I hadn’t encountered too many round-abouts before I moved to Sequim. We have three here, two on Washington Street and one on Sequim-Dungeness Way.
Traffic engineers euphemistically call this sort of installation “traffic calming,” in that they slow down through traffic. Not being terribly familiar with them, I initially found them anything but calming. Traffic enters and leaves the round-about in eight directions and a well-signed version can present a library full of symbols to absorb.
Other drivers occasionally are vexed. One stopped in the round-about when she saw another car waiting to enter (a no-no — you’re supposed to go, go). My chief worry is drivers who enter the round-about without waiting to see that it’s clear going. But I suppose that could happen at any sort of intersection.
Do you have round-abouts where you live? Do you have a “favorite” traffic challenge?
Dh and I encountered roundabouts in Europe for the first time, and altho we’re used to them by now, he still dislikes them. My traffic challenge is other motorists ever since I was hit by a car while crossing in a pedestrian crosswalk by a driver making a left hand turn while speaking on a cellphone. Fortunately, he was traveling slowly so my bodily damage was minimal. Frightening, tho, and painful…and I’m still wary when crossing a street. Having the right-of-way is no guarantee!!
My first experience with roundabouts was on the East Coast. Luckily, I wasn’t driving because I found them confusing. We had one in Napa for several years. In a residential neighborhood but a busy street. They had so many fender benders the city got rid of it.
I rather like those round-a-bouts… a bit challenging in a 40′ school bus though… lol!
They were all over Ireland when I visited this summer. When people know how to use them, it is amazing on how well they work.