Roundabouts are like a microcosm of society.
Some people go through them too aggressively and some are too defensive. Not enough are sensible like me.
In Mount Gambier, authorities prefer roundabouts on major roads because truck drivers don’t like red lights.
At the town’s worst unmitigated intersection, the transport boffins reckon it will cost a million dollars to install traffic lights.
I find that hard to believe, but there are still many people who think a roundabout is a better solution, because God forbid, trucks might have to stop if there are traffic lights.
A two-lane roundabout at that site will require the compulsory acquisition of land and major engineering works, costing at least twice as much as traffic lights.
In Mount Gambier, if you see a truck approaching a roundabout on your left, don’t assume the driver will stop and give way, because he won’t.
If you are behind an elderly driver, don’t assume he will proceed through the roundabout when it is clear of traffic, because he probably won’t.
If you see a male probationary driver on the horizon to your right, it’s probably safest to give way, because chances are he’ll be in the roundabout before you get half way through.
I like roundabouts, but mostly in South Australia they are far too small. In the UK they are huge and provide ample opportunity to judge the intentions of fellow motorists.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
There has long been a massive roundabout in Melbourne at the top of Elizabeth Street where it connects with Peel Street, Royal Parade and Flemington Road. It looks scary to a novice driver, but it’s actually very safe, so I know what you mean.
You’re right about the size of roundabouts in South Australia. Even at the major two-lane intersection in Mount Gambier (Penola Road and Jubilee Highway), cars behind a truck normally allow it both lanes to get through.
Twitter: delmerw
says:
We’re putting in more roundabouts here. The ones I’ve seen here are all rather small and not in terribly high-traffic areas.
We’re getting a new one, I’m told, in downtown Hilliard (uh, what passes for a downtown … you know, if Hilliard were bigger) that should clear up a traffic problem we have. We’ve got two intersection too close together and the roundabout will be big enough to take them both in. I’m hoping it will keep traffic from backing up as it does now.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Small roundabouts in residential areas slow down traffic, which is a good thing.
I don’t know what criteria they should use when choosing between roundabouts and traffic lights for high-traffic intersections.
Cost is obviously one. In most cases I feel safer with traffic lights, but understand that roundabouts keep traffic flowing.
Roundabouts are one of the few things I dislike about Australia.
Twitter: mgorey
says:
Driving on the “wrong” side of the road makes it harder when approaching roundabouts and intersections. You have to concentrate so hard and forget your natural instincts.
Dina said: ‘Roundabouts are one of the few things I dislike about Australia’.
I didn’t realise until after I read this blog entry and looked up ‘Roundabout’ on Wikipedia, how much the usage of roundabouts varies from nation to nation.
Apparently the first roundabout in the USA was only built in 1990.
They say you learn a new thing every-day, LOL!
Anyone who has been to Canberra can see the problems associated with too many roundabouts.
I think anyone who has been to Canberra has at least one ‘lost in Canberra’ story.
I’ve only been once with my family when I was a child and we got lost almost every-time we left the motel we were staying at!
I’m sure the city-plan of Canberra looked like a good idea on paper!
I went there years ago too Adam…and got lost as well.
I can’t remember much about Melbourne either..god it was so long ago…but I do remember the pigeons. They were so full on, crap all over the shop, and I can remember a bird flying low and having it’s bowels open, lobbing a well aimed dump (runny & warm)on the top of my head.
Does South Australia use roundabout metering?