The thing with these complex multi-lane systems is that they're fine if you and everyone else knows that particular junction. But despite signage etc., the designers seem to forget that many users will be unfamiliar with each junction, be they driving a Nissan Micra or a 44 tonne artic. However, I admit I can't come up with a magic wand solution to this problem.
Cheers, SS
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There's a roundabout in Hemel Hempstead that might just fit the bill Sofa Spud - called the Magic Roundabout!
Basically it's one big central 'roundabout' (although technically its not), with 5 or so smaller roundabouts arrayed around it. This turns one large roundabout with 5 exits and lots of scary lanes into a sucession of standard mini-roundabouts.
It's still scary to look at, but in fact works superbly well.
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There\'s a roundabout in Hemel Hempstead that might just fit the bill Sofa Spud - called the Magic Roundabout!
There\'s also one in Swindon that goes by the same name, right next to the firestation.
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I've used both the Hemel and Swindon versions - the Hemel version seems to work whereas the Swindon version seems to scare the wits out of everyone in sight.
I think the crucial difference might be that in Hemel, the central part is built up, so you can't see the other side. Thus, you treat it as a series of small roundabouts and feel that you can cope.
In Swindon, it feels as if you are entering a large game of automotive pinball.
Incidentally, my record time for traversing the Hemel magic roundabout was on my last visit to the Hemel maternity ward...
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The roundabout outside Warrington by Ineos Silicas is another of these multiple-lane roundabouts, festooned with traffic lights. The approach road has 3 lanes, the roundabout has 4. "Luckily", there is a white line from the end of the approach road between lanes 1 and 2. Lane 1 can only take the first exit, and lane 2 is "supposed" to take the second exit. However, exit 3 is the main road into Warrington, so the number of people having to move across this line is amazing, almost all of it down to queue jumping.
Andy
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Perhaps it would be better to consign all of the (slippery) paint on the roads, the excessive signage and traffic lights to the bin. Then, the issue of "rights" would disappear, and people would proceed when they judge it is safe.
This requires both thinking and judgement, two vital motoring skills which sadly seem to be in the decline.
The nanny state on the roads is, in my opinion, preventing drivers thinking for themselves - so when circumstances require them to do something a bit different, they struggle and dither excessively.
As an aside, among the transport studies students in my old university department, some of whom went on to be traffic planners, many weren't owners of first class brains! Of course, there may also be traffic designers of exceptional IQ ;-)
number_cruncher
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Perhaps it would be better to consign all of the (slippery) paint on the roads, the excessive signage and traffic lights to the bin. Then, the issue of "rights" would disappear, and people would proceed when they judge it is safe.
Now there's a good idea. Might require a little bravery on the part of the planners, though.
Ah well.
This requires both thinking and judgement, two vital motoring skills which sadly seem to be in the decline.
I wish this weren't true, but....
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Perhaps it would be better to consign all of the (slippery) paint on the roads, the excessive signage and traffic lights to the bin. Then, the issue of "rights" would disappear, and people would proceed when they judge it is safe. This requires both thinking and judgement, two vital motoring skills which sadly seem to be in the decline.
That concept has been running (with fewer accidents and deaths)
in Holland for some years:
tinyurl.com/5dgd5
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There's a large junction (traffic light controlled, not a roundabout) near my house. I have to cross it every day at the same time, coming back from work, so I am very used to where the queues form, and how long they become. It's very consistent every day.
A few months ago the traffic lights failed - it was a free-for-all. And the queues were _considerably_ shorter because of it! Yes, the traffic flowed better without the lights. Everyone was remarkably cooperative. My (completely uneducated) guess was that no-one was squeezing out, blocking another lane, in order to catch the end of their phase of the lights (which take quite a long time to come round again).
It was a little hair-raising to have to cross 10 (yes, really!) potentially moving lanes of traffic to turn right, when riding a motorbike, however.
-Mark
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the Hemel version seems to work whereas the Swindon version seems to scare the wits out of everyone in sight. In Swindon, it feels as if you are entering a large game of automotive pinball.
Personally I've never had any problem with the Swindon one. I always look to my right (as well as what's in front of me) and just go for it when there's nothing coming.
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Just an observation: I was in Spain last week and over there the rule seemed to be that everyone used the outside lane, irrespective of how far they were going around. They didn't signal either.
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"They didn't signal either"
nor do most (90%) of drivers in France. Very frustrating when towing and you can't nip out as quickly as when solo and cars keep going down "your" exit without signalling and you are expecting them to go across you. Trucks appear to avoid this problem by just pulling out anyway! But then the French don't tend to wait for a good gap at roundabouts, they just nip in between cars already on it, or if you are on the roundabout they just pull out in front of you. Probably a hangover from when they had the opposite priority to us - cars pulling onto a roundabout used to have "priorité" - priorité á droit.
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Dynamic Dave is right. Swindon's Magic Roundabout works perfectly well if you remember that can go round in either direction but must always give way to your right. It terrified me until my passenger, a local, pointed this out. Crazy as it seems, it works.
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DD & Stripey are both right - Swindon's magic r/bout is also useful for making progress if you "go the long way round". Most traffic seems to follow the path of least resistance i.e. what is perceived to be the quickest route as the crow flies. However if you can ensure that you are crossing the main body of queueing traffic from your left i.e. their right, they always have to give way. Sounds all weird and complicated but next time you're on it - go the long way and avoid the queue !! Works every time.
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