Traffic Circles/Roundabouts?

[smstonypoint]

The Tour de France is to start on Saturday (7/7). I enjoy watching the replays in the evenings; not so much for the race, but for the aerial views of the countryside.

I have noticed that the French make more use of traffic circles at intersections than we do in the US. It's been a long time since I was in the UK, but I seem to recall the same is true there.

Traffic circles seem to me to be a more efficient way of handling traffic at intersections than our use of traffic lights. If so, why don't we use them more here?

Steve

 

[oliver1555]

Two of my daughters were stationed in Europe during their time in the army. They learned to use roundabouts and both love them. They say the worst thing about them in the United States is drivers who don't understand the rules. As one daughter told me, "When you're in it, you own it."

Oliver

 

[TripleR]

We have had several installed locally and I initially did not like the idea, but after getting use to them I find them preferable to lights in certain areas. The only problem so far is they are not common enough for everyone to understand how they are supposed to work.

 

[ruffdog]

It seems in s WI they can't build them quick enough. They work better when they are a certain size or bigger. When they get too small, they can be a real pain, especially with larger trucks.

 

[k0ua]

The Tour de France is to start on Saturday (7/7). I enjoy watching the replays in the evenings; not so much for the race, but for the aerial views of the countryside.

I have noticed that the French make more use of traffic circles at intersections than we do in the US. It's been a long time since I was in the UK, but I seem to recall the same is true there.

Traffic circles seem to me to be a more efficient way of handling traffic at intersections than our use of traffic lights. If so, why don't we use them more here?

Steve

We have several of them here in the Branson/Hollister area, and also many of the overpass type interchanges are now of the "diverging diamond" type. A little weird to start with, but once you get used to them they seem to work pretty well.

 

[dmccarty]

We have two in our town and there is one near my parents house in another state. The traffic circles work, but as others have said, some people do not know how to us the circles. I once saw a guy turn left into the traffic circle which was against traffic. He wanted to go left and did not realize he needed to go right to eventually go left. :laughing::laughing::laughing: The circle is VERY efficient for keeping traffic moving, but if you have not used a traffic circle before, the first few experiences can be interesting.

Later,
Dan

 

[k0ua]

but if you have not used a traffic circle before, the first few experiences can be interesting.

"Look kid's, Big Ben"

With apologies to Chevy Chase in European Vacation

 

[newbury]

A couple of other problems are:
The space they take up, a decent sized one needs about an acre I think.
Big trucks (semi's)
Aggressive drivers
Rules - in the US some are "entering traffic has right of way" and roundabouts where "entering traffic yields" (like the rest of the world)

I've spent a fair amount of time in Europe, England and Wales. More than once I've had to go around a traffic circle twice to get the right exit, but it always came up.

As I remember there were a lot around Boston, and we have a few around DC.

In Mississippi we just have wide spots in the road and no traffic

 

[dave1949]

They do have to be larger than a standard intersection, for trucks I've seen a few that are unfortunately undersized. If an older intersection didn't begin life as a round-about, then claiming enough additional space later can be difficult. At least if you miss your turn, going around again is easier and faster than recovering from a wrong turn at a traffic light.

It seems like they are more efficient at moving traffic. They are more common in the Boston metro region.

 

[Gator6x4]

A couple of other problems are:
Rules - in the US some are "entering traffic has right of way" and roundabouts where "entering traffic yields" (like the rest of the world)

I've spent a fair amount of time in Europe, England and Wales. More than once I've had to go around a traffic circle twice to get the right exit, but it always came up.

Never knowingly driven in a state where "Entering Traffic" had the right of way over traffic on the main thoroughfare. Maybe that would explain why I have seen people slam on the brakes on a Interstate Highway with the traffic moving at 70 MPH and wave for a person entering on a acceleration lane, traveling at 35-40 MPH to move into the 70 MPH traffic.

