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Why can't people understand roundabouts in Colorado and why does the state install them if no one knows how to use them????

LibrasDreams 5 Apr 17
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6

We had two put in my town recently. After a while I was like, OK people are just getting used to them, but no. People can’t seem to wrap their heads around it.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO YIELD ONCE YOU ARE ON THE ROUNDABOUT!

I don`t know about US laws but in the UK the rule is " Give way to traffic coming from the right " (in your case it would be left) ie if your on the outside lane then yield to someone on the inside lane trying to exit.

@273kelvin People who are on the roundabout are slowing down and almost stopping yielding to people about to enter the roundabout, whom are not moving at all.

6

We have them now in Misssouri and at first I thought they were confusing as hell. Now that I understand them I see how they save money on traffic lights.

I have never seen one until I moved to Missouri. I guess it's because I'm old, but I hate them.

5

We starting getting ours a few years ago. I love them.

If you can't understand "yield" and "15 mph", you shouldn't be driving. It's that simple.

3

Had them in the UK for years. it's not rocket science

no but id like too

2

Don't try to understand them... Just go around them if no one is already there. One you're in, you could stay there going around all day if you don't have anything better to do.....

2

Roundabouts are fine, but have you ever been on a Diverging Diamond interchange? Driving on the left side on a multi-lane road should be reserved for the Commonwealth. Click on the picture an you will see what I mean.

Source:

By I made this file myself. The original GIF version was made by Patricius_Augustus (see link to old image) - SVG version of File😀iverging_Diamond.gif, CC BY 3.0, [commons.wikimedia.org]

JK666 Level 7 Apr 18, 2018
2

Because they're better for traffic flow.

If you can't figure it out, go back back to Texas or call an Uber.

Coming to Texas won't help. We have them here, too.

@Meep70 Yes, but then they're at least out of CO

XD

2

Benefit of having lived in Massachusetts - rotary ? No problem, blast on through.
People learn.

1
  1. Apparently they are very environmentally friendly...no idling at stop signs.
  2. Also much safer once you get used to them...no being T-boned when you think you have the green, or rear-enders.
  3. Depending on where you are going, shortens the time of your journey.
    4 Saves the state money...once installed, maintainence of the (former)lights is over....not to mention paying the crew & police slowing down traffic while they work on the lights
    Connecticut too is going to themselves as much as possible...you will grow to love them!
1

Because right turns are the easiest turns to make. That is literally all you have to do. Mythbusters proved that they are the fastest intersections and require the least maintenance.

Anyone here in Massachusetts will tell you they're a disaster if there is too much traffic. They can become dominated by excessive traffic going in one directions causing long backup of cars from the other direction waiting to enter.

@StarvinMarvin Yeh, that's true. People drive like maniacs around here. Once I was stopped at a light in the right lane of a two lane boulevard. Someone pulled in the lane to my left, and did a right-turn-on-red in front of me. Crazy. Too many empowered people live in Boston. 😉

@StarvinMarvin LOL - I won't argue with that.

1

Near Liverpool is a town called Skelmersdale. The guy who designed it was a roundabout fan big time (he went on to design Milton Keynes). People who live there have a mobile tyre rotation service.

1

They have started adding them where I live in the gulf coast of Florida which has a large elderly population and it’s getting ”interesting”. The most Older folks have driven for decades never having used them and many are on medications too which adds to the adventure. Most are easy to deal with but there are about three of them locally I avoid just for self preservation due to the massive amounts of accidents that occur.

1

Interesting that you brought that up...I have been driving since I was 15, that is 63yrs and I am I believe that I am a good driver AND I can't get those 'roundabouts!' Lol there was talk, of putting one in here at a 4 way stop area and I can believe that it would be a disaster for these people. They sometimes have problems at the 4way stop! No mention of it now. But, I cannot get clear in my head how it works! Lol

0

Wouldn't you get a bit dizzy driving in a circle while smoked up? 🙂

0

I remember those from when I had lived in South Carolina. I wonder if they mess up the GPS?

Not if current, Waze handles them no problem

0

i think it was a good idea that was implimented poorly. driving is already a dangerous endevor, i think that by throwing something so completely new to us into the mix, with no attempt to educate folks about how to use it, was stupid. to me its like if you woke up one day and they changed all the traffic light colors, if they told you what the new colors indicated, that would be fine, but if you just wake up and its all wonkey, someone will probably mess up. and i know they have many signs to direct you in these things, but it can be hard to navigate a new twist in the road while also trying to read all the different signs and watch out for other cars. idk, i just think they could have put a bit more thought into it.

Byrd Level 7 Apr 18, 2018
0

They generally are not common at all in the U.S., and so U.S. drivers find them confusing. I think many places where they exist int eh U.S. is where several raods coverged and were established befrore traffic signals existed. Any city planner who puposefully puts one in is an idiot, because U.S. drivers don't knowhow to use them.

0

It is all about Money! These types of intersections are the cause of many more accidents for just the reason you mention. Trafic lights cost the municipalities for software and hardware where if the road is a state road then the State pays for the "roundabout" and the municpality pays nothing for electric or maintance. No one cares what the costs to the motorists is! Drive Wise!

0

We have the same situation here in FL, along with a lot of other nonsense.

0

They are cheaper to install and maintain than putting in traffic lights.

And when used properly, flow more traffic than lights.

We have loads of them here in the UK (and Europe)

I like circles or roundabouts, but there can be a safety problem when drivers do not navigate in a safe manner. There are two circles near my home and it always amazes me when some fool will speed and pass me on the circle. @Uncorrugated

0

You should see them in Florida with its high level of seniors, yes I am one, it's like a demolition derby

0

We here in the Verde Valley in Az have the same problem. I think it has to do with money (surprise, surprise). I believe that if you do a roundabout, the feds pay for it, but if you do traffic lights, then the state is on the hook. At least that is the scuttlebut here. At any rate, your point about people not knowing how to use them is well taken. Our area has a lot of elderly people (full disclosure...one of which is me), and I am filled with trepidation every time I enter one of these mazes. We even have one that includes a school crossing. I stay away from that one altogether during certain times of the day. I wish you Godspeed (so to speak) in your endeavor to negotiate your roundabouts.

0

This is a world wide problem. People just don't want to know !

0

I'm in CO too. I don't see them very much here in CO Springs.

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