Roundabouts

When I arrived in West Germany in January of 1978....one of the ten more fascinating things to me were the roundabouts (the traffic circles).  I had seen pictures of them, but never entered or exited one. 

In the Frankfurt region of that era....there just weren't that many. 

In the period of the 1990s.....you started to see more of these constructed.  Today, I live near one community (Idstein) of 20,000 residents that has probably forty roundabouts (all constructed since the 1990s). 

So I noticed that N-TV (German commercial news) brought up the topic today.  German traffic engineers are pro-roundabout, and won't hesitate to implement one....provided that the space exists.

Statistically, the selling point of putting up a roundabout is safety, with the flow of traffic always going one single direction. 

I tended to always view the roundabout as one of the more dangerous traffic situations that you could get into.  The key element to safety?  'Privileged traffic'.  With that stupid traffic training book that you get as you arrive in Germany, and the 99-different priorities that you need to memorize (I'm being sarcastic here).....you get yourself into the frame of mind to think and react....automatically.

The N-TV article points out the one key item.....people don't exactly adhere to the rules (like blinking to warn others of your intentions).  If you don't see this feature much.....you don't key in on the safety items. 

The smaller roundabouts compared to the 'maxi' roundabouts?  Mainz has gone and thrown up several 'tiny' roundabouts (where it's a two lane street, and the roundabout is approximately the size required for a golf-cart (instead of a car) to make the circle).  The 'maxi' roundabouts?  Mainz also has a four-lane roundabout (far west part of town) with stop-lights and various exit points.  This is probably one of the most complicated traffic features that I've noticed in Germany.

It's a good article piece if you ever had interest in the 'art' of roundabouts.