Familiarity etc.

[toltec]

I nearly got caught out yesterday evening (Thursday) on a road I am very familiar with as I use it twice a week.

This road has a series of humps and tables along it and the nice road people painted a mini-roundabout on top of one of the tables since I last used the route on Tuesday. This junction is a cross roads and the change is probably down to a new estate being built on an ex-MOD site off to one side.

As it happens these humps are of the extremely rare variety that actually allow progress at a reasonable speed so I was travelling at 30mph. Another car was approaching from the opposite direction and indicating a right turn so I had already backed off and covered the brake as I neared the junction 'just in case'. I noticed the new lines etc. and hit the brake in time to stop before entering the roundabout, not a maximum brake by any means but effectively an emergency stop. The other driver had stopped before I reached the roundabout and by the look on their face had no idea why I had stopped suddenly, I saw her look down and realise she had right of way.

I think the other driver was expecting to wait until I had passed before they could turn so I doubt this would have lead to a crash but it does worry me that in slightly different circumstances it could have been a lot closer.

There are two new signs for the roundabout though just a standard ones not 'new road layout ahead' types.

I was paying attention to the other road users and was ready for another vehicle to pull across my 'right of way' as I saw it but failed to spot a change in the environment. If I had been driving down an unfamiliar road this would not have happened but because I 'knew' the road I did not see the change.

Anybody else experienced this kind of event?

[PeterE]

Almost *exactly* the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago - a mini-roundabout had been introduced on a traffic table on a road where the main route previously had right of way.

[toltec]

Almost *exactly* the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago - a mini-roundabout had been introduced on a traffic table on a road where the main route previously had right of way.

Was there another vehicle approaching the roundabout in your case?

[PeterE]

Almost *exactly* the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago - a mini-roundabout had been introduced on a traffic table on a road where the main route previously had right of way.

Was there another vehicle approaching the roundabout in your case?

Yes, and like you I had to do a near-emergency stop which led me to reflect on the circumstances that had caused it.

[Roger]

I'm afraid I have to admit to having worn that teashirt on several occasions over the years, thankfully all without incident.

[toltec]

Almost *exactly* the same thing happened to me a few weeks ago - a mini-roundabout had been introduced on a traffic table on a road where the main route previously had right of way.

Was there another vehicle approaching the roundabout in your case?

Yes, and like you I had to do a near-emergency stop which led me to reflect on the circumstances that had caused it.

There is a road to the right just before the roundabout and on my approach a car drove up to the end of this road in preparation to turn right in my direction. My attention was drawn to it and away from the 'crossroads' in readiness for it to pull out, once clear and eyes front the junction is ahead and another potential hazard, i.e. right turning car, pulls my attention. Now while I did a quick scan of the junction what I am looking for is vehicles & pedestrians etc. not for changes in road furniture/markings.

So a possible reason for missing the roundabout until quite late was that there were higher priority items taking my attention.

One of the things I have noticed about my driving is that I have a tendency to focus on the most immediate potential hazard for a bit longer than I feel I should. I am only talking about 1-2 seconds but obviously a lot can happen in that time. The problem is that I find drivers around here will pull out when you are less than a second or two away so taking your eyes off them can be a bad move.

I am not too sure that I am happy that you guys have been caught out too, after all if you were how often does it happen to everyone else?

[Johnnytheboy]

There's a mini-roundabout in Bridport that had a sharp-edged raised central island (about 4 inches high) built on it.

The first time I drove straight across this afterwards I took off.

[Ziltro]

There's a mini-roundabout in Bridport that had a sharp-edged raised central island (about 4 inches high) built on it.

Is that legal? I thought they had a maximum height.

I can't say this has happened to me but then I do tend to notice new signs. Or at least I notice that something is different.

[Roger]

Why did I get an alert to this thread earlier today - was it a bit of spam that mods subsequently kindly removed?

[Steve]

Why did I get an alert to this thread earlier today - was it a bit of spam that mods subsequently kindly removed?

Possibly. I nuked two large-ish-scale spammers today.

[SafeSpeedv2]

There's a mini-roundabout in Bridport that had a sharp-edged raised central island (about 4 inches high) built on it.

Is that legal? I thought they had a maximum height.

I can't say this has happened to me but then I do tend to notice new signs. Or at least I notice that something is different.

I was just there the other day and thought precisely that - too high. I was surprised that it was like this (raised), as I have never come across one that has a raised central payment - I thought they were only coloured centers with smooth edges, to aid lorries and emergency vehicles.
I also came across a chicane arrangement that had large humps in the central section too which were not that 'obvious' and in my opinion dangerous for those less observant.

[Big Tone]

Why did I get an alert to this thread earlier today - was it a bit of spam that mods subsequently kindly removed?

Ah, I thought it was just me. Had some strange notifications of a new post where the last post was back in 2008 It made me make a mistake, which I quickly deleted

I've had the same familiarity situation where it must have bred contempt in me. Luckily, I haven't come close to an accident but my heart does miss a beat. Just thought I'd throw my thoughts in as it seems we're far from alone on this.

In the old days they always used to put a sign up saying "New roundabout ahead" but I think they don't bother so much now, or maybe just not with these mini ones. It's not good

[PeterE]

Why did I get an alert to this thread earlier today - was it a bit of spam that mods subsequently kindly removed?

Ah, I thought it was just me.

Yes, spammers often make posts to random old threads, which will generate alerts to anyone who is subscribed to them. If one of the mods then nukes the spammer's posts before you see the e-mail, you will get a puzzling blank link.

[Big Tone]

Oh.. Thanks Peter. That explains a lot

[graball]

This road has a series of humps and tables along it and the nice road people painted a mini-roundabout on top of one of the tables since I last used the route on

Could it be, that the fact that the roundabout was on a raised table and not on the normal road, at the height that your eyes would normally be scanning, be the problem? (It would appear to be if it has caught other people out too such as Peter and the person approaching you)
It may be worth keeping an eye on this and if signs of other accidents are noticeable, on this roundabout, then contact the highways dept and police to register your concerns. It sounds like one of these ill thought out schemes, which look good on a computer screen or in a text book, but don't work in "real life" situations.