[DeedPatmeda]

Sometimes roundabouts need traffic lights..there are some in Manchester, near city centre in particular, that are hell without traffic lights.

There are also many motorway ones where its great to have traffic lights. Anybody driving regularly on motorways will know the number of idiots who pull onto the roundabout too fast and dangerous after having become accustomed to high speeds.

Having said that..if a round has only medium to light slow speed traffic, it shouldnt have traffic lights.

[Freeptube]

Sometimes roundabouts need traffic lights..there are some in Manchester, near city centre in particular, that are hell without traffic lights.

There are also many motorway ones where its great to have traffic lights. Anybody driving regularly on motorways will know the number of idiots who pull onto the roundabout too fast and dangerous after having become accustomed to high speeds.

Having said that..if a round has only medium to light slow speed traffic, it shouldnt have traffic lights.

Then why not just remove the roundabout and have only traffic lights? I thought the idea of a roundabout was to not have traffic lights there and always give way to your right (left in other countries) and save time by not stopping at the lights?

I hate traffic lights, they are starting to pop up everywhere here and you can't drive more then a hundred meters in some areas without hitting multiple traffic lights.

[Trotoleterm]

Hi Rick,

Thanks for your email,

I agree that traffic flow is moving freely at present, however when the new link road to Riverside Park industrial estate opens the volume of traffic using the roundabout is set to rise dramatically. This became evident during a modelling survey carried out using AIMSUN software on Newport and Hartington Interchanges.

When a roundabout reaches it's maximum capacity or has 3 lanes, the only safe option is to add traffic signal controls. Traffic flow surveys were analysed using TRANSYT. This provided a detailed control system able to deal with the increased volume of traffic expected to be using Newport Interchange. The traffic lights at Newport roundabout will be turned on permanently at the end of the NMA contract. The junctions will therefore be balanced at all times and also provide safe crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.

Regards,

Dan Corrigan

Public Liaison Officer
Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering
North Middlesbrough Accessibility

>>> 11/06/2009 22:12 >>>

There has been roadworks on this roundabout for the past 6 months, and it
has had no functional traffic lights. Traffic flows fine there used to be
1 traffic light which was timed for only rush hour usage. During a trip
out today i noticed that multiple new sets of traffic lights have
appeared, i am not a great fan of traffic lights but i appreciate they
have there uses in certain places ie busy junctions.

However the point in a roundabout is for the traffic to flow freely from
multiple junctions without the need for traffic lights. So i am emailing
to enquire about why these traffic lights have been unnecessarily erected?
Will they be time controled to only be turned on during rush hour traffic?

Thanks

Rick


A reply... won't even be time controlled

[FliveGell]

We're getting more and more of these in Winnipeg, Canada as I speak... So far the only ones I've seen are all single lane simple roundabouts but the next project could be a four lane.

[VarenHokalos]

I have a friend who works for the local council and apparently it's a fairly common occurrence for big businesses to pay the council to fit traffic lights at specific areas to force traffic to stop and have to view various banners and posters advertising their business, so if there are any large businesses very near these lights, yet no logical reason for them to be there..

[Dyslermergerb]

I'm glad they have traffic lights at roundabouts in Nottingham.

Every bloody driver in Nottingham are all right pricks, they never let you through and I mean NEVER. You literally have to fight your way through.

[thumbdown]

[Uninkipsyncp]

I'm glad they have traffic lights at roundabouts in Nottingham.

Every bloody driver in Nottingham are all right pricks, they never let you through and I mean NEVER. You literally have to fight your way through.

[thumbdown]

lol you dont give way on a roundabout, that would be mayhem!

[Dyslermergerb]

lol you dont give way on a roundabout, that would be mayhem!

I mean during busy times. For example.

I approach a roundabout and I want to go right at the roundabout.

Cars coming from the right obviously have right of way, thus I wait until it is appropriate to move out. However, say the cars coming from the right are taking the exit after mine, and it's clearly backed up and causing tailback.

People coming from the right just carry on, not giving space and allowing those (like myself) wanting to turn right to do so. Especially if it's during rush hour traffic and I'm heading INTO town and not away.