They are GREAT in Europe where people grew up with them and know how to properly and politely navigate them. Here in the "ME ME ME!!!" United States they have a habit of turning into a cluster f##k... I know some of the new England states have had them for a long time but there are enough challenges driving up there that a traffic circle/roundabout is low on the list of things to worry about on the road.
Think New England is fun? Try negotiating those roundabouts with a 20 foot wide piece of farm equipment, or a 100 foot long windmill blade. Lest we forget blowing and drifting snow across the farms and right next to the lake. We can get off the expressway in Green Bay and theres 3-4 of them on each side of the highway. Kinda like the 3 stooges routine L-R-L-R-L... Nyuk Nyuk, I ate it...
...I don't find circles to be any better than stops. In every instance, drivers have to hope others will obey relevant traffic controls. From my experience, they don't. Speed limits, traffic lights, stop signs, yield signs, you name it. Around here, circles along with speed bumps are a "chicken" way for local govt to punitively "solve" traffic problems. Circles and bumps don't get the backlash that more comprehensive traffic solutions do. Rather than push problems out to drivers, I want to see govt in a more active role...
And here in Wisconsin, once a tractor trailer is inside the round about they have absolute right of way throughout it (round about). A lot of drivers don't know this.
Let’s be fair; would YOU want to stare down a semi when you’re in a roundabout and driving a Fiat 500? Me neither
That's one of the first things I learned about them. Kudos to Wisconsin DOT for enacting that rule. It's also important for big rig drivers to always pay attention while navigating through them. I've had a few four wheelers try to pass me, even though my rig takes two lanes.