why do county council put traffic lights on roundabouts(meant to be only used at peak times}a?

Question

when this causes tail backs and even more emmisions,with out traffic lights at roundabouts traffic keeps moving and then you get less tailbacks and less fumes.waist of money, whats new in this country

Answer 1

The reason for traffic control devices is always safety. Without them there would be accidents.

Answer 2

More often than not, signals are put near roundabouts to control the traffic flow from a heavily demanded direction. If the traffic wasn't (artificially) stopped by the signals, the other directions would have to keep giving way to the heavy direction (normally) and the queues would grow almost without bound.

As to someone else's comment... At a normal, 4-leg cross-intersection there are (something like) 24 potential conflict points (I think it is -- too long ago!) whereas with a roundabout, there are only 4. Hence there are less chances of an accident... but it IS dependent on drivers approaching the roundabout keeping an eye open for people who don't understand how roundabouts work :)

Answer 3

Best thing since sliced bread, There is a big Tesco store situated just off a roundabout where i live, without the traffic lights on the roundabout it would be complete chaos, dog eat dog, at least they control the traffic and i don`t mind waiting a few minuets for the green light, otherwise i would never get off it to do my shopping. Common sense Prevails.

Answer 4

In my county three roundabouts in one city have been previously completed and one county road will have four others built soon. Roundabouts replace intersection traffic lights. If your county council has installed traffic lights over roundabouts it is time for the voting residents to eliminate their appointed representatives. There is a legal process to do that. Get smarter or be poor.

Answer 5

In the cities where I have seen them (CA, USA) they are for controlling how many people get onto the highway at a time to control merging. To keep traffic moving.

Answer 6

In Bristol you have zebra crossings right by roundabouts - well dangerous with the way we drive - too many people pulling out that you don't see the pedestrian!