Cairns roundabout. This is tourist territory, like Philip Island. Visitors must slow down just to read traffic signs: diverging road is40km/h speed limit, give way, reduce speed, slippery when wet, pedestrians, cyclists, destinations, left turn must turn, and more. Roundabouts are a costly and ineffective solution to Phillip Island's traffic problems, argues Bernie McComb. Anfd think what else we could do with $40 million.
By Bernie McComb
IT’S disappointing that so little has been accomplished on the Phillip Island Road project since 2014. The only thing that appears to be going ahead is the roundabout at the Woolamai Beach Road, a minor T intersection with a main road. The objective is said to be to improve traffic flow as well as safety.
Roundabouts do indeed reduce the few, if any, fatalities and serious injuries but they actually increase the number of crashes and moderate injuries, compared with stop signs and traffic lights. Crashes don’t figures in accident statistics unless ambulances are called.
With single-lane roundabouts, there is enough road width for B-double trucks to get around. Smaller vehicles get around in pretty much a straight line at reasonable speed. Dual-lane roundabouts have a large diameter. You need to slow to enter the roundabout at almost 90 degrees, followed by a long curve, then exit at almost 90 degrees. Vehicle speed is much slower and visibility is not so good at further distances. In the US, roundabout speed limits are often as slow as 15 mph (24 km/h) and many roundabouts in Australia have 40 km/h signs.
Contrary to expert opinion that drivers are rational, there are many instances of cars spinning off the road at roundabouts, caused by drivers turning on too much power too soon, just for fun. I “lost” my first car in this way. Never again!
Another problem with dual lanes is that many drivers are hesitant enough to exasperate other drivers. Some of us believe we should give way only to traffic from the right on roundabouts when the road rules actually state that we need to give way to all vehicles wherever they are. Those who stop to comply with the law “cause problems” for others who don’t. It’s too time consuming to discuss the complications of drivers changing lanes while circulating, possibly to make space for other vehicles but often just for “fun” and aggro.
Incidentally three roundabouts that are "notorious for traffic jams”, including Frankston-Dandenong Road/Thompson Road (Carrum Downs) and Thompson Road/Westernport Highway (Lyndhurst), are being replaced with traffic lights as part of $175 million Regional Roads project to improve traffic flow.
Sure, everybody feels that something needs to be done about traffic on the island. But more spending on roads always means more cars and more problems. The closer you look, the more you realise that nothing is possible, short of a full-size freeway.
Three roundabouts and 2.5km of four-lane divided highway through the middle of Newhaven won’t make any difference in traffic flow. How could it ever make sense with 15kms of two-lane road on the mainland and the same again across the Island, with just 2.5km in the middle?
Think of what else we could do on the island with close to $40 million by changing to traffic lights. We are seeing more empty shops and failed business on the Island. In all the community consultations, there are no ideas how to attract more people in off-peak times.
And think about how traffic lights can make a break in the never-ending traffic convoy. So much safer for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, so they can say they've actually delivered their “highest priorities”.
Bernie McComb was a member of the community reference group advising on the implementation of the Phillip Island Integrated Traffic Study.
IT’S disappointing that so little has been accomplished on the Phillip Island Road project since 2014. The only thing that appears to be going ahead is the roundabout at the Woolamai Beach Road, a minor T intersection with a main road. The objective is said to be to improve traffic flow as well as safety.
Roundabouts do indeed reduce the few, if any, fatalities and serious injuries but they actually increase the number of crashes and moderate injuries, compared with stop signs and traffic lights. Crashes don’t figures in accident statistics unless ambulances are called.
With single-lane roundabouts, there is enough road width for B-double trucks to get around. Smaller vehicles get around in pretty much a straight line at reasonable speed. Dual-lane roundabouts have a large diameter. You need to slow to enter the roundabout at almost 90 degrees, followed by a long curve, then exit at almost 90 degrees. Vehicle speed is much slower and visibility is not so good at further distances. In the US, roundabout speed limits are often as slow as 15 mph (24 km/h) and many roundabouts in Australia have 40 km/h signs.
Contrary to expert opinion that drivers are rational, there are many instances of cars spinning off the road at roundabouts, caused by drivers turning on too much power too soon, just for fun. I “lost” my first car in this way. Never again!
Another problem with dual lanes is that many drivers are hesitant enough to exasperate other drivers. Some of us believe we should give way only to traffic from the right on roundabouts when the road rules actually state that we need to give way to all vehicles wherever they are. Those who stop to comply with the law “cause problems” for others who don’t. It’s too time consuming to discuss the complications of drivers changing lanes while circulating, possibly to make space for other vehicles but often just for “fun” and aggro.
Incidentally three roundabouts that are "notorious for traffic jams”, including Frankston-Dandenong Road/Thompson Road (Carrum Downs) and Thompson Road/Westernport Highway (Lyndhurst), are being replaced with traffic lights as part of $175 million Regional Roads project to improve traffic flow.
Sure, everybody feels that something needs to be done about traffic on the island. But more spending on roads always means more cars and more problems. The closer you look, the more you realise that nothing is possible, short of a full-size freeway.
Three roundabouts and 2.5km of four-lane divided highway through the middle of Newhaven won’t make any difference in traffic flow. How could it ever make sense with 15kms of two-lane road on the mainland and the same again across the Island, with just 2.5km in the middle?
Think of what else we could do on the island with close to $40 million by changing to traffic lights. We are seeing more empty shops and failed business on the Island. In all the community consultations, there are no ideas how to attract more people in off-peak times.
And think about how traffic lights can make a break in the never-ending traffic convoy. So much safer for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport, so they can say they've actually delivered their “highest priorities”.
Bernie McComb was a member of the community reference group advising on the implementation of the Phillip Island Integrated Traffic Study.
The Magic Roundabout in Swindon, at the junction of five major roads, has twice been voted the scariest roundabout in the UK. Consisting of five mini-roundabouts arranged in a circle, it has actually resulted in a dramatic fall in accidents.