New figures from the City of New Berlin show that motorists were more likely to have a crash in the Moorland Road/Rock Ridge roundabout last year than at any other major intersection in the city.
However, the number of injury accidents is way down.
Is that reason enough to build more roundabouts? Do you think drivers will eventually learn how to use them and traffic accidents will decrease? Or are you against them no matter what? Let us know what you think!
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I drive through the roundabout on Canal Street 5 times a week on my way to/from work and it's no problem, but the roundabout in front of the Ridge Movie Theater it is one of the worst. Don't go to movies there as much as we used to. It is possible the situation may get better once the construction is done at Racine Avenue, but this particular roundabout in New Berlin gives me the jitters.
They're stupid. I don't like them. They are dangerous and the accident rate for them is high. Dumb idea.
Single-lane roundabouts take a bit of getting used to, but that monster at Hwy 43 and Moorland, with 2 lanes and all the turnoffs and they myriad signs telling you what to do is nothing but confusion. I used to drive through that area on a daily basis - since the roundabouts were completed, I've driven through there less than a half dozen times, and each time it's white-knuckle all the way.
The roundabouts work great. It's the people who do not know what they are doing or are just not paying atention who cause the problems. Quite frankly, you have to be an idiot to be confused by them. Just another example of the American brain at work. Free healthcare anyone?
To Joe Blow, if you can't understand the dynamics of a roundabout you should not be behind the wheel, I have seen stupid people stop in a roundabout to let someone in. It is simple, 1. YIELD don't stop UNLESS a car is coming, 2. STAY IN YOUR OWN LANE!!! 3. get in and out as quickly as possible!
Roundabouts, or "Rotaries" as they are called on the east coast-I lived in Boston for 22 years-are the best way to move traffic - PROVIDED THAT they are built large enough in diameter and with proper approaches. In Wisconsin, most of them have been built on the cheap and are far, FAR to small in diameter with skinny little one-lane approaches and one lane in the rotary. It's no wonder they are not working as well as they should be. If one is not going to build them right, then don't build them at all.
I like rotundas, they allow much better traffic flow, when drivers learn how to use them. That being said, with an incredibly small sample size (about a dozen) I've asked new high school driver's ed students if the rules for how to navagate a rotunda came up either in class or while driving and the only answer I recieved was no. So, new drivers are not being taught how to drive roundabouts, hence they cant teach their parent, hence lots of accidents. My understanding is that the DMV (I'm sure for lots of money) produced a video to help teach new students but I have yet to speak with anyone who has even heard about the video. So just to help out. Instead of the actual rule: anyone in the roundabout has the right of way, the acual rule for using a roundabout in Milwaukee is you have the right of way if no one else hits you.
Roundabouts are smart and a simple idea: look left, go right. Period. What's dumb are Wisconsin drivers who can't figure that out.
The biggest problem with round-abouts is that the state and municipalities should do a much better job of educating people in how to use them prior to opening one, especially the size of the Ridge. Also, that intersection is frequented by many inexperienced drivers because of the theaters. Just because the new intersections are outside our comfort zone does not make them a "dumb idea". They can really cut the severity of accidents because they reduce the right angle crossing as well as speed from cars trying to time or make lights.
I drive through the round abouts on a daily basis, during heavy traffic. It's true it did take a little to get use too. However, traffic flow is quicker and smoother than it has ever been before. I think the roundabouts are great.
I drive these roundabouts on a daily basis. They are much better than traffic signals, as they keep traffic flowing. The problem is the knuckleheads that don't know how to YIELD TO CARS COMING FROM THE LEFT. It's that simple! The New Berlin Police should hang out in the area and stop drivers not using the roundabout properly.
The only thing I hate about the roundabouts are the drivers who stop and have no idea what they are doing. A friend of mine met me at the Ridge Cinemas for a movie. She said that she didn't understand them and kept rotating between them about 3 or 4 times before she finally figured out how to get to the theater. She shouldn't be driving if that is the case. Indianapolis has one in their downtown area that is 2 times the size and everyone does great - moves great - no problems. Put your cell phones down, look left and drive right. Very simple.
I agree W/Jim.... Radius is too small. Rock ridge is a major Semi truck traffic intersection and is too small a radius for them to manuever. Just follow a semi thru there next time and watch as their trailer tires cross lane lines while going round the "round-a-bouts"
Roundabouts are DUMB! It took me 20 minutes last Friday night to get up to and through that Moorland roundabout because of the movie theater traffic. I was late to the movie because of all the traffic tied up in that roundabout. Choke on this New Berlin developers - I will never ever eat at any of those restaurants or attend another movie at that cinema again because of that stupid roundabout! They are absolutely stupid and totally UN-AMERICAN! There's a reason you will only find roundabouts in France and England and not in Germany. Keep them in there - not here! Yes, I know how to use roundabouts but the problem is this: 90% of other Americans don't know how to use them and they are not more efficient or safe than traditional American intersections with stop lights! It only takes one idiot who does not look left and cuts across into other cars into or into other lanes without checking their blind spots carefully enough. Impatient and incompetent drivers would rather turn into others and cut in front of cars because they don't understand it's a circle and you can drive around it if you miss your turn the first time. This confusion can easily be solved with a traditional intersection with stoplights. Roundabouts really suck when there is alot of traffic regardless of how many lanes there are. Just count how long it takes you next time to get through the traditional stop lights on Moorland on the north side (American side) of I-43 near Target vs the Roundabout (French side) on the south side of I-43. KEEP ROUNDABOUTS OFF WISCONSIN ROADS!!!
