Modern roundabouts easy to use with smooth traffic flow

I read with interest the two previously posted letters decrying terrible experiences with New Jersey roundabouts in the 1950s and '60s. I, too, experienced the frustration of driving these intersections.

New Jersey law at the time dictated that vehicles entering the roundabout had the right-of-way (ROW). This caused massive traffic jams as vehicles in the roundabout could not exit!

That was then but now roundabout driving is quite different as present law gives vehicles in the roundabout the ROW! No more jam-ups as vehicles in the roundabout have the ROW and can easily exit. Problem solved!

I have driven these "new" roundabouts in Michigan and Florida with great success. When the traffic speeds and volumes are consistent with the roundabout design, they are excellent at smoothing traffic flow.

After watching the traffic and using Google Earth to study the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road, I suggest that this would be an excellent location for a modern roundabout! I hope FDOT includes a roundabout in their ongoing traffic study.

William Follmer

Bradenton

This story was originally published February 23, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Modern roundabouts easy to use with smooth traffic flow ."