[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by Skybo

Fewer accidents than what? How many accidents have you seen or heard about in roundabouts here? And of any roundabout accidents you know of (if any) how many have been serious? There have been many, many serious accidents caused by red light runners at lighted intersections on Buena Vista, Morse, 466 & 466A. And the traffic backups that would be caused by lights or stop signs all the way up Morse and Buena Vista would be crazy



What "never ending problems"? Large volumes of traffic have been successfully maneuvering through the roundabouts in The Villages for years, with very few incidents. I feel totally comfortable in roundabouts, as does everyone I know who have been here for awhile and are half-decent drivers. You're right about one thing, traffic lights are safe unless someone runs them...which happens much more frequently, and with much more serious results than the occasional fender bender in a roundabout.

The traffic engineers got it right.

And for all of the folks out there who are thinking about moving here, and might be worrying about roundabouts...don't worry. They work, and once you get the hang of them, they are easy and efficient.

It's obvious to me and any other reader of this rhetoric on our traffic circles, that they do NOT work. Too many suggestions, too many complaints, too many contradictions, too much, period! If the circles worked, we never would be reading and posting comments about them every week, without fail. Perhaps we should start labeling them beginning with a First Edition, Volume 1, Chapter 1.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Bogie Shooter

Is it now over?

As soon as the dog poop threads disappear.

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

We used to have a plain stop sign intersection at the end of our road, which teed into a more heavily travelled road. It would sometimes back up 20 cars deep because someone was trying to make a left and just couldn't get a break. They have since replaced it with a roundabout and traffic never backs up and I can't remember the last time I even had to come to a full stop before entering.my biggest problem is the folks who completely ignore the 15mph signs and barrel through at 35-40! But even with such dolts the roundabout is better since accidents are prone to be glancing blows instead of right angle impacts.

The best multi-lane roundabouts I've seen are at Hilton Head, they keep the right turn traffic completely isolated:

Santa -- there is a very good reason the Hilton Head circle works. Take a look at the size of it -- the circumference. The reason it works so well and that traffic doesn't back up is because of the size. I have driven many circles near large cities. They all work. And that is because someone who knew what they were doing made them the proper size.

'Nuf said . . .

[Bonanza]

Originally Posted by CFrance

That is the way some helpful person on this forum taught me to think of roundabouts several years ago when we first came, and I have noticed the broken lines allowing you to cross over the outside lane to get to the gate. It IS an intersection, and if people would think of it as one, they would find themselves in the correct lane, yielding to everyone, not just the person in the lane they want to be in, and not using so much sign language.

I still think they're a dumb idea.

Ditto!

You go, girl!!!

[DougB]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

Santa -- there is a very good reason the Hilton Head circle works. Take a look at the size of it -- the circumference. The reason it works so well and that traffic doesn't back up is because of the size. I have driven many circles near large cities. They all work. And that is because someone who knew what they were doing made them the proper size.

'Nuf said . . .

The main reason the Hilton Head Circle works is not the circumference. Take a look at the islands between the two lanes when you enter. All traffic entering in the outside lane MUST take the first right turn.

[SantaClaus]

I guess the "'Nuff said" was meant to close the conversation, but I wanted to add that though Hilton Head is a bigger circle than the typical one at TV, the basic idea, segregating right turn traffic, works well in even smaller circles. The last picture is another Raleigh circle, that works like Hilton Head, but in a much smaller space than at TV. It looks confusing overhead, but it's quite easy at ground level. I really think the circles at TV could be vastly improved with new stripping (and maybe a tiny bit of new asphalt). I think the general idea that the inner lane has the option to exit while the outer lane has the option not to is a serious design flaw.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by SantaClaus

I guess the "'Nuff said" was meant to close the conversation, but I wanted to add that though Hilton Head is a bigger circle than the typical one at TV, the basic idea, segregating right turn traffic, works well in even smaller circles. The last picture is another Raleigh circle, that works like Hilton Head, but in a much smaller space than at TV. It looks confusing overhead, but it's quite easy at ground level. I really think the circles at TV could be vastly improved with new stripping (and maybe a tiny bit of new asphalt). I think the general idea that the inner lane has the option to exit while the outer lane has the option not to is a serious design flaw. Attachment 43239Attachment 43240Attachment 43241

Again... these traffic circles are in effect only one lane, and that's why they work so well. If Hilton Head and Raleigh can have one-lane traffic circles, why can't TV? In 2000 there were 2400 people per square mile in Raleigh. In 2012 there were 1600 people per square mile in TV. If a one-lane traffic circle works for Raleigh in that population density, it can work for TV.

