Bend, Oregon might be the traffic circle capital of the United States. We are in Bend so I’ve been driving through dozens every day and thinking why I don’t like them.
I have never been a big proponent of traffic circles. Mostly it was opposition to the new. It seemed like traffic signals and stop signs work fine. Now I have discovered a real objection to traffic circles vs traffic lights. At a circle you don’t have a chance to wait, regroup and relax. You are always in motion waiting for your turn. And when you’re on deck you are required to make a call about the intent of the car already in the circle. On the other hand when a light is red you are supposed to wait, it is a calming moment.
In sum traffic circles produce levels of driving anxiety that traffic signals don’t.
I agree with you. I usually like to drive in new areas, but these traffic circles have me confused. I don’t have a red light/stop sign to regroup