Round and Round and Round We Go
The roundabout has hit Tucson, er…Oro Valley. On July 19, 2010, a traffic roundabout was opened at the intersection of Hardy Road and Northern Avenue. It is the first for the town.
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I’ve lived in the Tucson area for 10 years now, and I’d say the biggest challenge to the town is the vast array of driving skill sets the town presents. Most of the people I’ve met in Tucson, are not “from” Tucson. Many are from California, New York, and again, just as many from the Midwest. What does this mean? Well, for one, I’ve seen more people in 15 minutes between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on a “quiet” road in Tucson, than on a 30 mile trip from Green Bay to Luxemburg on any given day. There is no comparing rural driving to the 10 lanes of a LA expressway or a vast sea of Manhattan taxis. Each locale brings its own set of driving habits to the sprawling metropolis of Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, and Vail.
So back to the roundabout. Because this might be something “new” to the residents of the area, it might be important to brush up on Roundabout basics. My son is an insurance adjuster in Anchorage, Alaska, and he said the Anchorage's three roundabouts bring him the majority of his business.
- It is very important for drivers to understand the difference between yield and merge. Merge means that everyone takes a turn, and that traffic will speed up or slow down to allow you to enter. This is not how it works with a roundabout. As a driver entering the circle, you must “wait for the break”.
- Cars IN the roundabout have the right of way. Pedestrians also have the right of way at the crosswalks. Emergency vehicles ALWAYS have the right of way.
- ALL turns are right turns. If you miss your exit, simply circle round again!
- Approach slowly!
Believe it or not, studies show that roundabouts reduce the chances for traffic collisions at intersections. The speed limit around this roundabout is 15 miles per hour.
There are videos, movies, and written instructions available online if you are concerned about roundabout driving information. Forefront in your mind upon approaching the roundabout should be, "Yield at entry to circulating traffic".
As Robert Frost says, "The only way round is through". Approach slowly, Yield, turn on your right blinker, and circle round!
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