Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Circling Around

The man who invented the roundabout (Eugene Henard, although Frank Blackmore invented the mini-roundabout I believe) should have been given a Nobel prize. This was a major improvement in road design, saving lives and aiding traffic flow. An innovation that deserves a massive amount of credit. So why, o why, is there an apparent fetish for sticking traffic lights on the things. Milton Keynes and Northampton have both suffered from a rash of treaffic lights sprouting up at roundabouts. And they completely defeat the purpose. The whole point of a roundabout is to keep a smooth flow of traffic. The moment you throw lights up then the flow stops. Then at peak times the roundabout becomes clogged. There is no room for new cars to enter and, at times, it even becomes impossible to escape. If lights are required then make it a junction, at least the road doesn't become blocked. But preferably just leave the roundabout alone and let it do its job.

5 comments:

Caroline said...

except that i would be prepared to worship at the feet of the traffic management professional who finally convinced Bris8tol City Council to put traffic lights on the roundabout at the St Pau8ls roundabout onto the M32 :)

Merlin said...

Nah, you only think you would. The moment they do it you will find it was better before.

Caroline said...

no they've done it and it is an utter godsend. truely.

Anonymous said...

Wait till you see the new junction in cardiff, for th new football ground, you mostly have to sit at Red lights waiting for some one to move. total waste of time

Rainbow dreams said...

hey we only have one roundabout here and it doesn't have lights... makes it interesting for those who learn to drive here and then have to navigate them in England or elsewhere!!