The question of the day
Who dreamed up the idea of replacing traffic lights with a roundabout?
The problem
Apparently a small number of people shouldn’t be allowed to drive. Why? The reason is elementary, they didn’t graduate kindergarten. I know you’re looking at me in that puzzled way that says “he must be confused.” In kindergarten children learn the colors of the STOP light and what each color means. They also understand what a STOP sign means.
Here’s the story. According to DOT it is safer to replace the standard traffic control signals (lights or signs) which actually require drivers to stop with roundabouts which only require drivers to slow down enough to navigate around a circle.
The Rant
Imagine this:
A busy intersection with unobstructed view from the four directions of travel that cross at said intersection.
Uncontrolled :
As you can imagine everyone would be at extreme risk of great bodily harm if there were no traffic control signals of any kind. Taking turns and “yield to the right” work so well in today’s self absorbed “me” society. The carnage of twisted metal and bodies would be crazy so as a civilized society we add some control instruments at busy intersections.
Controlled:
An intersection with traffic control signals, either lights or signs, is by far the safest type of intersection. The only thing safer would be using an overpass oe parallel roads that never intersect.
The Roundabout:
The roundabout is the ultimate in uncomfortably uncontrolled mayhem controlled only by the Yield sign and uniform direction of travel. Ok, I’ll give you the uniform direction of travel is safer than crossing traffic. However, merging traffic that never uses a turn signal negates the additional safety factor added by uniform direction of travel.
The Solution
While I am a firm believer in Darwins Theory of The Survival of The Fittest. I understand the necessity for protecting the young and inexperienced as well as the elder generation. This is why I believe that roundabouts are evil. Both young and old may be easily confused by a roundabout… Who goes first? Is it my turn? They’re just jumping in the circle so I can jump in too right? Do I need to use my turn signal?
Let us work diligently to keep the most precious among us safe from confusion by doing away with the roundabout in favor of lights and signs.
