Prior to the previews and the actual picture was a bunch of advertisements. Sprinkled amongst these ads was a spot from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The ad focused on roundabouts. If you're not familiar with a roundabout, it's basically the replacement of a traffic signal. The roundabout encourages slow traffic movements and is easier on the environment (less emissions for needless stopping for a traffic signal during low traffic conditions) and is more aesthetically pleasing for the neighborhood. While very popular in Europe, I believe roundabouts have only started appearing in the U.S. in full force over the past decade or so, and even then the implementation has been hit or miss.
The roundabouts in our native Upstate New York are fairly rare but are now being introduced at a hurried pace. Since we do have a few Traffic Circles from the 60s, people in our area tend to treat roundabouts the same way: punch the gas, close your eyes and go. It's much like the behavior I have experienced on Massachusetts Rotaries. Roundabouts are not designed for this. The rules are simple:
1. Stick to the speed limit, usually 15-25 MPH.
2. Yield to traffic coming from your left.
3. Pay attention to lane markings and signs so you know what lane you're suppose to be in when you enter the roundabout.
It's really a simple concept when you get the hang of it and the Wisconsin DOT does a fantastic job of explaining this in the ad that we saw last night and on their web site at http://dot.wi.gov/safety/motorist/roaddesign/roundabouts/index.htm.
As I drove up US Route 41 from Oshkosh to Appleton, I noticed that the fairly new freeway included quite a few roundabouts at the interchanges. This is a brilliant approach: why put up a traffic signal when traffic counts might not warrant the expense but why risk stop signs for traffic that could be turning onto a higher speed rural road. The roundabout is a brilliant fix (and it helps with "traffic calming").
I'm happy to see that WisDOT is taking the initiative to implement roundabouts and that they're being proactive in their education of the public. I hope other states follow their lead.
Roundabouts are pretty much everywhere in the UK and extremely common. Sometimes they get a bit confusing though: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Colchester)
I've seen one here in SE Ohio, in a little town quite a while away. It's a little guy, around a bronze statue of a man on a horse. The first few times I drove through it I about shat myself, but it's not so bad after the first time or two. I would welcome more of them around here.
We have several traffic circles here in Edmonton (Alberta, Canada), and they're ones that have existed in the city for many decades. Sadly, we converted a few of them into traffic-light controlled intersections, but the ones we still have are great – if you know how to manoeuvre them. Personally, I'd like to see more of them.
We have numerous roundabouts here in Santa Maria. The locals haven't a clue as how to navigate them properly. I hate going through them as the motorists in the right-lane-must-turn lane constantly dart into the left lane without using their turn indicators and nearly cause an accident. Talk about scary. Get a clue, people.
We have two of them here in Bentonville (that I am aware of). Most people get to them and just freak out because they have no idea how to navigate it at all.
How will local police departments get the money to buy tanks if they can't stop motorists for any number of stoplight infractions, which can also lead to car searches and drug busts?