Robin Hood Lights Out Options

[Good Boy Racer]

http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/News/Article...articleID=12365

Two incidents on the same day... hmm sounds fishy to me, i saw these two nights ago and assumed vandals in their jeeps knocked them down.

I would just like to say that after those lights being down, i made an extra 15 minutes to work this morning.

Keep them down please.

[J C]

It did seem to confuse people though and many ignored the simple rules of a roundabout and weren't giving way to the right, saw a couple of near misses and some very confused drivers

[Mariejader]

There was another one Sunday am two cars parked on the traffic island south bound on the 339 I thought they had taken the lights out!!!! we went past at approx 10am police were on scene doing breath tests etc.

[JeffG]

Do you remember the olden days when police did "point duty" at busy junctions? Should've thought lights out at the Robin Hood warranted some of this.

(Question to ossy: does this ever happen these days?)

[Iommi]

Do you remember the olden days when police did "point duty" at busy junctions? Should've thought lights out at the Robin Hood warranted some of this. (Question to ossy: does this ever happen these days?)

I suspect there's a HSE directive preventing them from performing this duty these days.

[user23]

It did seem to confuse people though and many ignored the simple rules of a roundabout and weren't giving way to the right, saw a couple of near misses and some very confused drivers

It's not a roundabout though, it's a junction where the lights have failed, different rules apply.

[ossy1]

Do you remember the olden days when police did "point duty" at busy junctions? Should've thought lights out at the Robin Hood warranted some of this.

(Question to ossy: does this ever happen these days?)

Not really unless we come across a bit of congestion or at an accident. However having done it at numerous accidents I can safely say that the majority of motorists have no idea what hand signals mean these days. Which is funny because im sure it's still in the highway code!!

[J C]

It's not a roundabout though, it's a junction where the lights have failed, different rules apply.

So at a junction you wouldn't give way to the right?

[spartacus]

It's not really a 'roundabout' anymore..... hasn't been for a number of years..... When you look at it on the map it's difficult to see it as anything other than a complicated Scalextric track.

'A series of closely connected signal-controlled junctions in a lozenge shaped thingy'

Perhaps we'll still with the historic 'Robin Hood roundabout' as it trips off the tongue easier....

[user23]

So at a junction you wouldn't give way to the right?

No one has right of way when the lights fail at a junction such as this.

[spartacus]

Rule 185 of The Highway Code

185
When reaching the roundabout you should

give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless directed otherwise by signs, road markings or traffic lights
check whether road markings allow you to enter the roundabout without giving way. If so, proceed, but still look to the right before joining
watch out for all other road users already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signalling correctly or at all
look forward before moving off to make sure traffic in front has moved off

[Iommi]

Rule 185 of The Highway Code

I understand it is called The Robin Hood Gyratory - a special type of roundabout.

[spartacus]

I understand it is called The Robin Hood Gyratory - a special type of roundabout.

Sounds more like a special type of medieval dance.....

[J C]

No one has right of way when the lights fail at a junction such as this.

I know i'll probably regret posting this but anyways....

So you wouldn't look to the right at any junction and would happily drive on regardless of traffic coming from the right?

[user23]

I know i'll probably regret posting this but anyways....

So you wouldn't look to the right at any junction and would happily drive on regardless of traffic coming from the right?

Of course I wouldn't but the traffic coming from the right shouldn't assume they have right of way in a situation like the Robin Hood, because they don't.

[J C]

Of course I wouldn't but the traffic coming from the right shouldn't assume they have right of way in a situation like the Robin Hood, because they don't.

nor should the traffic coming from the left, however logic suggests the sensible course of action would be to give way to the right which you seem to agree with me on

[x2lls]

Why not simply redesign it, doing away with traffic lights.
Very soon the cost would be recouped by not using as much electricity, no more replacing targets put up for idiots and far less fuel used simply waiting for some pretty lights changing colour!!!

This would apply to many many junctions I'm sure

[user23]

nor should the traffic coming from the left, however logic suggests the sensible course of action would be to give way to the right which you seem to agree with me on

When I drove round it today the traffic coming from the right was giving way to the traffic on the left, which seemed to work fine.

[spartacus]

Why not simply redesign it, doing away with traffic lights.
Very soon the cost would be recouped by not using as much electricity, no more replacing targets put up for idiots and far less fuel used simply waiting for some pretty lights changing colour!!!

This would apply to many many junctions I'm sure

Because once every Race Day you'd have gridlock, as sheer weight of traffic makes roads back up...and due to the sheer numbers of drivers who are not prepared to let people cross in front of them at blocked junction even when they can see that they can't move forward.

I'm more in favour of the approach they have in Holland and Germany with traffic lights, in that they go to 'flashing amber' from 11pm onwards as traffic volume is too light for them to be necessary...

[Iommi]

When I drove round it today the traffic coming from the right was giving way to the traffic on the left, which seemed to work fine.

It seems that traffic will monopolise its position until there is a gap which enables the next queue of traffic to take precedence.

I'm more in favour of the approach they have in Holland and Germany with traffic lights, in that they go to 'flashing amber' from 11pm onwards as traffic volume is too light for them to be necessary...

It sounds like a good idea, but 'mixed rule' roads tend to confuse drivers in Newbury. It is fustrating, however, being stopped at night on otherwise empty junctions in and around town.