BS: Strange Happenings

Subject: BS: Strange Happenings
From: GREEN WELLIES
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 07:50 AM

This is a bit weird.

Thursday last week, weather really vile, husband driving home from work 6.30pm. Approaches very, very busy traffic island, on the inside of three lanes. Rain so heavy he has to have window down to see if its clear to move onto the island. As he's waiting his turn woman in car behind drives into the back of him.

Its OK very minor damage, no injuries.

This week talking to colleague, who is telling her office about the accident her husband had last week, Thursday, heavy rain, 6.30pm, approaching traffic island, bad weather, window down, inside lane ............. you've guest it woman behind runs into him.

But the really odd thing is, the lady who ran into my husband, said it happened because she was concentrating on the car to her right and when he moved on, so did she.

The driver of the car that ran into Sarah's husbands car, said exactly the same thing.

I find this really, really strange. Anyone else ever experienced anything like this?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Newport Boy
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 09:04 AM

It's one of the commonest accidents at roundabouts.

Sorry to spoil the weirdness!

BTW, a guy was recently convicted of defrauding insurance companies after claiming for damage to his car in this sort of accident a large number of times. His mistake was always using the same roundabout.

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Newport Boy
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 09:08 AM

BBC report
here .

Phil

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: SharonA
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 10:00 AM

I'm guessing that a "traffic island" is the same as a "roundabout", yes?

Is it the same as what we in the States call a "circle" or a "rotary"? Here's a blog entry with a map of a rotary/circle in Massachusetts: http://www.brucejtaylor.com/blog/?m=20081205

Same thing?

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 11:20 AM

A traffic island is the keep left sign in the middle of the road, often positioned immediately before you enter the roundabout, with a small refuge for crossing pedestrians.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:04 PM

I'm surprised I haven't been the cause of several crashes on English roundabouts. When I first drove there, the adjustment to driving on the left side of the road and sitting on the right side of the vehicle was easier than I thought, but the roundabouts took a long time for me to negotiate. If you've only dealt with roundabouts in the US, you have no concept of the necessity of choosing your lane wisely, since British roundabouts are 2, 3, and 4 lane, especially in the cities. I would invariably end up on an inner lane trying to work my way out to the correct exit, with horns blaring and brakes squealing all around me. And people don't slow down for roundabouts in England! Thank God I had some practice before driving in London. Driving in London felt like participating in a stock car race with roundabouts, tight curbs, heavy traffic, and no place to pull off the road.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Amos
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:14 PM

We use them only rarely in California, preferring broad multi-directional stop signs with rules of priority trained into every driver. If they remember them... It seems to work better than the glorietta approach favored in Mexican cities or the roundies of England.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: TheSnail
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 12:22 PM

Wait till you try the Magic Roundabout In Hemel Hempstead UK.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:00 PM

Apparently "traffic island" means something different in the UK than in the US.

In the US, a traffic island is a place in the middle of a busy street that is reserved for pedestrians. You wouldn't be allowed to drive onto a traffic island; in fact, you'd probably be prevented from doing so, by a curb (kerb) or barrier.

What does it mean in the UK?

And what do you call the thing I have described? (I have noticed they are far more common in the UK than the US, but I never knew what they were called there.)

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: open mike
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:10 PM

traffic circles are just becoming used here in CA.
i can imagine in one with several lanes you might
have to go round and round a few times to get in the
correct lane...

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: Bill D
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 02:29 PM

Here's one in Wash DC that's LOTS of fun! Thomas Circle

But our pride & joy is Dupont Circle, which has stoplights within the circle, and 'traffic islands' also, to separate lanes which are allowed to go different places. Yes, there are 9 (nine) streets, several of which are major, which converge here.

It is a challenge for residents, and a terror for tourists.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: GUEST,Songbob
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 03:15 PM

Ah, Dupont Circle. That's where I got 60% of my instrumental learning. In 1966 & '67, the grass within the circle (around the central fountain, the whole surrounded by the traffic lanes) was covered most evenings (weather permitting) with knots of people, sometimes on blankets, with instruments. I could get home from work, grab a sandwich (or skip dinner) and wander the two blocks to the circle. I'd go from little group to little group, looking for people playing whatever sounded like fun to play, then sit down and take out my guitar, and play along as best I could. And the best part is, after the song, I could ask one of the better players, "That part where you took the D chord shape up the neck -- what's that all about?" Bingo! Instant lesson. For free.

I met a lot of people there, played a lot of songs, tried my hand(s) at banjo and then mandolin & fiddle, though by then (1968), the Circle was given over to anti-war protests and the music had transmogrified to folk-rock or worse. And all the time, there was the hum of traffic trying to negotiate the roundabout/circle, with the accompaniment of horns and the occasional tinkle of broken taillights as someone concentrating on the car to her right ...

Memories!

Bob

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 03:21 PM

"a traffic island is a place in the middle of a busy street that is reserved for pedestrians" - just the same in England. "Move onto" in that opening post presumably meant drive up alongside it.

Roundabouts are OK when people use them with a bit of commonsense and good manners. But when the traffic gets heavy there is always liable to be some twit who fouls things up, and block other traffic. There's an art to using roundabouts, and not everyone has got the hang if it.

The basic thing is to avoid driving into a situation which means you are going to have to halt on the roundabout in a way that blocks a vehicle that needs to cross your path.

And always drive on the assumption that the car in front of you may halt abruptly - but then that is a basic assumption for all sane driving in all circumstances.

Subject: RE: BS: Strange Happenings
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 20 Nov 09 - 03:32 PM

I like multiple round abouts. The mini circles orbiting a big roundabout.   The one in Colchester the traffic flows in the wrong direction.

Better than amusement park rides for hair raising factor.

I agree that GreenWellies story is a bit spooky.