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Driving In Circles
Aug 10 2007 by Sara Lacey
8/10/2007
Imported Knowledge Sheds Light on Roundabouts
It would seem that Posh and Becks aren't England's only recent imports to the U.S.: My town has recently taken to installing traffic circles. Now, I have to confess my only real impression of traffic circles, or roundabouts, is the one you probably have too: "Look kids! Big Ben! Parliament!" (If you have no idea what I'm talking about, go to YouTube and look up "European Vacation, roundabouts.")
Anyway, I'm slightly embarrassed to tell you I didn't know how exactly these things were supposed to work, so I called my friend, Ellen From England. Ellen From England (you have to use her whole name) is a champ at rescuing me from confusion regarding the metric system, cockney accents and football (soccer). Turns out, she also possesses a wealth of roundabout knowledge as well.
According to Ellen From England, the two biggest issues with roundabouts in America are as follows: No one's been taught how to use them properly, and most of the ones built here are quite small. First issue first (I wish I could do it in her accent, you'll have to do it in your head): A proper roundabout is structured to keep traffic moving by favoring the larger flow of traffic. Smaller veins entering the roundabout yield to the larger mass of traffic. When traveling through a roundabout, stay in the right lane to continue on your current path. If you're changing direction, move into the left lane and travel 'round the circle. When approaching your "exit," put on your signal, move to the right lane and exit. This requires you to pay attention at all times in the roundabout, right? Brilliant! It's frustrating because so many places in my town have roundabouts, but no real education has been given about how they're used. I feel even worse when it's so simple I should just KNOW how it all works.
Of course, many installations here are meant to be used simply as traffic-calming devices, so all you have to do is slow down — but therein lies the humor. One country uses them to keep things moving and flowing, another uses them for slowing and calming. Apparently, the smaller the roundabout, the more likely it's intended to calm. Whichever it is in your city, I hope Ellen From England's advice will help you process your own roundabout woes and use the traffic devices more effectively. Cheerio, chaps!
User Comments
It is just because in America, drivers just don’t care. If they don’t know how to do it, they should look it up on how, not blaming the driver’s ed for not teaching it.
Just wiki it, and it has all the details.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout
Here’s an interesting link to a blog with some roundabout statistics.
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/08/despite-driver-.html
That post is potentiially a life saving one, or @ the very least a car saving one! I know it probably just did both for me.
My town isn’t all that big but apparently it’s big enough for some people to think we’re in need of quite a few roundabouts though most of the people I know or ask don’t know why they had to destroy what were a few pretty simple 4 way stops (w/ 4 way lights) & replace them w/ roundabouts… they’re also adding a few slightly larger ones in some of the areas right around my town, places most people go to or use as “the backway” someplace.
I was getting rather nervous b/c 1 of them (which is one of the more confusing looking ones too) seems like it’s getting closer & closer to completion every day & since to go to most appointments, stores, etc. that’s pretty much the only way you can get there.
Apparently we’re (as in my town/city) not the only ones seeing roundabouts slowly popping up! And if it’s going to continue then J’s right, they should either add how to use a roundabout properly to the drivers ed curriculam and/or to the DMV’s driving manuals
(and btw, not all of us “Yanks” fail to follow the rules of the road, esp. the most basic ones)
Guess what? My state has a page to teach people how to drive in roundabouts, with animated flashplayer. But people still don’t know how.
http://www.michigan.gov/mdot/0,1607,7-151-9615_44557-160897—,00.html
Roundabout’s are not working in the US. Driving in circles is easy and comfertable for controlling the traffic. I think Ellen from England is right in US. no one can know about roundabouts and not know about it properly. With this roundabout’s everyone can follow the rules because with this the way of breaking the rules is closed. If you want to turn you take long round of the circle and then you can take a turn to other side.
According to rules of traffic many things has to be done. No specific education is not neccessary for the roundabouts. Because these are very simple to use.
Roundabout’s will not work in the U.S because Yanks will not use their turn signals. Recently in Truckie California had 2 near misses. Incedently in the UK some circles have been removed. Because they can only handle. Others have traffic lights to handle the high volume of traffic. A definite no-no.