Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonanza
Sorry, Mike, but it is not simple!
These circles, roundabouts or rotaries are a death trap!
Most seniors do not know how to navigate them because they probably didn't have them in the cities where they are from.
Furthermore, these circles in other cities are often one lane around, not two.
In many cities these roundabouts are being taken out and replaced with 4-way stop signs or a traffic light, because they are dangerous.
Throughout the entire United States, a dotted line means you can safely pass and/or change lanes.
Then you get to the Villages where there are signs which compromise that law.
The signs indicate you can cross (remember -- safely) that dotted line and quite simply -- crash into the guy who is theoretically, going straight.
In addition, if you are going from Brownwood to Spanish Springs, there is no reason it should take a 1/2 hour or so to go about 5 miles.
The roundabouts are nothing more than a danger to residents and gas guzzlers.
I wish they would remove them, but alas! That will never happen. |
I would never claim to know it all regarding this topic (or any other for that matter...heheh) but just for what it's worth, I have a graduate degree in transportation engineering, and I worked in the field for thirty years in Pinellas County, Florida.
I would never say roundabouts are simple. They can be daunting for the inexperienced. But to say they are death-traps is a gross exaggeration. And I'm afraid you make some highly questionable statements regarding their use...
Roundabouts are frequently multi-lane, and are often far larger and more complex than the ones in TV.
In many cities, 4-way stops are being removed and replaced with roundabouts. The City of Clearwater in Pinellas County is a nearby example.
Dotted lines NEVER mean that you can change lanes without regard to vehicles traveling next to you.
Brownwood to Spanish Springs is a much farther distance than 5 miles, and however long it takes you to make the trip, it would take longer if all the roundabouts you pass through on the way were 4-way stops.
Roundabouts eliminate unnecessary stops and reduce fuel consumption. When an intersection has the traffic characteristics and geometrics that warrant consideration of a 4-way stop or a roundabout, from a technical point of view, the roundabouts increase the overall efficiency of the intersection in almost every respect.