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Americans still can't understand the passing lane. I'm skeptical that they're going to make effective use of roundabouts (although I do believe in their merits)

Americans still can't understand the passing lane. I'm skeptical that they're going to make effective use of roundabouts (although I do believe in their merits).

numbsafari 2y ago
The data cited in the article is based on usage by American drivers. So you can drop your skepticism, they already work. Anecdotally, they’re converting a number of intersections here in rural, Northern MN to roundabouts and they are _very_ effective at reducing fatalities and injuries.
- DidYaWipe 2y ago
  I guess that depends on your definition of "work." Do they reduce delays? I believe (and have seen) that they can. But I've also seen traffic circles implemented with stop signs in the U.S., a failure. But hey, I'm down for more to be built in the USA and let's give it a shot.
  - grcjufvv 2y ago
    This is the reason on that traffic related infrastructure is so insane in the US: here we have evidence that roundabouts save lives, but the only thing the American can wonder is how fast they can get through it (to work no doubt).
    - DidYaWipe 2y ago
      How do you know that's the ONLY thing? Such a dumb fallacy. You know what else saves lives? Outlawing the use of cars entirely. Why aren't you arguing for that?
NegativeLatency 2y ago
Single lane yield controlled roundabouts work pretty well, much better than an uncontrolled intersection in suburbia or out in the country
hinkley 2y ago
I fully believe that roundabouts work because they look dangerous and they force people to pay attention. There are other traffic management techniques that are overt about this inequality; you can design highways so it looks like you'll run into things you couldn't possibly hit and thus you slow down. If left to voting instead of public policy, we will pick "feels safe but isn't" over "doesn't feel safe but is" which is why someone has to put their big boy pants on and build them anyway.

Americans still can't understand the passing lane. I'm skeptical that they're going to make effective use of roundabouts (although I do believe in their merits).

numbsafari 2y ago

The data cited in the article is based on usage by American drivers. So you can drop your skepticism, they already work. Anecdotally, they’re converting a number of intersections here in rural, Northern MN to roundabouts and they are _very_ effective at reducing fatalities and injuries.

DidYaWipe 2y ago
I guess that depends on your definition of "work." Do they reduce delays? I believe (and have seen) that they can. But I've also seen traffic circles implemented with stop signs in the U.S., a failure. But hey, I'm down for more to be built in the USA and let's give it a shot.
- grcjufvv 2y ago
  This is the reason on that traffic related infrastructure is so insane in the US: here we have evidence that roundabouts save lives, but the only thing the American can wonder is how fast they can get through it (to work no doubt).
  - DidYaWipe 2y ago
    How do you know that's the ONLY thing? Such a dumb fallacy. You know what else saves lives? Outlawing the use of cars entirely. Why aren't you arguing for that?

NegativeLatency 2y ago

Single lane yield controlled roundabouts work pretty well, much better than an uncontrolled intersection in suburbia or out in the country

hinkley 2y ago

I fully believe that roundabouts work because they look dangerous and they force people to pay attention. There are other traffic management techniques that are overt about this inequality; you can design highways so it looks like you'll run into things you couldn't possibly hit and thus you slow down. If left to voting instead of public policy, we will pick "feels safe but isn't" over "doesn't feel safe but is" which is why someone has to put their big boy pants on and build them anyway.