PSA: How to drive through a roundabout

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Garthur

As any one considered how a semi with a 53 foot trailer goes around a roundabout?

Yes -- see here.

Originally Posted by Garthur

They don't, they drive right over the top!

Only if a) the roundabout is designed poorly, or b) the truck driver sucks at his job, like this guy.

Originally Posted by d4g4m

. . . Roundabouts in the U.S. have failed everywhere they have been installed. . .

No they haven't.

Originally Posted by SquareBetterThanAll

You should tell that to the multiple traffic circles in my area that seem to work quite well. I'm actually having trouble visualizing what a failed traffic circle looks like.

One with a diameter that's too small to create sufficient spacing between cars entering from adjacent entry points (that is, a car entering from the west is already blocking out a car trying to enter from the south the instant the former enters the roundabout). Like the one at 524 Lee Boulevard in Richland WA. Residents say it's completely useless at managing traffic.

Originally Posted by irootoo

Diagrams and wordy descriptions never helped me, I'm a visual learner. This ad from the Wisconsin DOT is the only thing that has ever made a lick of sense to me:

"Wordy descriptions" can be pretty much reduced to "LOOK LEFT AND GO." (Unless of course you're in AUS or the UK, then it's look right.) If there's an opening when you approach, keep moving. If there isn't, stay put until there is. Easy peasy.

[CoastalMaineiac]

Originally Posted by d4g4m

Roundabouts in the U.S. have failed everywhere they have been installed.

Really? I'd like to see some proof of this, because we have many of them in New England, and in general, we like them.

Originally Posted by d4g4m

But at least there's one up side. There won't be a revenue camera installed.

And less waiting around, less wasted gas from idling, fewer emissions, fewer fatal and injurious collisions (roundabout collisions tend to be sideswipes and fender benders, as opposed to broadside and head-on), less congestion, and an overall more pleasant driving experience.

Intersections are some of the most dangerous places on the roadways. Roundabouts manage to increase both safety and efficiency at the intersections they are used. I don't know how that constitutes a failure, because it sure sounds like a success to me.

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publication...067/000675.pdf