Light Wouldn't Solve Circle Issue

Friday, July 30, 2010

In response to a recent Pilot website poll question about what to do with landscaping at the Pinehurst Traffic Circle, some advocated replacing the circle with a traffic light.

This would be a mistake. The improved traffic flow that results from reduced delays and vehicle stops helps to reduce emissions and fuel consumption. It is also safer.

Most accidents that occur at intersections are right-angle, left-turn or head-on collisions. These tend to be at relatively higher speeds and to be the most severe. With traffic circles, these types of crashes are reduced because vehicles are traveling in the same direction. Circles reduce the likelihood and severity of rear-end crashes by removing the incentive for drivers to speed up as they approach green lights and by reducing abrupt stops at red lights.

Accidents that do occur at circles generally involve vehicles merging or entering into the circular roadway, with both vehicles traveling at lower speeds.

Safety is also increased for pedestrians. If it is necessary for pedestrians to cross, the crossing distances are shorter, and they only cross one direction of traffic at a time.

Aesthetically, I would choose to look at a tree, plant, bush or flower over more asphalt and traffic lights.

Wyeth Anderson

Pinehurst

More like this story

GeorgiaMan 2 years, 9 months ago

What would make a perfect choice is a 15-501 overpass bridge with 211/Midland Road going underneath. No light just a lovely overpass for all to use. No traffic, no T-bone crashes. There is plenty of room to build the up ramps and down ramps on each side of the current circle for 15-501 to go up and over. Landscape it nice, and put up a nice plaque for the old Traffic Circle.

bs_master 2 years, 9 months ago

ok if anyone can provide this data i would be interested to know- what was the number of traffic accidents the last year at the intersection of pinehurst avenue and 15/501? then find out the number of traffic accidents at the traffic circle? I would be willing to bet that the number at the circle is double what the number at Pinehurst Ave and 15/501 was. Apparently Mr Anderson has not has his turn, for an accident, at the circle yet. Dont relax sir your turn is coming. Furthermore I dont think I have ever seen a pedestrian anywhere at the circle other than pulling weeds. we are not there to sightsee either, we wont to get home, not sit in line at the traffic disaster and balance our checkbook! pave it , mark it and put up the traffic lights, everyone knows how to drive through them. The circle has way outlived its effectiveness, time to do whats right and trash it!

listenup 2 years, 9 months ago

AMEN, bs_master!

Or how about the long fabled 15-501 tunnel? I would give my right arm for that to happen.

xemrac 2 years, 9 months ago

Anderson is clearly retired and has all the time in the world to sit and negotiate the famed Pinehurst Circle while the rest of us try to get to and from work, home, school. Don't get me wrong - I love all the retirees, just not the circle.

foregolf 2 years, 9 months ago

I have a friend who is a Pinehurst Police officer and he says that it is rare that a day goes by that there is not a fender bender at the traffic circle. I have seen a few dozen myself during my 22 years of driving here and I cannot recall one where an ambulance was needed to bring an injured person to the hospital (not to say it hasn't happened but I believe it is more the exception, not the rule). During my 6 years working in the ER, there were countless patients with moderated to severe injuries brought in due to T-bone accidents at lighted or stop sign intersections. Just wondering...which one would you rather navigate at a point in the county where 4 significantly busy roads intersect? It is called merging, it is simple and safe if done correctly but not everyone could be as perfect a driver as myself and all those complaining about drivers mistakes at the circle (sarcasm).

JER 2 years, 9 months ago

For those not fortunate enough to travel outside the confines of Moore County, you should know that traffic circles exist throughout the world, including the USA. Many can be found in the northeast, especially in New England (although evidently not in Georgia based on certain comments). Traffic circles are the ideal way to move vehicles through intersections. All it takes is a little knowledge of how these things work and your complete attention behind the wheel. I'm guessing if people in third world countries can do it, you can do it too. Or maybe the rest of the world has more driving talent than we do.

wyethanderson 2 years, 9 months ago

It's basic math that supports circles. It's just difficult to fit all the numbers in a 250 word letter. The science is called waiting line management. A good site for more information is here- http://www.iihs.org/research/qanda/roundabouts.html another good site is here- http://www.roundaboutsusa.com/intro.html. Figure 2 does a good job showing how conflict points are reduced with a circle. Google traffic circles vs. intersections, then Google intersections are better than traffic circles. If someone finds data supporting intersections, please post it. No, I'm not retired xemrac, but I do appreciate the debate.

bs_master 2 years, 9 months ago

circles are ok if the roads entering them are not semi-major highways. 15/501 and 211 are too busy with traffic to have them flow into a union with 2 other roads. wait until the 31 million dollar 4 lane for hwy 211 west is completed. congestion? the folks travelling east on 211 to the circle are going to be in for a hellacious delay, seeing all the traffic has just been expeditied from west end to the circle on the new overpriced 4 lane. we have a new circle in the village that should satisfy pinehurst residents. this one is not working and it is getting worse with the population increase.

bs_master 2 years, 9 months ago

i meant the 15/501-211 circle is not working and getting worse!!!!

ohreally 2 years, 9 months ago

Keep the circle, build an overpass for 15/501. Forget about comparing circles to stop lights. A stop light intersection would be worse. Build a bridge over the top of it DOT, the circle can remain for all other highways intersecting. This should not be an issue for "Pinehurst" to only have a say in. It's apparent that in other projects in the county, the citizens feedback means nothing.