Tips for Driving in a Roundabout (this is Dave Barry-quality writing)

The Truth About Cars ^ | 17 May 2013 | Doug DeMuro

[dfwgator]

XTC referenced the Swindon Roundabout in the song “English Roundabout”

People rushing round with no time to spare
I’m so dizzy, I’m neither here nor there
In this traffic jam, I just want to shout
Let me off o’ this

English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English rounda

And all the the horns go ‘beep! beep!’
All the people follow like sheep
And all the lights and sound
Making my head go round, round

(Oo-oo, oo-oo)
(Oo-oo, oo-oo)

Everyone is cursing under their breath
I’m a passenger, I feel close to death
Hopeless situation, I have no doubt
Stop the madness

English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English rounda

And all the cars go ‘brum! brum!’
And in my ears I feel a hum
The neons blind my eyes
All those tempers rise, rise, rise, rise

(Oo-oo, oo-oo)
(Oo-oo, oo-oo)

(Oo-oo, oo-oo)
(Oo-oo, oo-oo)

Cars and buses go puffing out their smoke
Roll my window down, I begin to choke
I have had enough, I just want to get out
Let me off o’ this

English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English roundabout (oh, oh, oh)
English rounda
Round-round, round-round, round-round, round-round
Round-round, round-round, round-round, round-round
Round-round, round-round, round-round, round-round
Round-round, round-round, round-round, round-round

[zeugma]

Tulsa OK has a very well designed circle on the north side that keeps traffic running smoothly and does not slow it down. It is two lanes with the outside lane for entering and turning out or for going just to the next exit. It is the only American one of these things I have seen that seems to work well and as intended. Actually I suppose the circles here do what is intended namely they are badges of fashionability and payoffs to the road construction company that donated lots of money to the mayor's election campaign.

A roundabout needs two lanes and plenty of space in order to function well. If you don't have enough room for that, stoplights will work better.

[az_gila]

They are trendy, and the town engineers get to brag about roundabouts when they go to conferences...:^)

From our local newspaper -

Town recognized for new roundabout

The Northern/Hardy Roundabout in Oro Valley was selected as the Outstanding Small Project of the Year by Arizona's chapter of the American Public Works Association.

The five-way roundabout traffic circle at West Hardy Road and North Northern Avenue was completed in the summer of 2010 for about $800,000.

The project will be recognized at an award banquet March 30.

[PapaBear3625]

My first relationships with roundabouts came in Washington DC. I understand they were meant to confuse an invading army. They certainly do an effective job of confusing invading commuters.

I remember reading actual original purpose was to serve as defensive points in DC. Look at a map of DC. Put a company of troops into spots like Logan Circle, Dupont Circle, etc, with cannons (or, later, machine guns), and you pretty much dominate movement within the DC area.

[Tammy8]

They are starting to put round-a-bouts in El Paso, funny since most there can’t drive to begin with.

[pops88]

Loved it. My husband and I lived in New Zealand almost 7 years. The first couple of years, their roundabouts were a bit terrifying, but soon, we were zipping through them at 50 mph with everyone else. A few years ago, waiting in my dentist’s chair, I was able to watch through the window the new roundabout in Las Vegas. It was quite exciting and entertaining, and did involve at least 1 PT Cruiser. I avoided the new roundabouts because the locals didn’t know how to drive through them and they were too much an accident hazard. The tourists are hazard enough, thanks. One of our family’s favorite movie lines is from a crashed, Australian truck driver- “Who put in the roundabout?”

[Palmetto]

They started in Europe. People that pushed them here had European Superiority Complex. The fact is that the average European is better than the average American at a couple of things that come to mind: one is cooking, and the other is driving. Sorry, they're just better.

And roundabouts do, in fact, work marvelously for a more highly skilled driving populace.

[jjotto]

Driving?

I take it you’ve never been to Italy.

[Lurkina.n.Learnin]

” The fact is that the average European is better than the average American at a couple of things that come to mind: one is cooking, and the other is driving.”

Given the choice between lunch in London or Lubbock I’ll take Texas, thank you.

[Palmetto]

I take it you’ve never been to Italy.

Several times.

[Palmetto]

Given the choice between lunch in London or Lubbock I’ll take Texas, thank you. Haha, agreed. I can find better food in a convenience store than in Great Britain.

[jurroppi1]

Aw, come on... Isn’t there a “Judi Dench’s Fish & Chips” on every corner there?

Wait, maybe that’s London - isn’t that the same basic premise though?