# What do you think of this new "turbo roundabout"?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [February 17, 2024, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698 "2024-02-17T13:21:36Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/21 "2024-02-17T15:01:13Z")
DC drivers would find a way to fuck it up. Those little 3" lane dividers would be black with tire marks running over them inside of a few hours.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/22 "2024-02-17T15:02:38Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> It might have been better if, instead, that merge took place into cyan’s lane, leaving yellow to make a right turn that is unmolested by any merging traffic., but green merging into cyan’s lane requires green to move _inward_ one lane, toward the central island, and the scallops in the island are clearly designed to thwart that.
There are certainly already roundabouts in the US that have a dedicated right turn lane that’s completely separate from the rest of the traffic flow. The drawback of this design is that it’s inherently unforgiving, committing you to more limited exit trajectories.
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#):
>
> It’s completely unforgiving in that respect.
The more I think about this, I have the opposite view. I think the _strength_ of the design shown here is how it manages to be so forgiving. It strongly discourages lane changing to improve traffic flow, while being quite forgiving in allowing two official exit trajectories for each entry lane; and arguably accommodating all three exit trajectories from the center lane with an inward correction in light traffic.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/23 "2024-02-17T15:17:35Z")
To be fair, many intersections are posted No U-Turns. This is not unique to this rotary.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/24 "2024-02-17T15:18:21Z")
[Meaning of **go (around) in circles** in English](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/go-around-in-circles)
> [@](#):
>
> **go (around) in circles**
>
> _idiom_
>
> to do a lot or seem very busy without achieving anything:
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/25 "2024-02-17T15:20:03Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> To be fair, many intersections are posted No U-Turns. This is not unique to this rotary.
And of course it’s pretty much a zero-sum game. U-turns are rare, and accommodating them must inevitably compromise traffic flow in the usual trajectories.
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### Author:  [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/26 "2024-02-17T15:23:55Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#):
>
> To be fair, many intersections are posted No U-Turns. This is not unique to this rotary.
Except that here it is NOT posted as “no U-turn”.
You only discover that it is a no u-turn AFTER you have already committed yourself to one of the other two options.
Yeah, I know the sign says “only”, for each of the two options. But it’s still gonna confuse some people.
Also–the overhead sign which shows the options should be posted at least twice…once near the entrance to the roundabout, and once about a mile (60 seconds drive-time) before you get to the roundabout–so have time to think about which lane you want to commit to.
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### Author:  [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/27 "2024-02-17T15:42:00Z")
There is not a major traffic intersection design that does not confuse some people. At least a rotary doesn’t bring traffic flow to a complete stop.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/28 "2024-02-17T15:44:49Z")
There’s not much reason to forbid U-turns at a roundabout though; at other types of junction, sure, it can be a hazard to other road users. I think that might be what I (subjectively) don’t like about this design, is the constraints that it places on how you will use it. Maybe that simplifies things or helps with flow. I dunno. I’m accustomed (from living in the land of roundabouts) to it being possible, if you so desired, to circuit a roundabout indefinitely and exit wherever you choose to.
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### Author:  [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/29 "2024-02-17T15:45:27Z")
Yes they do. This Merica, not one of those furrin places with funny names. Driving in traffic here is a competition, not synchronized swimming.
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### Author:  [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/30 "2024-02-17T15:47:55Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> There’s not much reason to forbid U-turns at a roundabout
Of course there is, when you want a design that improves traffic flow in the much more common trajectories by inhibiting lane changes.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/31 "2024-02-17T15:50:36Z")
OK, there’s not **as much** reason to forbid U-turns at a roundabout, as there is at some other types of junction.
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/32 "2024-02-17T15:59:33Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#):
>
> That was my reaction. This looks very cool. I wish it was viable at every intersection. No more waiting at traffic lights!
When roundabouts are full of cars, you have to wait before you enter them. So there will be some waiting, but it will probably be less waiting overall than with traffic lights, especially the lights that are strictly timed and not triggered by sensors.
Overall it looks like it will result in better flow. There must be studies performed on that but I haven’t seen any.
This roundabout is an hour S of us. I just went through there a month ago and don’t recall any construction. But maybe I don’t remember. I’ll check it out the next time I go to Hollister (CA).
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### Author:  [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/33 "2024-02-17T16:01:33Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> OK, there’s not **as much** reason to forbid U-turns at a roundabout, as there is at some other types of junction.
Technically you cannot make a U-turn at a roundabout because it’s an intersection where direct left turns are not permitted. But that probably won’t stop people from doing it.
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### Author:  [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/34 "2024-02-17T16:34:42Z")
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> When roundabouts are full of cars, you have to wait before you enter them. So there will be some waiting, but it will probably be less waiting overall than with traffic lights, especially the lights that are strictly timed and not triggered by sensors.
Exactly.
Think of how many times you sit at a red light while zero cross traffic goes by. My scientific analysis (i.e., based on absolutely nothing) says this more than offsets the wait for traffic already in the roundabouts.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/35 "2024-02-17T16:39:36Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> Around my parts folks struggle with standard roundabouts. I’m not sure this is a great idea.
Where is the +1 button?
This will not end well.
> [@Bullitt](#):
>
> When roundabouts are full of cars, you have to wait before you enter them.
Not according to many drivers here. For them it’s, “WTF does ‘yield’ mean?”
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### Author:  [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/36 "2024-02-17T16:55:02Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Not according to many drivers here. For them it’s, “WTF does ‘yield’ mean?” -
It means the _other_ guy has to give way.
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### Author:  [@teelabrown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teelabrown)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/37 "2024-02-17T16:56:35Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#):
>
> Not according to many drivers here. For them it’s, “WTF does ‘yield’ mean?”
Here, too. I’ve seen folks completely ignore the yield sign at roundabouts. This particular new turbo roundabout will be used by office workers in Hollister trying to go north, farmworkers trying to go local, and truckers trying to come and go over the pass to the Central Valley. That’s why it was such an accident-ridden crossroads. Hopefully all these drivers from myriad backgrounds can navigate the new intersection.
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### Author:  [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/38 "2024-02-17T17:04:17Z")
What’s the over/under for how long before they turn it back into a standard intersection?
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### Author:  [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/39 "2024-02-17T17:14:11Z")
My thinking is never. I think most here are underestimating the ability of people to adjust. I think it will work, eventually. I hate four-way stop signs and four-way traffic lights and would like to see more roundabouts, rotaries and traffic circles.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [February 17, 2024, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-of-this-new-turbo-roundabout/997698/40 "2024-02-17T17:27:41Z")
I’m not talking about violating the direction of travel. A u-turn at a roundabout comprises making a full circuit of the roundabout (in a clockwise direction in the UK, or anticlockwise in the USA) and exiting back down the same road as you entered.
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