Driving in the UK?

[RobertInOntario]

I've always wanted to but never had the opportunity. We've always had to rely on public transport. Still, I would think driving slow and careful would be the route to follow as driving on the right hand side is second nature for me and to suddenly have to think about everything in the opposite sense COULD offer quite the challenge (especially an emergency maneuver).

On American soil, roundabouts do not work. In my experience, people 'round these parts pull up to them kind of dumbfounded and just stop! When used properly, they can handle great amounts of traffic quickly and smoothly... but, like I said, the drivers have to know how to use them and most in these parts don't. Quite to the chagrin of most, it seems, however, that more and more small cities are incorporating them.... Sedona and Wickenburg AZ, just to name a couple.

August of 08 my family and I visited Sedona AZ to find that two of the major intersections had been converted to roundabouts. We must have been there the weekend they opened as traffic was hopelessly snarled with traffic being backed up in several miles each direction. They finally called out the traffic cops to come direct traffic as they do and after several hours, it finally cleared up. However, minutes after they left, it snarled right back up again. Hopeless.

Thanks for these responses!

BTW, I think roundabouts are excellent ways to control traffic. For one thing, they practically eliminate T-bone or broadside crashes that often occur at intersections. They also pretty much keep traffic flowing at all times. It's great to only have to slow down, maneuver through the roundabout, and not have to come to a complete stop.

Also, in the UK, I've seldom see any stop signs -- instead, they have "Give Way" (i.e. yield) signs. Again, I think this is a much better way to control traffic.

The extra (and unnecessary) stopping and starting that we have in North America also creates extra pollution and probably more wear and tear on the car.

In a city not far from Toronto (Kitchener-Waterloo), they have added some roundabouts. My family & I have driven through 3 of them recently in that region and think they're great. You can also use them for safely doing a U-Turn if needed.

Just some comments!

Thanks,
Rob