They reduce injuries but increase accidents, that is clear. Point 1: As usual, the Journal has a deceptive and innaccurate headline - it is NOT the most dangerous intersection, it has the most accidents. The two are NOT the same. Point 2: Roundabouts are TERRIBLE for pedestrians and bicyclists. Traffic never stops and you can't tell where a car is going - nobody signals and they can just veer out of the circle and come at you. Of course, alternate forms of transporation have no rights on the roads in Wisconsin anyway. Feel free to run downa cyclist. Just say you were on your cell phone and didn't see them. You will get off scott free...
I don't mind the whole round about idea, but the placement of them by the Ridge Cinema and especially exiting 43 to Moorland Rd is ridiculous. I'm a smart driver and know how these work, but the placement of these two make it really dangerous, besides the fact that some people don't know how to use them, you can't be having traffic backed up on the interstate for a mile and a half, serious accidents could occur.
Roundabouts are intended to reduce the amount of t-bone accidents which are more fatal than side swiping accidents. They are also a convenience when driving late at night when you do not have to stop for unnecessary lights. New Berlin residents and commuters can recall the dangers of making a left hand turn onto 43 North during inclement weather. 2.08 accidents per million cars that go through that intersection is still a very low number. I feel that after a couple more years of having this the already very small amount of accidents which occur there will decrease.
I hate them!
Putting one in at the end of a freeway off ramp was the dumbest idea ever. I almost got hit by on old man who didn't yield the right of way.
putting one at the end of an off ramp was the dumbest idea ever
Here's a link to the video and other information about roundabouts from the DOT website. I went to the DMV the other week and the video was playing in the waiting area. http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/safety/motorist/roaddesign/roundabout-works.htm Also, semi trucks are supposed to cross the paint lines in a roundabout (or on the apron in the center) and it is the responsibility of the driver behind them or entering the roundabout to allow them the space they need to get around and not drive on their sides.
I drive the roundabout in New Berlin every day. They are dangerous. People have to be educated on how to use the roundabouts. I agree that the NB police should be in the two roundabouts daily. Especially in the heavy traffic times, with cameras, lights flashing, whatever it takes to make the roundabout safer.
Nice "reporting" by the journal as usual. How about doing a little research and provide the crash and injury rates from the years before the roundabouts were built? That would at least allow us to see whether things are better or worse than before.
They work fine as long as people know how it works.Ive seen many stop even if no traffic comming from the left,or even would stop half way thru like it is a four way stop intersection.Only yeild to traffic to your left.
I've been through those roundabouts several times and they are the worst. Maybe for roundabouts to really work they need to be larger instead of the small area that these are in.
I understand the innovative appeal behind the roundabouts and think they're great if put in the right place. I appreciate that they are considered 'safer'. The term 'safer' is based on less injury-accidents. That does not make me feel too MUCH better that I'm more likely to get in a car accident in the roundabouts but at least I won't get hurt (specifically referring to the roundabouts on Moorland). The main goal of traffic control SHOULD be to get the traffic moving as efficiently and effectively and as safely as possible. The placement of them by the Ridge Cinema and especially exiting 43 to Moorland Rd is neither. They are high volume traffic areas. The placement of the roundabout at the exit of Moorland on 43 South has constant backups on the expressway (with or without Racine Ave being closed-this is unacceptable!)! Traffic backed up on the interstate for a mile WILL cause serious accidents. The numbers of (non-injury) accidents at both roundabouts on Moorland speak for themselves.
I think it is a mix of both. They ARE confusing to drivers who have never navigated them before. The complex of back-to-back multi lane roundabouts are very daunting to new drivers who have never been through the intersection before. That being said, once you get used to them, they are clearly a good idea. There will just be some bumps and bangs until the majority of drivers have experience with them. It will happen in time. They are cheaper, and over the long run safer than traditional intersections, and are popping up all over. People will get used to them. A couple commenters hit the nail on the head - put the cell phone down. It helps.
Saw another fender bender on the roundabout 09/09..
Try coming off I43 into the roundabout going East when traffic is heavy between 4PM to 6PM. You will sit there while cars bumper to bumper continually enter the roundabout heading south even though you got there many minutes before they did. It is like they are jumping into line ahead of you at the Grocery Store line. There is no way for you to proceed without darting out into traffic. Thats how many of the accidents are happening
I love roundabouts...out east they are plentiful and don't cause anymore or less accidents...I'd be curious as to the age of driver's involved in the crashes. Yesterday I was in the unfortunate position of driving behind an elderly couple. They had no idea how to enter/exit. Total and complete confusion!!!! But on the other hand maybe they shouldn't have had a driver's license to begin with and that's hardly the fault of the roundabout.
We used to get off I43 at Moorland Road to go to the Ridge theater, have dinner or shop in New Berlin. However, the roundabouts have put an end to that. They were poorly designed and much too small. They are just plain frightening to those of us who visit New Berlin only once in a while. Now we don't visit at all, nor do we buy from the businesses there. There are many of us from the surrounding areas who feel this way.
Roundabouts are very successful solutions to solving the problem of making intersections safer. ALL research and studies show that the accident and injury rates, at a minimum, 80% lower than intersections with stop signs and lights. Anyone who says differently aren't reading the figures correctly or are listening to stories with "spin". These people are probably just aren't a fan of change of any kind. Roundabouts, properly constructed for the site and traffic flow, are a supurb solution. Build more of them AND educate drivers.
I think the new roundabouts are great! Only needing to look to your left makes it much simpler. One difficulty is the backed up traffic on Moorland/43SB, but hopefully that will clear up once the Racine exit is open again. However, people need to learn how to use them. If entering a roundabout, you yield to cars on your left. Did you miss your turn? DON'T CUT ACROSS OTHER LANES to try to get to it. Proceed around in a circle until you get back to your turn.