4 ms·

I first drove this back in the early 90s when I happened to be near Swindon (for some training), and a friend (who often worked in the area) had told me about i

I first drove this back in the early 90s when I happened to be near Swindon (for some training), and a friend (who often worked in the area) had told me about it, so I deliberately went to it. Bear in mind this is pre-common-internet use era, so everything was hearsay and so on... He told me it was a 'nightmare', and 'weird' and so on. I was actually pretty underwhelmed when I drove it - it seemed really logical to me, and it was a bit of a non-event - I was expecting some kind of white-khuckle 'driving in Marrakech' sort of experience. I think people's perceptions of it are significantly different from reality, but maybe that's because it makes sense to me, but if it's as safe as they say it is, maybe not...

vanderZwan 7y ago
I wouldn't be surprised if it is safe partially because people think it's a nightmare to navigate
- superhuzza 7y ago
  That's pretty much what the Wikipedia article claims, the roundabout has an "excellent safety record, since traffic moves too slowly to do serious damage in the event of a collision"
  - TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
    I used to drive over it occasionally. It was always decorated with broken glass from a collision. It's true it has a good safety record if you consider fatalities/injuries. But that's because it's impossible to cross it at speed unless it's completely empty. I suspect its record for minor collision damage is less reassuring. The fundamental problem is situational awareness. On a normal roundabout you only have to look in one direction. On the magic roundabout you have to be aware of traffic from the left, right, and front - and if you're not a regular user, you have to do this while trying to navigate the design.
    - hermitcrab 7y ago
      I've lived within a mile of the 'magic roundabout' for about 10 years. I traverse it frequently. I have never seen a collision or broken glass on it. Although it is a bit intimidating the first time you use it (especially if you are from a country that doesn't have many roundabouts) the locals like it. It works very well and the traffic keeps flowing even at busy times. They even put the fire station right on the roundabout. ;0)
- kitd 7y ago
  Yes, that's implied by the linked article. Everyone's so terrified of it, they drive it at a crawl.
  - hermitcrab 7y ago
    Not true. I am resident in Swindon and I don't know anyone who is 'terrified' of the magic roundabout. On the whole, we rather like it. Caveat: I am talking about driving around it in a car. I wouldn't want to cycle around it when it is busy.
chrisseaton 7y ago
I think it's because it's locally simple. At each decision point the rules are no different to normal roads and it's easy. It may look complex globally, but yeah then don't try to do that.

vanderZwan 7y ago

I wouldn't be surprised if it is safe partially because people think it's a nightmare to navigate

superhuzza 7y ago
That's pretty much what the Wikipedia article claims, the roundabout has an "excellent safety record, since traffic moves too slowly to do serious damage in the event of a collision"
- TheOtherHobbes 7y ago
  I used to drive over it occasionally. It was always decorated with broken glass from a collision. It's true it has a good safety record if you consider fatalities/injuries. But that's because it's impossible to cross it at speed unless it's completely empty. I suspect its record for minor collision damage is less reassuring. The fundamental problem is situational awareness. On a normal roundabout you only have to look in one direction. On the magic roundabout you have to be aware of traffic from the left, right, and front - and if you're not a regular user, you have to do this while trying to navigate the design.
  - hermitcrab 7y ago
    I've lived within a mile of the 'magic roundabout' for about 10 years. I traverse it frequently. I have never seen a collision or broken glass on it. Although it is a bit intimidating the first time you use it (especially if you are from a country that doesn't have many roundabouts) the locals like it. It works very well and the traffic keeps flowing even at busy times. They even put the fire station right on the roundabout. ;0)
kitd 7y ago
Yes, that's implied by the linked article. Everyone's so terrified of it, they drive it at a crawl.
- hermitcrab 7y ago
  Not true. I am resident in Swindon and I don't know anyone who is 'terrified' of the magic roundabout. On the whole, we rather like it. Caveat: I am talking about driving around it in a car. I wouldn't want to cycle around it when it is busy.

chrisseaton 7y ago

I think it's because it's locally simple. At each decision point the rules are no different to normal roads and it's easy. It may look complex globally, but yeah then don't try to do that.