The “Water Cooler” is a feature on Claycord.com where we ask you a question or provide a topic, and you talk about it.
The “Water Cooler” will be up Monday-Friday in the noon hour.
QUESTION: Which one do you think works better? Roundabouts or Stop Signs/Traffic Signals? Also – which one do you prefer?
Talk about it….
Roundabouts only work best on non-busy areas with only one lane in the roundabout since most people need to learn how it works and pay attention (drive). Then, of course, people are now becoming lazy drivers, and I see stop signs and traffic signals being ignored, … regularly. Now-a-days, I prefer traffic signal and wait a few seconds for the redlight runners to go through first. Just wait, unlicensed and uninsured are going to be on the rise.
Roundabouts eliminate the occurrence of ignoring a stoplight/sign. They actually force drivers to pay attention. Roundabouts rock
It depends.
Where most drivers frequent and are familiar with the intersection, a roundabout is better because they eventually “figure it out” and navigating it becomes routine.
The roundabouts on First Street in Napa are kind of confusing due to multiple lanes and proximity to each other. Many times I’ve had drivers cut me off. Second, pedestrians are sometimes difficult to see and accommodate because there is a lot going on.
Roz is right. They work best in areas that are not too busy. There’s one that works quite well on the Olympic Boulevard in Walnut Creek by Pleasant Hill Road. It lets things flow nicely and it’s been there long enough the people know how to use it .
Alamo has a new one in front of the Safeway Shopping Center. I understand that becomes a hindrance when there’s an accident up on the 680 freeway and everyone tries to bypass it by coming through downtown Alamo and then hit the roundabout causing total gridlock in all directions.
The only traffic accident that I have been in was in a roundabout in Scotland. A young driver entered the roundabout, then slammed on his brakes causing my friend to rear end the car.
Roundabouts are fine as long as drivers know the laws and protocols in using them. Here in the US, and especially in California, they a relatively new addition. We all need to be aware of those unfamiliar or uncomfortable with driving in roundabouts.
Too many drivers these days have enough trouble keeping it between the lines on a straight road.
I remember when they put the roundabout on Oak Grove. It took less than a day for someone to go up-and-over the center.
Then there are the New England Traffic Circles with multiple lanes, and people entering at highway speeds. I’ve learned to hit the gas, close my eyes, and hope to come out unscathed.
And there should be a law that anyone who stops in the circle and motions someone else to go ahead, should be dragged from their car and sent to walk home while their car gets towed to the junkyard.
Roundabouts – assuming other drivers know what to do … in taking people on drive tests I’ve had a number of people “freeze” in the road when they see them 🙁
looking at just the picture makes me dizzy.
As a driver, I love roundabouts. Have used them thru out EU and Norcal and its always awesome vs sitting at a series of lights ( See 89N out of Truckee) .
As a cyclist or pedestrian, its a take your life in your hands scenario when using one or crossing the street.
I used to dislike roundabouts. Now I love them. Stop to enter only if needed, else move in and go around to your exit. The issue in the US is the drivers, not the roundabouts.
I agree with Frank regarding the problem being the drivers in the U.S. We spent a month in 2023 driving around Italy (about 1,800 miles) and the roundabouts worked really well. There are very few 4 way stops, and traffic moves very nicely. One issue is that they take up more space, so it would be difficult to retrofit them in many cases. They are adding them in Kauai and it seems to work well, even though there are a lot of tourists driving rental cars, and many of them are not familiar with the local area.
I prefer roundabouts. I read an article about why there are fewer traffic accidents in Europe than in the USA. One factor is more roundabouts and fewer intersections. Hard to get T-boned in a roundabout.
Caltrans camera, Highway 50 at Meyers roundabout.
https://cwwp2.dot.ca.gov/vm/loc/d3/hwy50atmeyers.htm
Never liked roundabouts. The only advantage I see to them now is not being unnecessarily stopped at a light for many seconds to minutes watching nobody move, because the only lanes with a green are empty. If all the other drivers would just leave the road when I am out, that would make things so much more pleasant. Now, is that really too much to ask????
I like the roundabouts, but stupid drivers will wreck at all of the above.
Ever see a millennial attempt to use a roundabout?
It’s like the MTA only it’s their Mom bringing them the sandwich.
This comment is so anecdotal and inflammatory. I, too, can say that the only people in my world who are digging-their-heels-in resistant to using a roundabout (and are also the people freaking out at roundabouts) in my life are all over the age of 50. Also, how old do you think millennials are?
Perhaps I was being too subtle. Roundabouts move in a counterclockwise direction. Millennials having only used a digital timepiece, are generally unfamiliar with the concept of counterclockwise. With education and practice, they can surely master the complex intricacies of the roundabout.
Traffic circles, but only after enough people understand how to use them. That may take generations. I ain’t got time to wait.
I didn’t like them until I was forced to use the one on the way to Northgate High School often, and I like it now. Most of the drivers use it efficiently, except for the occasional driver who is afraid to enter if there is another car in sight. That was me until I got used to it.
Roundabouts are easy. Yield to your left. One issue we have with a couple of them up here is the are too small. They have a tight radius for large pick-ups (Ford F250, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram etc) and almost impossible for a semi to navigate
They put rock “sculptures” in the center of the roundabouts is residential areas. This leads to free entertainment when a drunk drive misjudges and ends up stuck on the low lying sculpture
Maybe it will eliminate people being on their phones at a stoplight. Light turns green people on their phones so irritating.
And the people that follow the car in front, not yielding to let another car in (Oak Grove and Walnut
in the morning when Northgate High is in session) sometimes a 3 or 4 way stop would work better.
If you are in the circle and you stop to let another car in, you are doing it wrong!
And making up your own rules makes you the hazard.
Roundabouts when used correctly are far safer and efficient at moving traffic.
Roundabouts are very used more in Europe than here. There’s one in Walnut Creek, that I’m very use to, because I have to go that way to get my friends house. It’s when you come from Bancroft, cross Ygnacio, I think then Bancroft changes name to Walnut, then a little further down is the roundabout, it works well, it is not a particular busy area. The one at the Veranda Shopping Center seem to work well.
Years ago when my ex husband and I had bought a BMW and picked it up at the factory in Munchen, we then toured the area, Salzburg and then Vienna. One of my husbands co workers and his teen age daughter came along, they were in a seperate car. We got into Vienna right at rush hour, there’s was a roundabout, and it was very confusing, we finally realized we had driving around it several times, before we could find an exit, and we then had to try to the people in the rental car follow us.