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At present, the USA epitomizes those developed countrieswhere roundabouts are increasingly being introduced inorder to significantly reduce road casualties. America alsohas the advantage of having engineers capable of designingexcellent roundabouts in which all safety aspects have beenaccurately accounted for.At the other extreme, however, grossly inadequatedriver education and even the application of “best practice”techniques, in relation to the use of roundabouts, are twofactors that are sadly lacking. This tends to bring roundaboutsthemselves into totally unwarranted disrepute.With any traffic situation, it is clearly important tominimize and preferably eliminate uncertainty on the partof drivers, and here the USA faces at least two challengesrather than one.The primary challenge that all countries or regionstypically experience when installing proper roundaboutsfor the first time comes from their unfamiliarity to drivers.This creates both confusion and collisions, albeit generallywithout serious injuries. This common problem could,however, largely be reduced by means of adequate, targeted educational campaigns in the countries, states, regions or local areas in question, but this appears to be a rare courseof action. It should be added that any such program of education must emphatically include suitable training for all relevant law enforcement officers as well. This should be done with a view to generating ample enforcementmeasures, after construction of the roundabouts iscomplete, in order to encourage drivers to negotiate themlawfully and in accurate compliance with the educationthey should by then have received themselves. Without suchactions and accurate, good example from law enforcementofficers, roundabouts and many other excellent engineeringinterventions are frequently doomed to inefficiency,although this is an area where friendly advice is often far more effective than a ticket.
YIELD LINES
In most American states, however, one feature whichis commonly but inexcusably absent at roundabouts is“yield lines” (known in some other countries as “give waylines”). In some states they are at least occasionally used,including – for example – Indiana and Washington State.But for the sake of uniformity, clarity and maximum safetythese lines need to be used at
all
roundabouts. (It is equallyarguable that “stop” lines and “yield lines” should be used at
all
applicable intersections, not just roundabouts, yetcommonly there are none. The additional cost for the paintis minimal when compared to the lives that this one actionalone could help save.)
THE REDUCTION OF CONFUSION
Bearing in mind that roundabouts have been inwidespread use in several European countries for more than70 years, it could be said that best practice methodologieshave long-since been established and that there is little purpose in trying to re-invent the wheel. On this basis,what follows is an explanation of how uncertainty may bereduced for all road users if drivers employ good signalingtechniques, correct lane choice and good positioning whennegotiating any roundabout. No matter how many exits a roundabout may have,there are only three general directions a vehicle may go.These are: (a) less than half way around, (b) straight ahead – which by definition is precisely half way around – and (c) more than half way around. These three possibilitiescoincide closely, though not quite perfectly, with best- practice signaling techniques.It is – where appropriate – a good thing to signal onthe approach to a roundabout, despite the seemingly un-researched and ill-informed advice to the contrary that isgiven in several American state drivers’ manuals. In drive-
A ROUNDABOUT WAY
By: Eddie Wren –
Advanced Drivers of America, Inc.
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12/23/08 11:39:11 AM
12/23/08 11:39:11 AM
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