Yesterday, I served as "guest host" for the Bonner & Brooks program on KGMI. The topic we were supposed to be discussing was the Level of Service for our local roads, especially on Northwest and Lakeway drive.

At one point in the discussion, I mentioned the current plan to place a roundabout at the off-ramp/on-ramp intersection of Northwest, just north of I-5, out front of Chambers Chevrolet. There is a great deal of congestion at the intersection because those southbound on Northwest have a stop sign which gives the right-of-way to those traveling northbound who intend to veer left onto I-5. Those at the stop sign are required to wait because the majority of those traveling north on NW Ave. do not signal their intentions. Under the current plan, the roundabout will replace the stop sign, allowing for a continuous flow of traffic through the area.

Well, with the mere mention of this planned roundabout, the phone lines lit up! The discussion of LOS disappeared from the radar, and we talked roundabouts for the next 45 minutes. I was amazed at how much interest this generated. We had more calls than we could take in the time alloted.

There seems to be a fair amount of apprehension regarding these roundabouts, and I'll admit that at first, I was skeptical about them. I could not imagine how they could possibly be safer and more efficient than the 4-way stops they replace. But, I always try to be open-minded and open to persuasion on most issues, and after giving the roundabouts a fair shot, I'll say here, as I said on the radio, "I love them!" They are indeed much more efficient than the 4-way stops, but I don't believe yet that they are safer. I say that, not as an indictment of the roundabouts themselves, but of us as drivers who haven't yet grasped the rules of the roundabout.

I thought it might be helpful to toss some "rules of the road" regarding roundabouts in here. Single lane roundabouts (like the one at the airport) are easy. Just stay to the right, and yield to traffic already in the roundabout. What becomes difficult, are the multi-lane roundabouts like those on Cordata by the Community College.

The Rules:
1. Don't panic! The roundabouts are not as complex as they might seem.

2. Yield! As one caller to Bonner and Brooks put it, "When you are IN the roundabout, you are GOD!" While that may be a bit irreverent, her point is well taken. If you are IN the roundabout, you do NOT yield to those who are waiting to ENTER the roundabout. What that means to those entering, if it is clear to your left, you can go without stopping. If it is NOT clear, you must yield to those who are already there.

3. Pick your lane with care! This is the one that confuses most people. Essentially, if you want to turn left you MUST be in the left lane. If you want to do a U-turn, you MUST be in the left lane. If you want to turn right, you MUST be in the right lane. If you are continuing straight through the intersection, either lane is fine.

4. NEVER, EVER, EVER change lanes while in a roundabout! If you picked the wrong lane, just deal with the error by following the rules of the roundabout.

5. Signal. Signal LEFT to get into the roundabout unless you are making an immediate right turn, and signal RIGHT when you are leaving the roundabout. The right turn signal should be done when you pass the exit just prior to the one you will be using. If that is not clear, look at the diagrams below.


That's essentially it, Folks. The only trouble I've experienced with a roundabout is when someone in the right lane doesn't understand that they cannot turn left from that lane. I was in the left lane continuing straight north on Cordata, and almost plowed into a driver who turned left in front of me. In an uncharacteristic moment, I did not get upset about it. The roundabouts are confusing for many, and it is just going to take some time.

For the more visually oriented learner, these illustrations may help.

Turning Right:
If you are turning right, you must be in the right lane. Signal right all the way through the turn.


Turning Left or U-Turn:
If you are turning left, or doing a U-turn, you must be in the left lane. Signal left to enter the roundabout, and then signal right to exit. Start your exit signal just after passing the exit prior to the one you will be using.


Continuing Straight:
This is the one that causes problems for most people. It is critical to note that the Blue car CANNOT turn right from its current position. The red car will hit it. The Red car CANNOT turn left from its current position. The blue car will hit it.

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I have always been in awe at the lack of understanding in local drivers when it comes to roundabouts. I used to be against them, however a few years ago I went over to England and had a chance to drive through them personally...however, once back, I still hate OUR roundabouts. What miffs me about out roundabouts is they are much TOO small... I'm going to try and demonstrate what I mean and I'll try get some pics on here too... In England, on the majority of roundabouts that I drove, when you come to the roundabout, and in this case look to the right for traffic, if there was traffic at say the spur before yours, you would typically have time to merge into traffic. If it was past that spur you would typically wait. On the roundabouts in Cordata, you can't look only to the spur preceding yours, but also to the other two as the roundabout is so small that by the time you get into motion traffic from two spurs back is already on your tail. One must watch not only traffic in the roundabout, but also traffic on the previous two or more spurs. Then there is the whole issue of manuverability. In England, Roundabouts are made so that, traffic being clear, no slowdown is required to manuver the roundabout. In cordata, if you want to go straight, it's like a slalom course for cars, provided there is no traffic.

now in pictures:
1st roundabout north of Carnforth, UK:

I'm providing this one in all fairness as it is basically the same size. However, notice how much more lead into the circle there is. On the let hand side, there is bus a small manuver required. Even the right side was much more manuverable than Cordata. Also, most roundabouts that I used did not have two "lanes" so to speak. Unless you were getting off on the first spur, you would head to the indise of the circle until you approached the spur you wished to exit on, in which case you would signal that you were heading to the outside and then out

Here is the south roundabout on Cordata:


2nd roundabout north of Carnforth, UK:

This is a prime example of how a roundabout should be made...notice the sweeping turns into it...

Roundabout south of Lancaster:

One last prime example of an efficient roundabout...

This is a great on/off ramp with a roundabout incorporated off of M6 near Carnforth, UK:



Lastly, with regards to Brat's post:

This intersection has always annoyed the crap out off me...or at least the drivers that stop at the bottom out of ignorance, as well as the Meridian drivers who think that somehow they have the right-away to come into that lane right past the light. There needs to be some cones, a 20ft long curb or soemthing along there so that people realize it's not a merge or a yeild...grrrrr...

You hit the other hot button for me! The definition of merging and who is responsible for doing it! When I'm on I-5 and approaching an on ramp, why do I now feel the need to adjust my driving for someone "merging" onto the freeway? They just assume you will be moving over to make room for them...what happens when you can't? Crash bang boom and I'm sure they'd all yell at me for not merging appropriately!!

I know what you mean about proving a point at the I-5/Meridian exchange...I've been known to do it a time or two.