Need4Speed Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Can anybody explain the point of building a roundabout then putting traffic lights on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra-Dupra Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Can anybody explain the point of building a roundabout then putting traffic lights on it? How about a roundabout with pedestrian crossing on all 4 exits ! 3 of em in town ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thorin Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Or a roundabout with a road through the middle of it, or a double mini-roundabout in a figure of eight shape. I'm telling you, council planners must have a right laugh sometimes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra-Dupra Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Or a roundabout with a road through the middle of it, or a double mini-roundabout in a figure of eight shape. I'm telling you, council planners must have a right laugh sometimes. Lol ive seen one of them double roundabouts, madness ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Can anybody explain the point of building a roundabout then putting traffic lights on it?Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bob Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Can anybody explain the point of building a roundabout then putting traffic lights on it? i.) Pedestrian Access ii.) Traffic management - if one road is main, then the other branches would have a hard time getting onto the roundabout, causing bigger tailbacks and more congestion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
raymanuk Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flow That is a good thing but to leave some of them on when its no longer busy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 They've put in traffic lights on a large very busy roundabout near me.... thought WTF when they put them in but they really have worked, before, during rush-hour it'd take 20 minutes or so to go a mile down the bypass towards the roundabout, now it's more like 5 or 10. Can't argue with that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flowThey just need faster cars:D I've never had a problem... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra-Dupra Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flow Isnt it right of way on a roundabout not major roads have priority ! Equally hard for any lanes to get on it ! Then again our area has only population of 30k, so these lights are really surplus ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Isnt it right of way on a roundabout not major roads have priority ! Equally hard for any lanes to get on it ! Yup, but if there's 100,000,000,000 cars coming from a major road to the right of you you're screwed without traffic lights With them you may have to wait a couple of minutes for them to change, but when they do you're guaranteed to get out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazz1 Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 i think roundabouts with traffic lights would be a good idea as i bloody didnt see one ahead the mini ones and got 3 points for just skidding and missing a police car Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Putting traffic lights on a mini-roundabout would be overkill IMO Every mini roundabout is supposed to have a big blue circular "roundabout" sign next to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra-Dupra Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Yup, but if there's 100,000,000,000 cars coming from a major road to the right of you you're screwed without traffic lights With them you may have to wait a couple of minutes for them to change, but when they do you're guaranteed to get out Ah ye I can understand it with large traffic congestion. Just pointless here tho tbh ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jamesmark Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 they put traffic lights a few years ago to sort of traffic congestion on one of the busiest roundabout its east of scotland called Sheriffs hall roundabout, and the tail backs it cause's is bad, and when the traffic lights are broken the roundabout is almost clear, its more a hazzard as you get people jumping the lights and causing blocks as another lane cant move, i must admit that i would be a fan of more traffic light camera's as its a dangerous thing to do, how many times have you been in a box junction and not much time to turn and some full jumps the lights and you have cars coming towards you but i like the idea you get in some euro contries i think it is that there is a timer on the lights that shows you when they are going to change so no excuse for getting caught Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlotte Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flow yeah like market roundabout in fareham. They should put traffic lights on all exits of that one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 I have to disagree with all of you who think lights on roundabouts are a good idea. The roundabout was invented to work without them - I'd get rid of them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Fair enough, but personal experience shows that in some instances they are necessary during very busy times when relying on the traffic flow simply doesn't work. A prime example is the Army & Navy roundabout in Chelmsford - A lot of people come into the town centre via the roundabout, if the lights weren't there to control the flow of traffic then it would queue all the way across it, blocking everyone trying to come in the other direction. All IMO of course Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Need4Speed Posted April 28, 2006 Author Share Posted April 28, 2006 I always find I'm behind some diesel driver who thinks his car is the length of a bendy-bus! I've spent more time staring at empty roundabouts with red lights than full ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoboblio Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 How about a roundabout with pedestrian crossing on all 4 exits ! 3 of em in town ! I can't stand this.... so you come off of the roundabout checking your mirrors to ensure you're not going to hit anyone and come bonnet to face with a pedestrian. There's one like this in Chelmsford, right off the roundabout but just before another junction coming out of the car park... so if you're leaving you check over your right shoulder at the roundabout to make sure it's clear (it's a damn risky junction at the best of times) and somehow also need to spot if someone to your left has decided to leap out into the road - not easy when there're loads of pedestrians about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Some roundabouts are so busy that traffic trying to join from a minor road would have to wait forever for a gap in the traffic flow Not a roundabout but, same type of thing...cars going at ~40-50mph on a 30mph and due to the volume, you can't get out so, every couple of weeks, I hear then see this: (Only yesterday & the Ford cars are just driving around it) People have to push their way out FAST or you sit for 5-10mins. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sharpie Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 No, he was not on the phone while driving he had just come around from the airbag going off and got on the phone to his company - there is a lot of dust/smoke when the airbag goes off, hanging in the air. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Telford is just one big roundabout. Although they have started to put traffic lights on a few of them - which has helped the flow of traffic tremendously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andrew7 Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Lol ive seen one of them double roundabouts, madness ! You should take a trip to Swindon mate. there is a place there the size of a couple of footbal fields with six or seven mini roundabouts all inter-connected to each other.... I couldn't believe my eyes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pixelfill Posted April 28, 2006 Share Posted April 28, 2006 Ahh the good ole Magic roundabout, lots of mini roundabouts circling a central mini roundabout, which you actually go around the wrong way !!!!! As for roundabouts, they can only cope up to a certain traffic flow after which traffic lights work better, hence peak traffic lights on a roundabout are the best of both worlds. if your traffic lights are on constantly then your flow has exceeded the optimum and it has effectively been replaced with traffic lights, but without the cost of junction alterations. Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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