Round-abouts are a deathtrap
By RyanCanuck •
Yeah, yeah, I know some of you will argue that 'you just don't know how to use them'.
The roundabouts here are insane. Everybody crossing 3 lanes of traffic, no one can get in, they hold up tons of traffic...
Qatar needs something called 'traffic lights'. They are these innovative electrical devices that actually allows people to cross intersections without getting maimed/killed.
Anyway, my wife and I are the ones driving around wearing helmets. Flag us down and say 'hello' sometime.
I used to zip around those R/As like a F1 driver ... if you can't beat 'em, join 'em! Keeps one's motor skills sharp.
^But traffic signals shouldn't make you stop if there are no cars coming the other direction (maybe you are talking about traffic signals from 20 years ago?).
yes yr right brit specially no need to wait at traffic signals when there are no cars at all even i love to drive in qatar and specially cruise in roundabouts and kids enjoy a lot at roundabouts
Up and down, rock and ride
And around, and around, and around, and around
Mood swings and roundabouts
It's all moods and swings and roundabouts
It's all mood swings and roundabouts
It's in your head man - sort it out
I'm sure that i can't change
Get it up, get around, get it up, get around
Mood swings and roundabouts
It's all moods and swings and roundabouts
It's all mood swings and roundabouts
Anyway. I am a supporter of roundabouts. They are great for traffic flow. people need to learn to use them properly. I do however agree that at some roundabouts, traffic lights are neccessary to help flow.
They are actually getting rid of most roundabouts and putting lights there......
Is that a pro-gun slogan around these parts?
^You'll need to elaborate there....
Guns don's kill same way R/A don't either.
Do you consider the round-abouts here 'well-designed'?
Ryan, whilst I understand your frustration with your new experience of driving in Qatar, which is common, your frustration shouldn't be with roundabouts in general.
Numerous studies have shown roundabouts to generally be far safer and better at moving traffic. Accidents at traffic lights tend to be far more serious due to the high speeds and the number of 'T-Bone' accidents. This is why roundabouts have been quickly growing in popularity across the US and Canada and are so well established in Europe. Obviously a key factor for any type of intersection is good design as there are lots of subtle details that need to be got right, along with driver behavior.
As someone who grew up in the UK but has spent the last 25 years driving and designing roads in Canada I can personally vouch for the benefits of roundabouts when well designed.
A few N. American studies regarding the above can be found below for anyone interested.
http://www.tac-atc.ca/english/resourcecentre/readingroom/conference/conf2007/docs/s16/weber.pdf
http://www.urbanstreet.info/2nd_sym_proceedings/Volume%202/Russell.pdf
http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_572.pdf
R/A are much faster then Signal Junction. Next time sit with me and see how I negotiate R/A
Roundabouts are the easiest in Qatar, only if drivers learn how to stick in their lane rather then changing lanes in r/a
It's like taking your life in to your hands every time!
Sorry to hear about your accident, AJ. At least you had 5 safe years! Now I know that I can rear-end someone from the fastest round-about lane and not get in trouble. This ia going to be fun!
Ryancannuk..
5 years driving in Qatar withour accident, but only last month, i met accident in sports R/A. Qatari car, Toyota cruiser model 2013 hit my car by his bumber hitting my left back side passneger seat.
He came from the fastest lane, I am in the middle. We agreed to go to police as he knows it's his fault but when we were their, Police said, it's my fault. Because FASTEST LANE is the KING of the ROAD, He can go right, go left or go straight or U-turn...quoting the explanation of the police..
OOOhhhh i see.....Okay even fastest lane is the KING of the Road, The king must aply break if there is slave infront of him.
Damn, next time, i will take picture os the exact scenario. :(
Round-abouts are fun
But don't you see how round-abouts are actually slowing traffic down? They work great in light traffic, but Doha's not a little town anymore. Waiting 20 minutes (or longer) to enter a round-about is a sign to change.
here we go again..the amount of issues you have on the road are directly proportional to your own competence behind the wheel..round abouts are such a simple concept that it's not even funny how many people are intimidated by them.
I also think you dont know how to use the round abouts
Am I correct in thinking that during the work to improve all the roads, they are removing all the roundabouts? It will be for the best. I think in Bahrain they only have one roundabout!
The worst is when there are three lanes, then you want to go straight across (2nd exit) where there are only two lanes. In the rules of the road, the inside two lanes should be used to go straight across. But when you get there, everybody from the outside lane also turns off. Therefore its three lanes into two. Being in the middle lane is normally the worse as you get sandwiched in between the inside and outside lane drivers who both want to turn off which leaves you in between the two lanes!
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/safety/roundabouts/
There are a few key things to remember about driving roundabouts:
1- Yield to drivers in the roundabout
2- Stay in your lane; do not change lanes
3- Do not stop in the roundabout
4-Avoid driving next to oversize vehicles
when I moved to Qatar in 2004 there were only 3 traffic lights in the entire city I think. Every intersection had round-a-bouts then. I miss some of them. They had interesting sculptures in the middle. Anyone remember the sails at the airport round-a-bout, or the perfume bottle round-a-bout, or the parachute round-a-bout? etc etc.
More than a year on Doha roads behind the wheels. 36000 kms on the odometer. No complains so far worthy of creating a fuss. Never had issues with the R/A's or rash drivers (which would be your next post after 2nd week of stay in Doha, I guess) or whatever. You need to learn driving not just how to hold the steering wheel and push the accelerator. And get over the mindset that everything you have experienced in your life until reaching here, this place should replicate those to make you comfortable....:)
driving a car while wearing a helmet. are you a race car driver RYANCANUCK.
I posted about this already . Maybe in 20 yrs Qatar will have all the traffic lights in at the roundabouts.....but drivers will not know they are there and run red lights......
Stay safe....Good luck.
P.s. stay in the middle or right lane, u should be fine.
I love R/A
Round abt is like circus ,now got used to it :-).maintain right track with right speed u will be safe .....
I used to get carsick from them....and welcome to your daily potential suicide trip! :P Stay afe:)
got to live with it.
'you just don't know how to use them'.
^Can it, Britty!
You just don't know how to use them.