Notice in the diagram that there is no conflicting traffic.
The traffic-crash history at 176/Haligus/Mt. Thabor is
2004-2009 = 6 years
30 crashes in 6 years. Average of 5 per year.
No fatalities in those years
So, spend $2.1 MILLION...?
Buried in the article about all the reasons that roundabouts will be good for us is this: "However, they can be confusing to drivers unfamiliar with them." And drivers in the U.S.A., including Illinois, are very unfamiliar with roundabouts!
Now, picture in your mind that Route 176 is the east-west road in the diagram. Imagine traffic flying low along Route 176. Now imagine you are northbound on Haligus and want to "turn left" to go west on Route 176.
This diagram doesn't quite cut it because it depicts a roundabout for two intersecting four-lane roads, whereas the roads at this McHenry County intersection are presently two-lane roads. First you have to fight your way into the circle ("roundabout"), watching for a break in east found traffic. Then you have to watch for westbound and then southbound traffic, apparently all entering the roundabout without having to stop. And you've got a car behind you that is no longer going to required to stop before following you into the intersection?
You think this is better?
What does confusion while driving cause? Duhhh... more crashes.
Check out this explanatory video from the State of Washington about roundabouts. As you watch it, think of the new hazards you'll face in a roundabout.
1 comment:
I've driven through a lot of roundabouts, including the nearby ones in Wisconsin, but especially during my trips to Scotland. I don't think that they're difficult to negotiate, and I've done them while driving on "the wrong side of the road".
While there may be no Stop signs (they are rare for roundabouts) there are Yield. Before entering a roundabout, you slow down. If the traffic in the roundabout does not let you easily enter, you can stop. That is expected, at least in the UK.
Going to the right and then signaling for a right turn when you are actually "turning left" might initially seem odd, but the process does work. Traffic flow is better -- despite your slowing down while in the roundabout -- and you don't need to wait for minutes for a light that may be too short for you to make your turn (hello, Algonquin and Randall Roads!).
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