Roundabouts built too high causing poor visibility

You think you've got a problem? Try getting onto one of these roundabouts with an artic fully loaded
at 44 tonnes... At least in a car you can nip out smartly - NOT an option in a HGV. So when you
think us guys are being bad mannered and pulling out into your path we simply don't have a chance.
We'd sit there all day otherwise... With some visibility no one need ever stop at roundabouts if you
get your timing correct!! One more thing...Drivers too lazy to indicate on roundabouts don't exist in my world. If you're to damn lazy to show your intentions to other road users, I'll be pulling right across your path sometime soon!! Don't dare complain either. You asked for it.

I agree that local authorities are filling roundabouts with all sorts nowadays, trees, shrubs, bushes and flowers not to mention high shevron signs and to make monies, advertisements.
Last year I complained about a roundabout, the main one at end of the motorway heading into Blackpool ,where one continues on towards south shore allong Yeadon Way.

At its circumference it raises some 2 ft and then has bushes planted which makes it at least 5ft tall all the way round, only traffic entering from the immeadiate right can be seen- nothing on and coming round is visible unless its a pantechnican or coach. and the speed limit is 40 mph just reduced from 70 on the m.way.

So I complained and within that complaint was a veiled threat that in the event of an accident the authority may be found somewhat responsible by way of consrutuctive obstruction and therefore have some degree of liability in the event of an accident. ie they could be sued.

Low and behold this spring all the bushes round the outside of the roundabout were removed and now visibility is much improved and to my mind much safer........
so it pays to complain and mention being sued ........of course.

Nice one Marshy.

Too many of the worst drivers (male or female) apply make-up to their cars in order to look glossy and flash, and even to themselves when driving.

This like all the other elements has the female component in it like many other things in life which don't go well.

However, don't mention this in front of Harriet Harman - she's a man eater and will gobble you up if you say anything truthful that she wishes to keep quiet.

PE58APY

Black Astra Life Hatchback

Saturday 9th May 2009 at 10:30

Pulled out as I was going around the A583 roundabout by a B&Q just before the M55 near Blackpool.

I indicated that I was leaving the roundabout and as I started to change lanes to move over he pulls out.

What is it with these poncey drivers who think they come first all the time? I suppose the ladies before gentlemen syndrome explains it if they have this tendency and have the woman element in them.

Increased visibility increases safety.

There may be situations where this is not possible but to deliberately design a road feature that interferes with vision is just plain daft.

I can see your point, but a large part of driving safely involves thinking ahead. These roundabouts remove this possibility so that all decisions have to be made at the last moment. Slowing down is not the only thing that needs to be done when approaching a roundabout; indeed is sometimes not necessary!

Being able to see the traffic coming from the right in advance means that you can filter in safely at an appropriate speed instead of having to virtually stop before entering the roundabout.

but there is a point about if you percieve somthing as dangerous you will take extra care. not being able to see through the roundbaout will make you slow down. if the roundabout is made clear and you can see from a long way back, you are more than likley not to slow down. No being able to see the other side is not against the idea, the whole point is to slow down. that is why these shutter fences are being put in at roundabouts so you have to slow down as you can not see from the right.

The issue is how small a roundabout can be before it becomes a miniroundabout. 15 yds?

What about motorway junction roundabouts? You can't lower the height of them with 6 lanes of traffic thundering overhead. It's just making things easier for drivers, who will then have a panic attack when Oh My God, This Roundabout Isn't Pancake-Sized, What Do I Do Now?
It's annoying when the island on the approach andf exit roads of roundabouts have trees/shrubbery on, because that is more of an issue, but you're supposed to concentrate on the traffi from the right, not traffic directly opposite.

The author of this gripe talks about 'travelling at speed' - perhaps that's the answer! Maybe, just maybe the authorities have wised-up to idiots driving around these roundabouts at too great a speed! Which is exactly why they're DELIBERATELY restricting visibility!

