How do you navigate a rotary (roundabout)? What are the general rules? Let’s take a look!
I think most folks know that in England Roundabouts (rotaries in Yank speak) are everywhere! They’re used sometimes instead of off ramps (slip roads) from the highway (dual carriageways). If an off ramp (slip road) is on the highway (carriageway), then there is a roundabout at the end of the off ramp (slip road) above the highway (dual carriageway)!! Rotaries (roundabouts) are used in place of intersections and they’re used to create a better flow of traffic in a country where the roads are often over congested. Basically, the thought is that a rotary (roundabout) allows a smoother traffic flow without necessarily having to stop, as a stop sign or a traffic light would require.
In Yank country rotaries (roundabouts) are not as prevalent. We tend to use off ramps (slip roads) to exit our highways (dual carriageways), stop signs at our intersections and traffic lights everywhere else!!
I think that in some instances rotaries (roundabouts) do work well. They allow for improved traffic flow, provided that (and this is a big proviso!) you actually know the rules of driving in a rotary (roundabout)! They also keep the speed down on some highways (dual carriageways) by ensuring the driver needs to slow down to enter the rotary (roundabout) even if you are simply going straight ahead! As my hubby explained, rotaries (roundabouts) are also helpful if you’re not sure which exit you want~you just keep driving in circles until you figure out which exit to take!!
Regardless of which you may think works better, let’s have a look!
This is called Swindons Magic Roundabout ~ now this is just to show an extreme example!
What do you think Yanks? I wouldn’t even attempt it!
Here is a simpler rotary (roundabout). This one is in Branksome, Poole, Dorset::
What got me going on this topic was a place in Central Massachusetts, in Worcester, that had the infamous “Kelley Square”. Basically this intersection had 8 roads all converging, with only 2 stop signs, and was in a very busy section of the city of Worcester, The highway (dual carriageway) was right there, with traffic exiting into the square and exiting from the square onto the highway (dual carriageway). The roads within the intersection all led into the heart of the city, so, on nights when there may have been a concert or major league sports game or play, Kelley Square was even more of a nightmare! But…if you could make it through without any major scrapes, other drivers honking their horn at you (or worse, giving you finger gestures), you definitely would pass your driving test!! Take a look at Kelley Square in Worcester Massachusetts before and after a rotary (roundabout) was installed:
Old Kelley Square Worcester MA U.S.Old Kelley Square–Just Don’t Stop!!
New Kelley Square with rotary (roundabout) in Worcester, Mass. U.S.:
I have to say that my first time through the new rotary (roundabout) at Kelley Square I was a little out of sorts! I didn’t know it had been reconfigured!! But…it has to be an improvement!!!
One more–these 2 rotaries (roundabouts) were installed recently in the town of Millbury, Massachusetts…to this day I am not really sure why!! This is a sleepy suburb, not a ton of traffic, there is one major route (not like in or around Boston or New York!), but for Millbury a major route. Yanks still don’t get the hang of taking turns or of merging smoothly (I can say this, I’m a Yank and originally from this sleepy little ‘burb!).
Newly installed double rotary (roundabout) in Millbury Massachusetts U.S.
What do you think? Rotaries (roundabouts) are easy-peasy? A good way to help traffic move more smoothly? A good way to “calm” traffic and speeding? Not as easy as a stop sign or traffic lights? Confusing as to which lane you should in?
Of course there are many driving rules in relation to rotaries (roundabouts) and I am not qualified to give driving lessons for roundabouts in the U.K.! I do enjoy getting people thinking and talking though! If you’re interested, check out the link below, it lists some of the standard driving practices for rotaries (roundabouts).
https://www.highwaycodeuk.co.uk/roundabouts.html
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