It’s refreshing to see the authorities, at last, coming out in the open about the reasons for implementing un-necessary traffic lights – “The aim is to improve congestion”. Note, not to reduce congestion, but to improve it. It’s certainly worked that way in Telford.

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Dear Sam, you should perhaps take notice of the fact that the article was written by a Shropshire Star journalist and does not quote anyone from the HA.

This roundabout DOES suffer from congestion and the Dobies lights have worked very well at reducing congestion (although some people moan because they have to sit there for a minute, these people should spare a thought for those who used to be stuck in traffic for 20mins at a time every friday, and bank holiday). I am all for such a scheme, as someone who works on the Business Park and needs to access the roundabout a lot, it should help drivers, particularly those who use Thieves Lane in the mornings.

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The WHOLE point of a roundabout is to inegrate traffic flows, without the absolute need to “stop”.

Most of the problems associated with roundabouts is the inability of traffic to anticipate, and to “merge” with traffic already on the island.

I have followed many a driver on the approach to the island, only to find they stop for a vehicle approaching far away on their right -instead of anticpating “the flow”, and continuing.
In addition, there seems to be another fairly large group of drivers who seem to think it is neccessary to “stop” at the island irrespective of traffic approaching or not.

In both cases – this destroys the traffic folw and causes delays.

If everyone, INCLUDING traffic “approaching” from your right, was encouraged to “give way”, and NOT EXPECT “absolute right of way”, then the roundabout would function as intended, and all traffic streams would get “an equal chance”

The alternative to all this is to NOT have a roundabout at all, and have lights.

What we are getting is a poor second rate solution – a jumbled mess of both solutions.

And finally in response to Road Runner
- In the case of Dobies Island – that is a specific case where two major roads, the A49 and A5 cross, which should NEVER have been provided with a roundabout.

THAT junction should have been an underpass or flyover.

The FACT that that island has had to have lights (and controlled crossings on the A5 WEST EXIT) of the roundabout is an admission of gross negligence of the design in the first place.

A simlar position exists at emstrey.

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Peter has obviously never sat at Bayston Hill for half an hour or more waiting for a break in the traffic – the traffic coming across the A5 is going at considerable speed by the time it gets past the A49 turning. At least now, at peak times, you stand a chance of getting somewhere at Dobbie’s island instead is being stuck in traffic somewhere south of Bayston Hill.

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Again, it just seems like more interfering to remove the chance of the average driver having to think for themselves. Heaven forbid that they be allowed to do that.

Roundabouts are simple things. When approaching one, plan to stop but look to go.

Then again, I suppose we can expect more schemes like this considering the ever expanding number of useless drivers occupying the roads these days.

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Peter said: Jan 7th, 2009 at 11:16 am
SK, As other correspondents have pointed out, it’s perfectly possible that a roundabout was never the correct solution for Bayston Hill anyway. Perhaps a light controlled junction would have been the correct solution – but lights and a roundabout completely defeats the object and creates poor lane discipline as it prevents the normal flow of traffic around the roundabout.

And that’s what we need, isn’t it? When lane discipline is already shocking enough on normal roundabouts.

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