Absurd road junctions and so on

[CD.]

[quote]Not to mention the fact that yall folks not only drive on the wrong side of the road, but you SIT on the wrong side of the car to do it!

[i]I just couldnt resist!

[Triple_7]

There's a few I've hit that made me wonder if the engineers were either stupid.....or did it as a joke because they could

First one....looks simple eh?

[Hagar]

I know I would never survive driving in a European city....those roundabouts...look rather confusing to me :-/

Most roundabouts are fine & usually work better than traffic lights. It can get confusing if there are several marked lanes & you're not familiar with the area but the examples in this thread are extreme to say the least. The idea is to give way to traffic coming from the right (that would be the left in your case). When I first started motoring there was no such rule & it was a free-for-all. There were regular collisions & nervous drivers could easily get stuck on busy roundabouts for hours.

There are some roundabouts in the USA. The only one I know of is in Orlando, Florida. What I found most confusing about driving in America was the typical 4-way junctions. A roundabout would make things much easier. IMHO
I suppose it's what you're used to.

PS. http://www.drivers.com/article/334/

[eno]

As mentioned in the artical that Hagar has posted, France only adopted the yield on entry for roundabouts in 1983, prior to this rule the scariest junction I've ever experienced is The Arch de Triumph in Paris. This managed to scare the pants off a coach driver of 30 years experience.... and knowing the French it probably still would, as their idea of following road rules is rather loose, combine this with the fact that it is a major tourist attraction and it is complete chaos.

India is well renouned as one of the most dangerous places to drive you not only have to watch out for other drivers and predestrians but cows are free to wander anywhere. This makes any junction there extreme.

[Hagar]

As mentioned in the artical that Hagar has posted, France only adopted the yield on entry for roundabouts in 1983,

I've been trying to find out when this was first introduced in the UK. It wasn't that long ago & must have been the late 1960s or early 1970s. It seemed so obvious that we couldn't figure out why it wasn't done years before that.

What I find most confusing is complicated lane markings where you must be in the right lane to exit where you intended. Fine for the locals but a nightmare for strangers. The current trend of introducing traffic lights at roundabouts seems to make the roundabout completely unnecessary.

I found this clever animated GIF showing how it's all supposed to work on a standard 4-way junction. Easy enough isn't it?

The UK & other countries that drive on the left.


Continental Europe & the USA obviously go the opposite way round.

[ShaneG_old]

I'd like to see that animation with real world traffic volume. 

Packed with agitated rush hour commuters.

[Hagar]

[quote]I'd like to see that animation with real world traffic volume.

[Sir_Crashalot]

Roundabouts are a blessing to the (small) town I live in. There used to be a few traffic lights (like 4 or 5 junctions). Since they replaced them with roundabouts and put small roundabouts on most other junctions too about ten years ago, traffic flows much easier through town. The traffic jams of commuters in the morning and evening are practically gone even though the town grew with almost 15.000 people.

Crash

[Plugpennyshadow]

[quote]I'd like to see that animation with real world traffic volume.

[ShaneG_old]

[quote][quote]I'd like to see that animation with real world traffic volume.

[eno]

THIS roundabout in Chesterfield, Derbyshire has always been a suicide mission, even in it's new incarnation which is represented by the map. The old roundabout was big enough for driving round at speed so entering it, especially from the south (A61), was perilous as the majority of traffic enters from the east (A617). The map overlay represents the new form as the area to the west has been re-developed thus the spur into the new industrial estate. Traffic lights have been added at all entrances apart from the one from the industrial estate. However the way the lanes have been laid out and the phasing of the lights means that high speed traffic trying to negotiate its path has the danger of running into the back of stationary traffic who's lights have either prevented it moving or are just about to be allowed to move in the same direction as the high speed traffic.

You can't really explain it and it must be a nightmare for anyone new to it. They have done a similar thing with the next roundabout further north on the A61. The addition of a new Tesco superstore in the Nort west of the image has ment that lanes have been added to the roundabout and more with similar results to the first one. I'm still getting to grips with the second one ..... and it's scary even as an experienced driver.

I would love to get hold of the consultants that designed both of the above and tie them to the front of a car trying to negotiate both of these nightmares.

[Fozzer]

A useful roundabout which I occasionally come across (in the UK) is the "Mini Roundabout", (see Mini Roundabout)...>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout consisting of a small circle painted on the road at a road junction, which is treated as a normal roundabout during busy traffic times.

