When cycling or walking, I find roundabouts less safe and more inconvenient than traffic lights. Especially the multi-lane variety.
Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
21–30 of 85 posts
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#22Having looked at some of the links in the article, I just realized that one extra feature of roundabouts is that they allow U-turns (which is not always the case at an intersection).
Not always - teardrop-shaped roundabouts do exist - but those usually come in pairs (and often involve some one-way-roads) anyway.
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#23In rural America, there are super dangerous 4-way intersections with stop signs. We're talking highways with 55+ MPH (~88 KPH) speed limits that are relying on everyone to see the sign and stop. Roundabouts would be much safer and better for traffic flow.
There was a recent event where the interstate was closed (accident or something) and everyone had to re-route on those highways resulting in chaos at those intersections.
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#24I'll like roundabouts as soon as someone comes up with a good way to fix the resource starvation problem (i.e., if there's a constant stream of traffic from your left, you'll never get a turn to go).
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#25Earlier quoted context omitted.
It’s a chicken and egg scenario. Until they’re more common, people won’t learn. Hopefully we’re just in that awkward middle phase.
There's a path to that though: start with single-lane or turbo roundabouts with a turn at each entrance and you're golden.
Also, require roundabout knowledge to pass the knowledge test to obtain a driver’s license, as well as practical experience when in a trainer’s permit. This ensures go forward expertise inherent in the population after a certain date.
People (education), process (implementation plan), technology (implementation).
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#26I spend a lot of time near Manchester, VT where there are a handful of roundabouts including two in quick succession, one of which is as small as it is busy. The problem, based on my observations, is that many Americans have no idea how to use roundabout, nor how to signal through them. I feel unsafe every time I'm in the roundabout and have nearly been T-boned multiple times by people feeling they have the right to…
> people feeling they have the right to enter the roundabout regardless of existing motorists already being there.
This baffles me. It's not like T-boning someone is good for your car either.
Only thing I can imagine is they think it will operate like getting on a freeway, where you have some time in a dedicated lane before you have to merge?
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#27Trying to explain how roundabouts work to someone who doesn't get them is extremely frustrating. The rules are simple, but for some reason a lot of folks are vastly overthinking it. The thing is, I like roundabouts, but I'm somehow not surprised that the metrics focus on accidents involving death or injury. I think that because people have to slow down, it must improve those metrics. But there's a particular glut of…
But do you have to explain? Isn’t it part of the studies one do in order to obtain a driving license in us?
No, it isn’t. Well, it’s a state by state thing so I can’t speak for all of them. But it’s not common.
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#28No HN discussion of roundabouts is complete until someone has posted the Magic Roundabout. There are several in the UK, this is the one nearest to me. And yes it's as insane to drive on as it looks, but safer as everyone is terrified and drives slowly. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Hemel_Hempst...
When visitors were coming to the office in Swindon, I always gave them directions that took them thru the magic roundabout. Jolly good fun.
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#29I live in a country where roundabouts are common. They're great for relatively low traffic intersections as you can often get through much faster than lights. They are a liability when traffic levels are high enough - say during peak times - when one inbound direction is blocked by another. Wondering why Americans loathe them?
> They are a liability when traffic levels are high enough - say during peak times - when one inbound direction is blocked by another.
The rule should be that when traffic is bumper to bumper, the "zip" is made mandatory. That rule already supersedes the normal rule on, say, many (all?) european highways when the highway goes from, say, 3 lanes to 2 lanes and in case that creates a traffic jam: people in "their" lane doesn't have the right of way anymore. It's one car from one lane, one car from another lane: the "zip".
People in a roundabout should lose their right of way when traffic is bumper to bumper.
Where I live people are extremely polite on the road so I don't even know if the zip it's mandatory: people shall simply act that way.
In countries where road rage is common and people misbehave, like France, just make it mandatory by law.
Re: Safer roundabouts are replacing traffic signals (2023)
#30I didn't get from the article: are they better than all traffic signals, or signals with unprotected left turns? And what's a good vs. bad turnabout like? I have had to go through a few that feel extremely dangerous compared to having all cars stop for me. So I know I must be missing something. Edit: Also, I see a lot of comments on yield. I'm probably confused too, but how do they work when traffic is non-stop? Is t…
The thing is that a “yield” is not a “stop”, you have to match your pace to the circulating vehicles, similar as a highway “on-ramp” you don’t stop to let all the cars pass or slow down, that’s worst than speeding up and finding your space in traffic.