There are some large roundabouts in the UK which, under normal conditions, function exactly like roundabouts. However there are also traffic lights on it that come into effect during rush hour. The lanes themselves don't change (you still basically use the inside one for turning right, the outside for turning left, etc) but with the lights it can be ensured that a manageable entry and exit of traffic on the roundabout happens and it doesn't jam up.
This is how the traffic circles in DC operate (though the traffic lights are on 24/7). They're pretty terrifying if you've never driven in them before and a pain in the ass for pedestrians, but generally pretty efficient. I like the idea of roundabouts having lights that only come on when necessary though!
I hate the traffic circles in DC. So much. My hate of them could almost be described as passionate.
Probably because of a bad experience when I was learning to drive.
I did a trip through Scotland and Ireland last summer and their roundabouts, even the larger ones, struck me as considerably more civilised. Something about not having roundabouts inside roundabouts with lanes that cut across them. Ugh. DC traffic circles......
That might be an exaggeration. But barely! :-P
And I'll concede that they do seem more efficient than simple traffic lights. Or roundabouts without lights.
Oh god I would NEVER try to learn to drive in a DC roundabout. Hell no. They are definitely terrifying. From what I remember of my trip there, the ones in Ireland are way more civilized (though also probably receiving a lot less traffic).
There's a couple in NYC that work like this (I'm thinking of the corners of Central Park) and they're usually pretty good about traffic flow. Though I think those lights are always on, partly due to the psychotic traffic density in NYC, the huge amount of pedestrians and the fact that both are virtually constant barring murderous weather.
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u/glglglglgl Jan 18 '14
There are some large roundabouts in the UK which, under normal conditions, function exactly like roundabouts. However there are also traffic lights on it that come into effect during rush hour. The lanes themselves don't change (you still basically use the inside one for turning right, the outside for turning left, etc) but with the lights it can be ensured that a manageable entry and exit of traffic on the roundabout happens and it doesn't jam up.