I'm seeing a lot of intersections in our area being replaced with roundabouts. I know a lot of people hate them, but I happen to like them. What are your thoughts?

My only complaint is the people who obviously have no clue how to drive through them, but more often than not there is no problem getting through.

Love them. I would rather cruise through a roundabout than wait at a light. If the circle is backed up, it takes less time to go through the intersection than waiting for a light. 

Don't mind them but there are too many dumb drivers who don't grasp the concept.

Pluses - you only slow down to go through instead of coming to a complete stop ......

Deltas - .....unless it's rush hour, and two lanes of cars are trying to continue around to access a nearby, while you're stuck before the roundabout, and you just want to go right and continue on the county road, but you can't.

5 or 6 years ago, w had a double roundabout built at a busy intersection/freeway interchange, and it has done wonders.  The first time it might throw you, but do it every day for a week and you'll be a pro anywhere you go.  That's the theory, anyway.

Like them, but people are stupid.

posted by iclfan2

Like them, but people are stupid.

Love them. I even managed the roundabout in Paris that is on Champs-Élysées by L’Arc de Triomphe without any problems last summer. I wish we had only roundabouts in suburb/side streets.

I generally tolerate them.  But some intersections are simply too busy for a roundabout to replace stoplights.  I'm not sure they are all that more efficient than a 4-way stop if you allow "rolling" stops.

And properly timed lights, for the most part, allow you to keep on cruising along even more than you could with a roundabout.  But, you know, the gubmit has to maintain those lights.

Love them. I wish more existed.

People who can't drive them are typically the same that can't drive...regardless.

the town i lived in while i was in Louisiana got rid of all 4 way stop signs and used roundabouts. after about 30 days of learning, they all did a great job of reducing the traffic jams during all times other than peak hours.They kept traffic signals at the major intersections after trialing a 3 lane roundabout. That one was a clusterfuck.

I like them. 

In addition to what has already been said, if there is an accident, it will most likely be a fender bender instead of a potentially fatal intersection crash. 

posted by iclfan2

Like them, but people are stupid.

/thread

they're great when people know how to use them. You'll always have some idiot stop at an open one though. 

Actually, I had my first roundabout "issue"  the other day.  I was about to enter from the right, the roundabout was only one lane at the point.  There was car in the roundabout, but at least 100 feet behind me.  The sign for my lane said "merge", and I did at 30 mph without dawdling.  Other driver must have taken offense because he sped up until he was on my butt.  I exited onto a main road, heavy traffic, he followed me and stayed on my bumper for 10 more miles.  

Next time I hope he at least buys me flowers first.

Like them by so many can’t handle them around here

I like 'em.  Great for low to moderate traffic but it seems like if it is really busy then they are a cluster.   Noticed some north of Indy that the community took it too far with how many and often they put in.

The one in Dublin at 33 and Riverside maybe, gets to be a disaster when it is busy.

I dont mind driving them but ya never know about the other people.     Did drive some overseas where you drive on the right side of the road and go around the opposite way, that was really weird!

Mythbusters did something on this years ago with a stoplight, stop sign, roundabout and a traffic cop and found that the roundabotu was the most efficient.

I love roundabouts. They are way faster. I live near a four lane roundabout and there is a wreck almost every single day it seems like 

I like them. The city I live in has 4 in the downtown area with 3 more on the way. People complain about them but the traffic flow is better and less accidents.

The big thing is that they reduce accidents.  

Main issue with roundabouts is where cities will have them, but ALSO have a light or a stop sign. Sort of defeats the whole purpose.