It's not the roundabouts which are dangerous! It's the speeding idiots who are the problem!
If you drive at the correct [safe] speed, surprise surprise: the 'danger' disappears!
So somebody has completely missed the point!

Perhaps the person who posted this should read: -
a) the Highway Code
b) The Driving Manual
or
c)Take the driving test!
Google 'Dunning Kruger effect'

Oh and anorther thing, don't blame health and safety. If more drivers were charged for manslaughter for killing someone by breaching the regulations - think about it the Maslaughter Act, accept the consequences of your actions.

Bottom line, you want to drive fast and kill yourself that's fine but don't be selfish and take someone with you. Take care when you are driving and have respect for people who want to cause themselves harm. It is not a legal requirement to drive like an idiot.

Of course it's a safety issue. 44 tonnes of HGV pulling away at 5mph......car appearing at 40mph from behind landscaping .......How stupid are built up roundabouts?

Your quote..."A built up roundabout, with no visibility of the other side is completely against that idea. When you approach one of these, you have to slow right down...."

That is the whole point! To slow people down. Roundabouts are more dangerous the faster cars approach and take them.

Its all in the name - "roundabout". You're supposed to go around them, not over them.

How about mini-roundabouts? They are so dangerous and so unnecessary. They have ambiguous rights of way or priority.

Consider a 3(or 4) way mini-roundabout, in which two of its legs are diametrically opposite one another. Consider two cars approaching it, one on each of these legs.

The rule of the mini-roundabout is supposedly the same as its bigger brother. Give way to cars coming from the right.

For this formally to be the case, the other car has to be (a) on the roundabout or (b) sufficiently close to the dotted line on the immediately previous leg of the roundabout to the right of the driver.

On a full size roundbaout you cannot normally see cars coming from the diametrically opposite direction, That is the way they have been designed. Two cars coming onto the roundabout from opposite directions are supposed to be able to fit onto the roundabout at the same time, whichever exit they are going to leave from.

Two cars approaching a mini-roundabout from opposite directions can see each other. If they are both intent on crossing the mini-roundabout in a straight line all is well. The issue arises if one of them wants to turn right.

1. Turning right at a normal unmarked junction one gives way to the car wishing to proceed in a sraight line.

2. Turning right on a mini-roundabout the usual practice is that the car wishing to proceed in a straight line gives way to the car wanting to turn right.

But what if the car wanting to turn right has not signalled in time? Wow, this happens so often. It scares me stiff every time.

Far from being a traffic calming measure, they annoy every driver who has to negotiate one. On a side road near us, the road engineers have built 7 new ones in a distance of one mile.

The equivalent to a mini-roundabout in the USA is a 3-way or 4-way stop. All cars must stop at one of these. The first car to reach their line has the right of way. Each driver nods at one another. No ambiguity here.

Well said Bill, the entry angle is important.

A UK traffic consultant (the name escapes me at the mo) did a survey on urban traffic speed and pedestrian-friendly environments and basically the medievel layout promotes low speed and good walking environments.

In my experience (and if you ant to get in a show me yours argument as I am well qualified and experienced to comment), more visibility means speed. Wider roads means speed open character of streets means speed. A little confusion and difficulty will slow most down and the rest - well we need more traffic police.

It's not really the height you should complain about. It's the angle that you have to turn into. The steeper the angle the SLOWER you have to go.

Some roundabouts don't have a steep enough angle, and drivers don't even slow down, they just barrel through,not just cars, HGV's are the worsed offenders.

I'm bigger than you so move out my way attiude.

Call these 'Professional'drivers,I think not.Road BULLIES I call them.

If Mark would be right, then wouldn't cars go slowly on narrow roads and other places where visibility is restricted... I think not. Instead, people barrel along and only stop if they see something, usually too late.

More visibility _is_ better.

What a fantastic life you must lead if all you have to moan about is the height of roundabouts. Get a life mate.