:05 GMT

Oh the stories I could share...in my area we have single, double & triple roundabouts, I avoid them when possible because most drivers don't understand how they work. The worst is a double that has an adjoining freeway exit ramp, the driver's fly thru the yield sign into the roundabout trafic, I've amost been Tboned twice. I hate those darn things!