How to deal with Roundabouts

KUDOS to the authorities for setting up a trial period for the demerit points, what's more I think they are doing the right thing by taking the three-laned roundabout issue by the scruff of the neck.

If you haven't seen it already, a few of the exits at the roundabouts have gotten cones placed to educate drivers the actual route that should be taken for them when taking the roundabout.

I can't stress how much of a good idea this is, and to be quite frank, I think they should look at the roundabout and see where exactly they can place permanent posts or dividers, in order to ensure that the facility is actually used as intended.

I have gotten some feed back from people about the issue and while some people are against it, you will be surprised to hear about how many people are actually for the permanent placement of dividers.

First of all, let me share with you what some people have said about the cones currently placed on the roundabout. "It causes chaos and confusion," a relative of mine said. Which to a certain degree maybe true. What motorists in this camp do not realise is the source of this chaos and confusion is down to a lack of understanding of how the three-laned roundabout is used.

Please, if you are reading this and find yourself in this camp, this is not a condescending tone I am taking. It's an honest opinion of how driver's in Brunei misuse what is potentially a very efficient facility.

To put it simply, if you know how to use a normal roundabout, then the three-laned version is no different if you follow this simple approach to driving on it. If you want to get to the other side of the roundabout, take the middle and right lane. This will get you to the other side safely, disregard the lane on the far left. If you want to get off the roundabout at the first exit, take the left lane.

If you're still confused even after this, don't take the roundabout. Find a different way to get to where you're going altogether. It will save you stress and other drivers will not direct their ire towards you.

Road users who still insist on taking the left lane to get to the other side of the roundabout "because they can" are missing the point entirely. When a motorist drives up to a red light at a traffic light junction, "they can" keep driving also... See where I'm going with this?

Both cases can cause accidents, depending on the scenario they can be deadly and vicious. Don't scoff at the potential loss of life on a roundabout, thinking it can't happen. One sure recipe for disaster is if a motorcyclist was to turn into an exit the same time a car that decided to cut across instead of turning in.

On the other hand, if you were in a car and the same happens, the result is a massive tailback, delays all around, and all because one impatient or uneducated driver wanted to get to where ever they were going in a hurry.

A divider, something like those orange posts that are being put up in other parts of the country, should do just nicely.

Those that agree with me are just as plentiful as those people who are against it. Let me introduce the two main arguments side by side, because they both counter each other nicely. There are many that are sceptical people who believe that it will cause delays and long jams.

However just as one person pointed this out, another said that it will subside once people understand how to use the roundabout as intended. Similarly those who feel the dividers should be placed permanently have pointed out to the traffic light system in place at the Beribi Gadong industrial area and the roundabout near Berakas English secondary school.

After initial resistance the flow of traffic through the two areas have improved. While I do not think that traffic lights for the Kiulap roundabout is necessary, it is an alternative that could be considered.

The authorities will make a decision based on their studies, and I am applauding because they have done so in a proactive manner. I just wished that motorists would be patient and more supportive of measures concerning road congestion and traffic flow. It is a trial and error thing, and eventually with the right support, they will get it right. What is in store for the Kiulap roundabout, only time will tell.

In the meantime, sit tight, buckle up, and use the round-a-about properly.

The Brunei Times