The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Maybe that’s because if there’s one thing people generally don’t like, it’s change.
The mini roundabouts remain a thorn in the sides of many, including those who seem to think a reduced speed limit sign would do the trick.
Spoiler: it wouldn’t. Only physical traffic calming measures like roundabouts force motorists to slow down. And we should all be able to agree police have better things to do than camp on Main Avenue all day with a radar gun. What a waste of resources that would be considering the current high crime rates.
The roundabouts successfully established a larger buffer zone between massive rigs and pedestrians on the sidewalk as well as reduced traffic speeds while sustaining a manageable flow.
Negative comments on social media allude to an allegedly harrowing nightmare for pedestrians, prophesizing predictions of imminent injury or death.
However, there have to date been no major collisions between vehicles or pedestrians at the roundabouts. Foot traffic safety was recently further enhanced with the installation of vertical pedestrian crossing lights.
The same cannot be said of the Main Avenue and Centre Street traffic lights. Numerous serious crashes have occurred there since the roundabouts were initially deployed in October and November of 2017.
Perhaps statistics that indicate roundabouts reduce the odds of collisions are telling.
Council heard last week during a report from Alberta Transportation engineers that industry has not filed serious complaints, that heavy loads continue to move through the municipality satisfactorily, and that educating people on navigating the roundabouts is really the main issue. **See page XX for that story**.
Anyone approaching an intersection with a roundabout should slow down and be prepared to, if required, stop. Although the situation has improved since the original deployment that caused a lot of confusion, altogether too many drivers still seem to approach at higher speeds with little to no regard for others.
Drivers are taught how to drive defensively, always erring on the side of caution. Yet it seems altogether clear that many prefer a more aggressive “me first!” approach.
But if motorists just take a breath, keep an eye out for one another while extending the slightest amount of courtesy as well as proceeding carefully and remembering that life isn’t The Fast and the Furious, we’re confident people will eventually look back and chuckle that the roundabouts were ever controversial.
— Ducatel is the Round Up’s editor
