onthebrightside
thinking too much
In the suburbs they are very often essential and I would imagine a lot cheaper and more efficient than putting traffic lights everywhere.
Mini Roundabouts - Crap/Not Crap?
- Thread starter Idaho
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AnnaKarpik
Queen of all she surveys
Cheaper than traffic lights sure but much cheaper would be the adoption of the system typical in other European countries (France, Germany, Belgium) where there are no road markings, roundabouts or signs of any sort at a junction, merely the knowledge that one gives way to the person approaching from one's right. This is the same principle as a British roundabout but without the expense of the white paint.
Idaho
continuity character
This is precisely where they are not needed. Just put a 20 mph speed limit in and give a general rule that drivers should be considerate and give way to other drivers.
AnnaKarpik
Queen of all she surveys
And on the subject of traffic lights; why don't they turn the fuckers off at night? I'm working a late shift atm and riding home through a small, empty city several nights a week. A small, empty city ablaze with traffic lights (including at roundabouts), street lights and belisha beacons. Will no-one think of the electric bill?
nino_savatte
No pasaran!
Tbh, there are too many road users who haven't got a clue how to use a roundabout (mini or otherwise).
Guineveretoo
Mostly bewildered
I have driven round that. It's bewildering!Although some of them do seem to work
They call it The Magic Roundabout, and seem to be quite proud of it.
ETA it even has a wikipedia page! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)
nino_savatte
No pasaran!
Mini roundabouts are great...you can drive straight over them
True.
1927
Funnier than he thinks he is.
I have driven round that. It's bewildering!
They call it The Magic Roundabout, and seem to be quite proud of it.
ETA it even has a wikipedia page! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)
My favourite is
In parts of Europe they have a system late at night (usually minor roads) where the traffic lights flash amber in both directions and there is no right of way - it's up to drivers to 'sort it out' themselves. Seems to work very well with drivers approaching slowly and proceeding when they see it is clear
Cheaper than traffic lights sure but much cheaper would be the adoption of the system typical in other European countries (France, Germany, Belgium) where there are no road markings, roundabouts or signs of any sort at a junction, merely the knowledge that one gives way to the person approaching from one's right. This is the same principle as a British roundabout but without the expense of the white paint.
I find that system entirely bizarre - when I was driving in rural France, I was convinced my French friends were taking the piss when they were trying to persuade me that vehicles were at liberty to pull out in front of me and I'm the one who's got to give way to them
Mini-roundabouts work fine on slow moving but busy suburban roads where they help traffic flow. On fast moving, empty country roads in France, the principle of giving way to a vehicle pulling out from a side road just seems odd. Makes more sense for the vehicle which is needs to slow down anyway to make a turn on to the major road to have the responsibility for checking the coast is clear, rather than for the car on the major road to be constantly on alert for cars suddenly appearing in front of them, doesn't it?
If we were to adopt the give way to traffic entering from the side system it would mean giving way to vehicles entering from the left as that is the side of the road many people (but not all) drive on.
I remember back in distant history when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the first experimental mini roundabouts were brought in. You would be going along an A road and see a sign saying Caution Experimental Roundabout ahead.. When you got to the junction you would see an oil barrel in the middle of the road with black and white stripes around it. It looked laughably cheap and tacky.
I suppose it worked though, you couldn't drive over it like a modern pimple mini-roundabout but a straighter course was possible than going around a traditional roundabout.
I remember back in distant history when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the first experimental mini roundabouts were brought in. You would be going along an A road and see a sign saying Caution Experimental Roundabout ahead.. When you got to the junction you would see an oil barrel in the middle of the road with black and white stripes around it. It looked laughably cheap and tacky.
I suppose it worked though, you couldn't drive over it like a modern pimple mini-roundabout but a straighter course was possible than going around a traditional roundabout.
AnnaKarpik
Queen of all she surveys
I find that system entirely bizarre - when I was driving in rural France, I was convinced my French friends were taking the piss when they were trying to persuade me that vehicles were at liberty to pull out in front of me and I'm the one who's got to give way to them
Mini-roundabouts work fine on slow moving but busy suburban roads where they help traffic flow. On fast moving, empty country roads in France, the principle of giving way to a vehicle pulling out from a side road just seems odd. Makes more sense for the vehicle which is needs to slow down anyway to make a turn on to the major road to have the responsibility for checking the coast is clear, rather than for the car on the major road to be constantly on alert for cars suddenly appearing in front of them, doesn't it?
What?
There is no question of 'minor' road users darting out in front of 'major' road users; the whole idea is that there are no major or minor roads at the junction in question. You always know when you are on a major road because there is a yellow diamond 'you have priority' sign at every junction where you do in fact have priority; the minor road user sees a give way sign. Is it the absence of a give-way sign that makes a British road user think they are on a 'major' road?
ymu
Niall Ferguson's deep-cover sock-puppet
I'd think so, yes. If you're coming up to a junction with no markings at all, you'd assume that the side roads were just that because you'd never see it in any other situation in the UK.
secretsquirrel
Respectable married lady
"G" reg and proud!
onthebrightside
thinking too much
How would you enforce such a rule? Mini roundabouts work very well in heavy traffic where otherwise modern drivers refuse to let anyone in. Also what point is a 20 mph limit when the traffic is moving at less than 10 mph?
Idaho
continuity character
Was just about to start a new thread grumbling about mini roundabouts... 
I've moved to a new house on a street with a T junction at each end. At one end it's a normal T junction and it works fine. At the other it's a mini roundabout that confuses everyone and is treated like a T junction. Everyone gives way to the wrong people and you often get 3 cars sat there not sure who should go first - when both cars on the "straight" road are going straight on.
I've moved to a new house on a street with a T junction at each end. At one end it's a normal T junction and it works fine. At the other it's a mini roundabout that confuses everyone and is treated like a T junction. Everyone gives way to the wrong people and you often get 3 cars sat there not sure who should go first - when both cars on the "straight" road are going straight on.
Bahnhof Strasse
Let's av ya fuckin' dancin'!
Noticing a lot of hesitation at mini-roundabouts these days, three cars pull up and none make the first move. Of course that is probably down to being cowed by my car arriving, but I have no qualms about steaming right across, breaking the impasse.
rubbershoes
not the only raver in the village
We would never have guessed
Bahnhof Strasse
Let's av ya fuckin' dancin'!
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Evoking the curse "Audi cunt" from the other 3 drivers.
A380
How do I change this 'custom title' thing then?
On Guernsey they have the give way to the right rule at all junctions, basically making them all mini roundabouts without the roundabout. It saves space and means the roads can be narrower. But, it’s so bad for tourist drivers ( many of whom are a certain age) that the hire cars all have markers on them like L plates but with H so the locals can beware of them fucking up the system.See them in the Channel Islands and it seems to work well
Bahnhof Strasse
Let's av ya fuckin' dancin'!
Should do the same with out of towners in London standing on the left.
Mrs Miggins
Eternal
Why don't people understand? It's still a roundabout even if it's mini.
bubblesmcgrath
Well-Known Member
There are some very small roundabouts here....more like cowpats ...
FabricLiveBaby!
Live Baby Fabric!
I used to think crap. But turn I moved to a country with no mini roundabouts and I have changed my mind.
Decidedly not crap.
They speed up the traffic and are way easier to understand than a million give way lines at an unmarked junction.
Decidedly not crap.
They speed up the traffic and are way easier to understand than a million give way lines at an unmarked junction.
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