Roundabouts are a means of
traffic control at
road junctions. They are an alternative to
stop signs or
traffic lights and are commonly used in
European countries. A roundabout takes the form of a
circular island occupying the centre of an
intersection.
In Britain, vehicles approaching the roundabout are required to reduce speed and yield to traffic already travelling around the roundabout. Vehicles travelling around the roundabout circulate in a clockwise direction, leaving the roundabout at the required exit. The idea behind roundabouts is to ease the flow of traffic. Depending on traffic density and the size of surrounding roads, roundabouts can have single or multiple traffic lanes. In the latter case, lane control is vital to avoid collisions.
Roundabouts at busy junctions sometimes have traffic lights installed at it's entrances or even around the roundabout itself in order to regulate traffic flow. These traffic lights normally operate at peak periods only. This almost seems like an admission of defeat.