Quote:
Originally Posted by kittygilchrist
The following was confirmed yesterday by a Sumter Deputy: There is a problem with design of roundabout exits into to Village gates that makes one particular maneuver impossible to safely and legally perform.
To follow using a diagram, click the brochure below and follow using the right side diagram. Let's say you are a resident entering the traffic circle in the car that is lowest on the diagram, intending to turn left (taking the 3rd exit)...
So you are in the proper lane, the inside lane. As you approach the 3rd exit, you see that the inside lane carries you to the visitor gate. But you are a resident. How can you change lanes against traffic that may be merging behind you?
My answer is you can't without violating lane change rules and crossing the path of oncoming drivers. In those situations, I use the visitor gate. I've had several near crashes. The deputy said that when there is a crash, "I try to figure out who's at fault." throws his hands in the air; gives a wry chuckle...what else can he do..
http://www.districtgov.org/community...t-02-08-12.pdf |
I believe there is an easy fix to this problem. As per the diagram, add an additional "Channelization Island" to force the inside lane driver who is turning left to the outside lane allowing that driver to pick either entrance. Whether or not this prevents the nut traveling in the same direction as you in the outside lane from rounding the circle to exit at the third exit is debatable. Take for example the roundabout at the St James gate. The south side of the roundabout has a "channelization island" forcing the driver to the outside lane in that part of the circle only but allowing that driver to either stay in the left lane to continue north on BV or stay right into the golf course. But the north side of the roundabout does not have the "channelization island" allowing both lanes to be active. The driver who is traveling north on BV and intends on entering the St James gate needs to drift from the inside lane to the outside lane (on the north side of the circle) to make the resident entrance and prevent vehicles traveling south on BV from merging into the the roundabout. I might be wrong but I think the Stillwater/Canal roundabout has two "channelization islands". Gotta love the term, channelization island!