The liberals are coming for your traffic lights!

[^_^ 5,021]

Studies like this are previews into the communist-liberal vision of America. Hold on to your guns, Americans, they'e coming for your traffic lights!!!!!!

With a more than $94,000 grant from the NEUTC, Garder conducted a two-year study of roundabout design and navigability by drivers, including the elderly. A roundabout is a circular type of intersection around a central island. Drivers travel in one direction around the roundabout and exit onto intersecting roads. In recent years, roundabouts have gained popularity in the United States. Garder says there are currently more than 2,200 in the country.

...

A hidden video camera observed 2,366 drivers using the roundabout where Maine, Vermont and Texas avenues converge near Bangor International Airport. Drivers using the roundabout were classified into one of seven age groups: younger than 20, 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, 60s, and 70 and older. The researchers studied whether age, gender and cell phone use impacted the minimum time interval when an approaching driver could safely join the flow of traffic. They concluded a roundabout is a viable solution for intersections, regardless of their proximity to schools and retirement housing. According to the study, the average gap, or headway, needed for the average driver to enter the roundabout was 3.26 seconds. Drivers younger than 20 needed the longest gap—4.85 seconds, while drivers 70 and older, on average, needed 3.95 seconds. "I was surprised that 20-year-olds were not more aggressive," Garder says, but adds that their longer wait times might be because of their inexperience navigating roundabouts.

...

The researchers computed that a driver who travels straight through 10 similar roundabouts daily versus 10 signalized intersections would annually save 14 gallons of gas. If every licensed driver in the country did the same, Garder says 2.7 billion gallons of gas would be saved annually.

http://phys.org/news/2013-01-roundabouts-drivers-age.html

Edited January 21, 2013 by ^_^

[N-o-l-a 7,168]

Round abouts are ok, except when it comes to pedestrians. When I lived in Colorado a woman got hit by a bus trying to cross a roundabout in a high pedestrian area.

[^_^ 5,021]

Round abouts are ok, except when it comes to pedestrians. When I lived in Colorado a woman got hit by a bus trying to cross a roundabout in a high pedestrian area.

Liberals want to kill people in the womb and they also want to kill them outside. It's just what liberals do.

Roundabouts are deathtraps for pedestrians. Why do you think libs like them? They want you to stop driving and ... they want roundabouts. You do the math!!!!

Liberals won't rest until we're all dead.

[OriZ 3,157]

I'm all for roundabouts and I'm speaking from experience. Roundabouts are MUCH better than traffic lights.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

I hate roundabouts. They installed a few in Ottawa and if everyone knew how to use them, they'd be great. But let's be honest, a lot of drivers are clueless.

Nobody knows when they can go, which lane they should be in, who they're yielding to. It's a mess.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

I hate roundabouts. They installed a few in Ottawa and if everyone knew how to use them, they'd be great. But let's be honest, a lot of drivers are clueless.

Nobody knows when they can go, which lane they should be in, who they're yielding to. It's a mess.

the same can be said many times for red lights too.... Some don't know when to stop or go!

[Penny Lane 8,159]

How those people passed their driving tests, I'll never know.

[Roosha 51]

I HATE roundabouts. Absolutely despise them. They're actually taking out roundabouts and replacing them with big traffic lights to relieve congestion. Or they put traffic lights on the roundabouts, proving traffic lights are needed anyway!

[natty bumppo 297]

I hate roundabouts. They installed a few in Ottawa and if everyone knew how to use them, they'd be great. But let's be honest, a lot of drivers are clueless.

Nobody knows when they can go, which lane they should be in, who they're yielding to. It's a mess.

there should be training and tests administered before allowing people to drive cars ....

[Golden Gate 530]

I got stuck on a roundabout outside of Boston some years ago. Took me ages to get off. I like them in rural areas though. They are fun!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Don't care. We have both. Roundabouts work well in non-congested residential areas, not so well along main commute routes and in heavily congested areas.

Edited January 21, 2013 by The Patriot

[Penny Lane 8,159]

there should be training and tests administered before allowing people to drive cars ....

I've never seen a driving test (written or road test) include roundabouts.

[^_^ 5,021]

I've never seen a driving test (written or road test) include roundabouts.

Our manual has a small section on them so technically it could show up on the written.

[Teddy B 17,252]

I got stuck on a roundabout outside of Boston some years ago. Took me ages to get off. I like them in rural areas though. They are fun!

Being from the Boston area, I know exactly what you mean. Get stuck on the inside of a roudabout (we call em rotaries) during rush hour, and you could be going round in circles for a bit.

[^_^ 5,021]

This is a roundabout near home. This is why I hate roundabouts. During rush hour this is a death trap.