In the seventies during the GAS Crisis a lot of states enacted "Right Turn On Red Laws" to allow a motorist to stop and then turn right on Red Lights if it can be done safely and without causing inference with the traffic flow. People still don't understand the Right Turn On Red law some forty years later. Maybe they will learn how to drive in "Roundabouts" by 2099.

When one makes more than one trip around a Roundabout looking for the exit, they call that getting lost on a Roundabout in Europe. Don't ask me how I know this. I will give you a hint, The Arc de Triomphe in Paris has twelve streets feeding traffic into the Roundabout around the Arc. (Click on skip the ad) Great traffic chaos in paris at the 'Arc de Triomphe' - YouTube

 

[Pixguy]

NH has installed a couple near me now. Their way of keeping it small is to raise the center of the circle with cobble stones. Keeping the 4 wheel cars off but allowing the trucks to ride over the center if needed.

Went to Ireland a few years back and yea, the Euros love their roundabouts! Try driving 6 hours the first day on the left side of the road and then enter a roundabout from the left. :shocked:

I payed for the insurance but luckily didn't need it. Just a new pair if undershorts that first day.

 

[brin]

The Tour de France is to start on Saturday (7/7). I enjoy watching the replays in the evenings; not so much for the race, but for the aerial views of the countryside.

I have noticed that the French make more use of traffic circles at intersections than we do in the US. It's been a long time since I was in the UK, but I seem to recall the same is true there.

Traffic circles seem to me to be a more efficient way of handling traffic at intersections than our use of traffic lights. If so, why don't we use them more here?

Steve

Savannah Georgia has lots of traffic circles through the old part of town going toward Bay Street...ever been there ?

 

[KennyG]

We are seeing more traffic circles in Michigan. They are effective when traffic is not too heavy. The Ann Arbor area has some that are undersized with too much traffic. You feel like you are in a figure 8 race.

 

[Bluest]

We certainly do love our roundabouts! The latest thing now, to tackle the horrendous congestion in most towns, is to install traffic lights to control access. Traffic already on the roundabout is halted by red lights to allow traffic to join.

The other really ridiculous roundabout fashion here is the dreaded mini roundabout. Basically a white circle painted in the middle of a normal junction. It is usually impossible to navigate them properly even in a small car, so you end up just driving over the middle. They are used as speed calming measure rather than to improve traffic flow.

The finest example of roundabout engineering I know of, in this fine nation, is this effort in Swindon...

I drive in France quite often. Not too long ago, all of their roundabouts gave priority to traffic joining, but over the years the vast majority have been converted to the conventional practise of giving priority to those already on the roundabout. This was achieved simply by adding a give way triangle on each approach. However a small number retain the old system and zi have been caught out more than once, luckily without incident.

 

[bcp]

More are showing up here, replacing lights or 4-way stops in residential arterial streets. The problem is that they are all different. Some are one lane, some two lane and some are two lane on only part.

Bruce

 

[smstonypoint]

The finest example of roundabout engineering I know of, in this fine nation, is this effort in Swindon...

With my apologies to Aggie graduates, was that project designed by Texas A&M civil engineers?

Steve

 

[300UGUY]

We have a couple here, I don't mind them, but my older neighbors hate them. Some plot ways around them that involve going miles out of the way. Young folks don't seem to have a problem, maybe because they are learning it young? Or maybe old folks just don't like change?

 

[300UGUY]

With my apologies to Aggie graduates, was that project designed by Texas A&M civil engineers?

Steve

Naw, not enough parts...

I've only known one Aggie, and he told me he was a Aggie within 2 minutes of meeting him. And he continued to remind me....

 

[paulharvey]

I don't see the advantage over a 4 way stop. You are suppose to stop before entering anyways. I'm partial to just 4 way stop with flashing red light. But they have them in Ocala and Gainesville FL. Both between 50-100k people. Always where a 3 or 4 way stop used to be, never a real intersection.

 

[MoKelly]

Naw, not enough parts...

I've only known one Aggie, and he told me he was a Aggie within 2 minutes of meeting him. And he continued to remind me....

Anyone with Jhonny Football can't be too bad.

MoKelly