If there is no other approaching traffic present, it can be driven across, with care, to make a right-hand turn. (Left-hand in the US).

Its only danger under these circumstances, is being aware that the driver in front may be making a U-Turn round it, whilst the following drivers are taking a short-cut across it!

We have one on the approach to our Supermarket, and it works well in speeding up the traffic flow. when the majority of the traffic is traveling in one direction....they driver OVER it.

It does require great care in anticipating what maneuver other drivers are taking on the approach, especially if they are not indicating their intention!
...otherwise they can be useful...

Paul... ...!

[Hagar]

THIS roundabout in Chesterfield, Derbyshire has always been a suicide mission, even in it's new incarnation which is represented by the map. The old roundabout was big enough for driving round at speed so entering it, especially from the south (A61), was perilous as the majority of traffic enters from the east (A617). The map overlay represents the new form as the area to the west has been re-developed thus the spur into the new industrial estate. Traffic lights have been added at all entrances apart from the one from the industrial estate. However the way the lanes have been laid out and the phasing of the lights means that high speed traffic trying to negotiate its path has the danger of running into the back of stationary traffic who's lights have either prevented it moving or are just about to be allowed to move in the same direction as the high speed traffic.

You can't really explain it and it must be a nightmare for anyone new to it.

I know exactly what you mean as I've come across similar set-ups on my travels. I never understood the popular trend of putting traffic lights at existing roundabouts which defeats the whole idea of having a roundabout in the first place. It's supposed to improve the flow of traffic but usually has the opposite effect. Very frustrating to be forced to stop during quiet periods when the exit is perfectly clear.

A useful roundabout which I occasionally come across (in the UK) is the "Mini Roundabout", (see Mini Roundabout)...>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout consisting of a small circle painted on the road at a road junction, which is treated as a normal roundabout during busy traffic times.

Lots of mini-roundabouts down here Paul. They seem to work quite well but can catch you out when they suddenly appear without warning. It doesn't take long to paint a circle on the road.

I'll have to see what it says in the Highway Code but I understood they should be treated as a normal roundabout at all times. This means that you give way (or yield) to traffic coming from the right. Providing you observe that rule I don't think there's any reason you can't drive over it.

It does require great care in anticipating what manoeuvre other drivers are taking on the approach, especially if they are not indicating their intention!
...otherwise they can be useful...

So many drivers seem unaware of correct signalling on roundabouts which can be dangerous. I've always understood that you don't signal at all until just before your intended exit. Then indicate left. A lot of these rules have been updated over the years. I must purchase a copy of the latest Highway Code to see if I'm correct.*

*PS. No need to purchase it. http://www.ukmotorists.com/highway%20code.asp?s=Roundabouts

[Fozzer]

..I know its nothing to do with Roundabouts, but it does involve Traffic Lights...

Pedestrian Controlled Traffic Lights. Referred to as a; "Pelican Crossing"....>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_crossing

I have a habit of noting that the Traffic light ahead is Red after the Pedestrian has pushed the Button, and I come to a stop...

The pedestrian has crossed the road, and proceeded on their way, and there in no-one else visible approaching, or likely to cross whilst the light is still on Red, I then start, and proceed carefully with my journey, without waiting for it to turn Green, so as not to unnecessarily delay the traffic behind me for no good reason... ...!

Probably illegal... ...but what would you do?....Your Honour?

Paul....Mr. Common Sense!... ...!

The conflict:
Common sense...and The Law!......!

[Hagar]

..I know its nothing to do with Roundabouts, but it does involve Traffic Lights...

Pedestrian Controlled Traffic Lights. Referred to as a; "Pelican Crossing"....>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_crossing

I have a habit of noting that the Traffic light ahead is Red after the Pedestrian has pushed the Button, and I come to a stop...

The pedestrian has crossed the road, and proceeded on their way, and there in no-one else visible approaching, or likely to cross whilst the light is still on Red, I then I then start, and proceed carefully with my journey, without waiting for it to turn Green, so as not to unnecessarily delay the traffic behind me for no good reason... ...!

Probably illegal... ...but what would you do?....Your Honour?

Paul....Mr. Common Sense!... ...!

I agree it's very frustrating when there's nobody on