Roundabouts. Why can’t American driver understand them?
The other day, as I was heading to take my wife to class in beautiful downtown Grand Rapids, I experienced the roundabout and I came to realize how we Americans have no idea how they work. They have put a few in Grand Rapids downtown, and the other day due to a detour we had to go that route. Below is a picture of one from Grand Rapids.
Now I don’t mind them, I understand the point and how they are meant to speed up traffic and the flow of traffic. They are NOT meant to slow things down.
Anyhue, we entered the roundabout and made our eventual left turn. The whole time I was laughing because of the confusion of the other drivers, the stop and start that each car would do. Do I go? Is it my turn? Yes, No? Wait? Go? Start. Stop.
Below is a picture of a European roundabout. Notice the difference? The many cars, the flow of traffic, the craziness!
You are supposed to just yield, not have to stop, just go with the flow, but Americans just don’t get it. We just cause whiplash. Hitting the gas and brake and appearing like a Student Driver.
We Americans may not understand this roundabout, but at least we Michiganders know how to rock the Michigan TURN!!!
One Comment to “Roundabouts. Why can’t American driver understand them?”
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THIS is a fantastic post. Roundabouts are so superior to four-way stops, it’s unreal. They seriously are NOT that complicated. Yield to the person to your left. If it’s clear… you’re in. If it’s two lane and you’re making an immediate right turn… get into the right lane with your right turn signal on. If you’re going straight or an eventual left, get into the inner lane with your left blinker on. It’s easy and so much faster. MAY THEY INVADE AMERICA!