Magic Roundabout (Swindon)

The Magic Roundabout ( German Magic Roundabout ) in Swindon ( South England ) is a node, the smaller roundabouts consists of a large roundabout in the center and five annularly arranged around the inner roundabout. The construction of this unusual traffic light free interchange led to a significant traffic flow improvement of this risk of accumulation intersection where the five most frequented streets of Swindon meet. Around the Magic Roundabout traffic lights were erected at several additions and exits.

History

Developed the Magic Roundabout as "multi -mini- roundabout" by the British Road Research Laboratory ( RRL ). He was the first real Magic Roundabout after only a test model was installed in Colchester ( Essex ). The Roundabout of Swindon, however, was intended from the start to a highly congestion sensitive intersection where five major roads meet to defuse. The traffic was there every day always come at rush hour to a halt. The roundabout was opened in September of 1972. On opening day, the streets were blocked at first and then gradually released. Steve Dudley, the responsible police officers that day, said the commissioning, he had this day as very nerve-racking in memory, but it did work right away. Today there traffic flows even at peak times still relatively liquid, although the Magic Roundabout had been planned for the much lower traffic volumes in the 1970s.

Operation

In the outer roundabouts the traffic, as in the UK runs usual clockwise ( left) and in the inner roundabout traffic runs counter-clockwise direction (as in the rest of Europe with right-hand traffic common). The drivers entering into the Magic Roundabout in order to turn in the clockwise next street, stay on the left outside of the first mini roundabout and turn right on the second small roundabout. The other driver go first one in the small roundabout. Take it off at the second exit off the small roundabout, they get to the next roundabout clockwise and so on until they take the first exit of the small roundabout in order to turn into an outgoing road. Select the driver from the roads to be taken after break in the small roundabout take the third exit, go to the large roundabout in the inside, which leads counterclockwise. This will leave the required exit again above the respective small roundabout. So it is possible the Magic Roundabout to drive through in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and even - to change direction in the Magic Roundabout by alternating between inside and outside - for example when a missed exit.

Strictly speaking, however, it is not a question at the center (inner) or "large" to a roundabout. The middle " roundabout " traffic is technically considered a compound of the outer roundabouts through five very short one-way sections. The opposite direction is out of the inner roundabout bounding islands and outside the centers of the small roundabouts. Consequently, the retracting into the inner roundabout traffic has right of way (see map) and also on the traffic sign only five interconnected rotors are drawn, just as there is also in the right of way. The virtual 'big' circle is navigable only by switching between the five little.

Benefits

The Magic Roundabout performs the most frequented streets of Swindon together in an intersection. The establishment of a conventional circuit intercourse would have led to a considerable backlog in the access roads, as in a normal roundabout, in the worst case, all driveways must wait from one access because of the vehicles. The small roundabouts in the Magic Roundabout serve as a kind of access valve; they allow the vehicles from every driveway gradually retract into the inner roundabout. This is the best use of the entire road space made ​​possible by the vehicles because the distances of the vehicles will be reduced in the flow of traffic and minimize the negative effects of congestion ( delays when starting, rear-end collisions, etc.). The vehicles are within the system slower road than in a normal multi-lane roundabout, but the traffic flow is uniform and constant.

Acceptance

The ratio of locals to "their" Magic Roundabout is quite ambivalent. On the one hand Swindoner are proud of this building, by its nature, there is only about a half dozen in the UK. But there are also a widespread joke about the operation, stating that the works have the traffic problems of the crossing only be solved by discouraging motorists such that they are now driving slow or detours to avoid the Magic Roundabout. Also, the residents and local knowledge users delight in his own words at the confusion and sometimes despair of foreign visitors who are trying to understand the traffic on the Magic Roundabout. It is repeatedly reported by tourists down into complete despair park their cars in front of the roundabout and do not trust or turn against its intended route immediately left again to not enter the inner roundabout must.

Traffic Safety

Although many drivers are overwhelmed by the complexity of traffic control, first, there was in the first 30 years after the inauguration of only 14 serious and 80 slight accidents. This is below the expected for such a crossing number. In most accidents cyclists or pedestrians were involved, for it around the Magic Roundabout is now a ring of pedestrian traffic lights. Therefore, these accidents have decreased after the reconstruction measures.

Other curiosities

In Swindon there is also the Octagon, a system of five star-shaped roundabouts, and the North Star, a system of four roundabouts. However, these are not the central roundabout opposite the Magic Roundabout, but are connected to each other via normal roads.