1 Of My Pet Hates And The Solution

[BlueXR6Turbo]

It all depends on the junction.  In some situations traffic lights are better than roundabouts and vice versa.

Back in the UK, a lot of councils jumped on the bandwagon and decided to replace traffic lights with roundabouts, on the basis that roundabouts improved traffic flow.  Every was fine, until traffic levels reached a point where roundabouts only contributed to the congestion, primarily through lack of driver education where motorists blocked the roundabout.  These days, the councils limit the flow of traffic onto roundabouts, using traffic lights !!.  I kid you not, when it can take 30 minutes or more just to get onto the roundabout.

As for roundabouts, I know of this wonderful roundabout, which will confuse the hell out of any visiting motorist.  It is in a town called Hemel Hempstead just north west of London.  This roundabout is called affectionately the 'magic roundabout'.  There are 6 major roads, each terminated by a small roundabout, with a large roundabout in the middle....so at each small roundabout, you have to go round to the left, but you can go round the large roundabout to the right.....

The following picture will give an idea...

I wonder what drugs they were on when they designed that!

[turb06]

It all depends on the junction.  In some situations traffic lights are better than roundabouts and vice versa.

Back in the UK, a lot of councils jumped on the bandwagon and decided to replace traffic lights with roundabouts, on the basis that roundabouts improved traffic flow.  Every was fine, until traffic levels reached a point where roundabouts only contributed to the congestion, primarily through lack of driver education where motorists blocked the roundabout.  These days, the councils limit the flow of traffic onto roundabouts, using traffic lights !!.  I kid you not, when it can take 30 minutes or more just to get onto the roundabout.

As for roundabouts, I know of this wonderful roundabout, which will confuse the hell out of any visiting motorist.  It is in a town called Hemel Hempstead just north west of London.  This roundabout is called affectionately the 'magic roundabout'.  There are 6 major roads, each terminated by a small roundabout, with a large roundabout in the middle....so at each small roundabout, you have to go round to the left, but you can go round the large roundabout to the right.....

The following picture will give an idea...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would love to see an arial shot of that roundabout put to some synchronised swimming type music, be quite funny I think.

Dazza.

[pym]

Dazza,

Aeriel shot as requested.

[cvanxr]

Dazza,

Aeriel shot as requested.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have been on roundabouts like that one in England. It scared the out of me the first time. The next best they have is when all of those little roundabouts on the big one are actually traffic lights. I thought it sort of defeated the purpose of the whole thing.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I agree with Vik. :o More driver education and more roundabouts.

[Cro]

I hate roundabouts!

Traffic lights are much, much better for 2 main reasons:

1) Better for "swiftly accellerating away form the guy next to you"

and

2) Much easier to perve at the chick in the car next to you!   :lol:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Too right mate! Why just the other day I was up in Canberra, pulled up alongside this shmick looking black Territory - and I did BOTH

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

:lol: :o

[Jaymz]

Pym

There is another magic roundabout in Swindon that was there before the one in Hempstead. The inner circle is much smaller and therefore there is less reaction time before you make an exit. Makes for some amusing driving as you watch vehicles going round and round until they find the exit they want. Being from Noosa the roundabout capital of QLD I had no problems with it myself.

Pics attached.

[pym]

Pym

There is another magic roundabout in Swindon that was there before the one in Hempstead. The inner circle is much smaller and therefore there is less reaction time before you make an exit. Makes for some amusing driving as you watch vehicles going round and round until they find the exit they want. Being from Noosa the roundabout capital of QLD I had no problems with it myself.

Pics attached.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yep, I know that one very well. The one in Hemel did originate first (I will confess that my mother used to date the person who designed it many many years ago)

As for Swindon, it is all flat, with no clear visibility of the so called roundabouts, with the exception of a little bit of paint, which easily get's hidden under all the traffic....I used to find the only guaranteed method, was to point the car towards the exit you wanted, and floor the pedal...worked for me every time....even the police hated that roundabout.

[Trumpy]

Too right mate! Why just the other day I was up in Canberra, pulled up alongside this shmick looking black Territory - and I did BOTH

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[turb06]

Dazza,

Aeriel shot as requested.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

that's some crazy stuff.

Dazza.

[Guest]

Pym

There is another magic roundabout in Swindon that was there before the one in Hempstead. The inner circle is much smaller and therefore there is less reaction time before you make an exit. Makes for some amusing driving as you watch vehicles going round and round until they find the exit they want. Being from Noosa the roundabout capital of QLD I had no problems with it myself.

Pics attached.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Now type sloooowly and please explain that roundabout,the britanya roundabout here has 6 dual lane roads,which works ok cept for the dick heads that turn left from the right hand lane,NFI,should be banned off the road.

vik