[kittygilchrist]

The point of the OP is that changing lanes to use the resident gate is not only illegal, it causes accidents. And probably most are caused by people who are conventional, law-abiding and governed by conscience to try to do right (go thru the correct gate) and not those like me who say....Heck, I'm going in the visitor gate. It's safer.

Note: there are rare exceptions where there is a long distance to gates as some Odell exits provide where one has leisure to change lanes AFTER exiting the circle.

[Polar Bear]

Originally Posted by Bonanza

It's obvious to me and any other reader of this rhetoric on our traffic circles, that they do NOT work. Too many suggestions, too many complaints, too many contradictions, too much, period! If the circles worked, we never would be reading and posting comments about them every week, without fail...

Couldn't disagree more. As with many other topics, you hear much more from those who are dissatisfied than those who are not.

Skybo had it right when he said...

"...the traffic backups that would be caused by lights or stop signs all the way up Morse and Buena Vista would be crazy...

"...What 'never ending problems'? Large volumes of traffic have been successfully maneuvering through the roundabouts in The Villages for years, with very few incidents...The traffic engineers got it right.

"And for all of the folks out there who are thinking about moving here, and might be worrying about roundabouts...don't worry"

[CFrance]

Actually, Kitty started this whole thing, and she doesn't seem to mind roundabouts! Thanks a lot, Kitty, we're on page three!!!!!!!!!!!

[kittygilchrist]

Cyndy,
I'm learning as much as I can. There is abundant research yet to tap nationally. Haven't had time to talk to the sumter co. dept of transportation, who I hope will know more than anyone, and of especial interest, the ambiguous, and weird significance of dotted lines that don't universally mean the driver may cross at will.

If something needs to change with roundabouts, let's back it up with data. So far, all research I find, even internationally, granted it's highly technical and contains formulas I don't understand, but the data supports roundabouts as a safer option than stops and highly recommended trend.

but something is missing when there are numerous accidents here, no one agrees on rules, deputies throw up their hands, the regulations to not change lanes conflict with the resident lane designation...I'm not done, Bogie.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by kittygilchrist

Cyndy,
I'm learning as much as I can. There is abundant research yet to tap nationally. Haven't had time to talk to the sumter co. dept of transportation, who I hope will know more than anyone, and of especial interest, the ambiguous, and weird significance of dotted lines that don't universally mean the driver may cross at will.

If something needs to change with roundabouts, let's back it up with data. So far, all research I find, even internationally, granted it's highly technical and contains formulas I don't understand, but the data supports roundabouts as a safer option than stops and highly recommended option.

but something is missing when there are numerous accidents here, no one agrees on rules, deputies throw up their hands, the regulations to not change lanes conflict with the resident lane designation...I'm not done, Bogie.

Keep researching till you find a study of roundabout drivers, all of whom are over 55 and each one of whom is from a different part of the country!

I agree with your last paragraph, fer sure.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'm not sure I understand what the problem is. Are there really thousands of accidents at these roundabouts? I've never seen one. is traffic back up on a regular basis? I don't think I've come to a roundabout where there was more than one or two cars waiting to enter.
Sometimes I think that when people are retired and have too much time on their hands they sit around and imagine problems that don't exist.
I agree with Kitty. Let's get some hard data on the number and frequency of accidents. It would be nice to have a study done to show whether or not the roundabouts are clogging up streets and slowing down traffic.
Frankly I don't see either of these, but if you're interested go and see how these kinds of studies can be done.

[LndLocked]

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[kittygilchrist]

Originally Posted by LndLocked

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Ernst: Confused in roundabouts? So is law enforcement | HeraldTribune.com