Roundabout isunexpected change

To the editor:

I agree with J.B. Friderici’s letter (“Roundabout is an accident waiting to happen” – “Letters to the Editor for Oct. 12).

I was over 60 years old when I learned to drive roundabouts in Scotland (while I also was learning to drive on the left side of the road). In a year and a half driving in Scotland, I don’t recall ever seeing a roundabout where the outside lane forced you to leave the roundabout at the next exit after you enter, and I’ve driven in Aberdeen, Dundee, Perth, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. For two lane roads, use of both the inside and outside lanes were always permitted and you would normally only use the inside lane if you were planning to exit three-quarters of the way around the roundabout or if you were planning to go all the way around the roundabout to go back the way you came (i.e., a U-turn).

A handout available at the recent Transportation Fair at Raven Hall entitled “A Guide to Navigating Roundabouts) lists the rules for roundabouts and states that “…If you intend to continue straight through, use either lane unless signs or markings indicate otherwise….”

For those of us familiar with roundabouts, the layout at the Trunk Road roundabout is an unexpected change to the norm. I can only assume that the current traffic rules are temporary until the new Trunk Road connection is completed. I can’t imagine what purpose is served by forcing right lane users to leave the roundabout at the first exit after they’ve entered the roundabout.

Bob Winckler

Wasilla