The British Roundabout is invading America

"Overpass i can understand, but compared to intersections with traffic lights? Roundabouts are WAY more efficient."

Only if the people are smart enough to use them. Takes thought instead of just waiting for a traffic light to tell you what to do.

First introduction to a Roundabout was in Cyprus during a Peacekeeping tour. Learning to drive on the "wrong" side of the road in a left hand drive vehicle while surrounded by maniac Cypriot drivers was...interesting.

I find that most of the roundabouts that are being built in North America are far too small in diameter. there is one that replaced an intersection between two secondary highways, and watching tractor trailers or even heavy trucks truing to negotiate a roundabout sized for European compact sedans is also...interesting.

I grew up and learned to drive within a few miles of the Tallmadge Circle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallmadge,_Ohio click on picture) so when I encountered roundabouts in Abu Dhabi I took them in stride.

But I agree that a large percentage of American drivers haven't a clue what to do with them and prefer to be regimented and regulated by stop signs and traffic lights--especially in places where they hate "Government regulation"

Touche Hutch,

Poker

Hutch wrote:I grew up and learned to drive within a few miles of the Tallmadge Circle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallmadge,_Ohio click on picture) so when I encountered roundabouts in Abu Dhabi I took them in stride.

But I agree that a large percentage of American drivers haven't a clue what to do with them and prefer to be regimented and regulated by stop signs and traffic lights--especially in places where they hate "Government regulation"

Thucydides wrote:First introduction to a Roundabout was in Cyprus during a Peacekeeping tour. Learning to drive on the "wrong" side of the road in a left hand drive vehicle while surrounded by maniac Cypriot drivers was...interesting.

I have heard Italians are considerably worse.

Thucydides wrote:I find that most of the roundabouts that are being built in North America are far too small in diameter. there is one that replaced an intersection between two secondary highways, and watching tractor trailers or even heavy trucks truing to negotiate a roundabout sized for European compact sedans is also...interesting.

Easy way to deal with that is to make the roundabouts larger. Either that or shrink your vehicles down to European sizes! That way they might corner better!

Mike.

Daryl wrote:"Overpass i can understand, but compared to intersections with traffic lights? Roundabouts are WAY more efficient."

Only if the people are smart enough to use them. Takes thought instead of just waiting for a traffic light to tell you what to do.

Well that might be a point, but well, where they´re used, traffic tends to flow better in my experience.

But I agree that a large percentage of American drivers haven't a clue what to do with them and prefer to be regimented and regulated by stop signs and traffic lights--especially in places where they hate "Government regulation"

I have heard Italians are considerably worse.

That can probably be argued either way quite extensively. Both Cyprus and Italy are known for crazy drivers.
Though you can find similar madness in inner city Paris and in parts of Greece as well.

Roundabouts only let the traffic flow freely on the largest of the road entering them. There's one where the road I have to use meets a major road, and that major road traffic just drives onto the roundabout and blocks it for everyone else. But then, the town I live in has the worst road system in the southeast UK having been linked to a motorway access without anyone considering the extra traffic generated.
Cheers
John

Hutch wrote:I grew up and learned to drive within a few miles of the Tallmadge Circle (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tallmadge,_Ohio click on picture) so when I encountered roundabouts in Abu Dhabi I took them in stride.

But I agree that a large percentage of American drivers haven't a clue what to do with them and prefer to be regimented and regulated by stop signs and traffic lights--especially in places where they hate "Government regulation"

Michael Riddell wrote:

Thucydides wrote:First introduction to a Roundabout was in Cyprus during a Peacekeeping tour. Learning to drive on the "wrong" side of the road in a left hand drive vehicle while surrounded by maniac Cypriot drivers was...interesting.

I have heard Italians are considerably worse.
Mike.

At the risk of derailing the thread, You have not lived until you have experienced driving in Cairo. Although riding in a taxicab in Abu Dhabi and Manila both have their moments (mostly terrifying).

And the motorbikes in Bangkok...