Anyone ever encoutered crazy or dangerous road junctions...

Photos are welcom

Let's start with some really nasty ones in Italy

Autostrada #3, Ercolano branchoff Google maps. 180 degree turn from standstill onto a 130kmh road. When i drove it, it was even worse than the google maps photo due to roadworks

Another one in italy, but i cant find it on google maps... I think it was also the A3 but it could have been the A30 too. Imagina a 2x3 highway, with a local branchoff, WHITOUT ANY OVERPASS, just turn to the left and cross the 3+ lanes. Oh and the sign was just 100m before the exit. All on a 130kmh road

If you want extreme junctions ........ try this for size.

Swindon's Magic roundabout.
http://picdit.wordpress.com/2008/09/13/2-hardcore-roundabouts/

Here's one from Glasgow, Scotland

Junction 15 on the M8

Note the direction arrows on the orange link roads next to the A804 and 15 tags. These are the links between Springburn road and the OUTSIDE (or fast lane) lanes of both carriageways. Although the speed limit on this particular stretch of the motorway is 50mph (80kph) it is still rather disconcerting to even the most experienced driver.

C wrote on Oct 25^th, 2009 at 5:20am:


The trick to the Magic Roundabout is to go around it in an anti clockwise direction. Everyone cues to drive around it clockwise because that is the direction you drive around a roundabout, however, as long as you go around each individual roundabout clockwise nothing says you can't drive around anticlockwise from roundabout to roundabout, getting across the roundabout in roundabout a quicker time than the rest in the cue

Matt

spagghetti junction. I once got lost in there for a week.

expat wrote on Oct 25^th, 2009 at 5:37am:


I disagree slightly; the trick to Swindon's magic roundabout is to go "northside" - ie closest to the football ground. So, approaching from the town centre go clockwise, from the eastern approaches, go anticlockwise. Approaching from the south? Tough! You're stuck!

Quote:


We have several where our various motorways meet our M25  around London (M3, M23, M1, M4, M40, M11).

Hagar wrote on Oct 25^th, 2009 at 2:02pm:


I've never had too many issues - the traffic lights and lane markings seem to have improved. I suspect the traffic lights have removed some of the need to avoid "suicide"!

GACK!

That Swindon thingie?  What the hell?  I'll never complain about Memphis or Dallas rush hour EVER again!

I would just get stuck driving round and round and round and eventually die of a burst bladder or colon on that Swindon thing!

GAC!

There's a few I've hit that made me wonder if the engineers were either stupid.....or did it as a joke because they could

First one....looks simple eh?  I used to take this exit on a weekly basis while doing a job in South Bend...the clover leaf is not the issue here...zoom in on the bottom right exit merging from 31 north to the 20 bypass.  Right before the merge onto 20 there is a dark triangle...that is actually a very high wall...that serves no purpose...problem....your coming off an exit with a 25mph limit...into traffic that is moving at 80mph+...you have no time to merge into that traffic, and that wall makes it where you can't see whats coming...all you can do is lay the hammer down and hope there's a hole when you get there

Clicky

Second...these 2 beasties I hit in Oklahoma City back in February heading down interstate 40 bound for 35...Surprisingly simple, unlike Indiana they actually have all the lanes marked every now and then....you just stay in the lane marked for the interstate you intend to get on...then the whole road just splits off in a million directions while doing 90mph...just so you were in the correct lane before that great divide everything is fine.

Clicky

There's many more...I know one in a city to my south, its a highway that does a cut over in down town, not bad, but there's one intersection that causes issues with anyone who's not familiar with it heading southbound,  The sign says 15 with a bent 90° arrow pointing left, southbound has 2 lanes going up to the stop light, but only one lane on the other side, if taking 15, you would assume turn left as the sign says...no other markings to say different.  Problem...turning left will put you head on with oncoming traffic...as its a one way street going the opposite direction   Most people...including myself have not realized this till its too late, then getting turned around is a real trick...if you don't get slammed first.  There's been hundreds of minor accidents there, but not one thing has been done to change the situation.  That little arrow actually means go up one street then turn left....but why not just save everyone the trouble, move it 200 feet south and put the arrow on the correct street.   Idiots

I know I would never survive driving in a European city....those roundabouts...look rather confusing to me

As mentioned in the artical that Hagar has posted, France only adopted the yield on entry for roundabouts in 1983, prior to this rule the scariest junction I've ever experienced is The Arch de Triumph in Paris. This managed to scare the pants off a coach driver of 30 years experience.... and knowing the French it probably still would, as their idea of following road rules is rather loose, combine this with the fact that it is a major tourist attraction and it is complete chaos.

India is well renouned as one of the most dangerous places to drive you not only have to watch out for other drivers and predestrians but cows are free to wander anywhere. This makes any junction there extreme.

I'd like to see that animation with real world traffic volume. 

Packed with agitated rush hour commuters.

Roundabouts are a blessing to the (small) town I live in. There used to be a few traffic lights (like 4 or 5 junctions). Since they replaced them with roundabouts and put small roundabouts on most other junctions too about ten years ago, traffic flows much easier through town. The traffic jams of commuters in the morning and evening are practically gone even though the town grew with almost 15.000 people.

Crash

Plugpennyshadow wrote on Oct 26^th, 2009 at 1:14pm:



That would add to the fun for sure. 

A useful roundabout which I occasionally come across (in the UK) is the "Mini Roundabout", (see Mini Roundabout)...>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout consisting of a small circle painted on the road at a road junction, which is treated as a normal roundabout during busy traffic times.

If there is no other approaching traffic present, it can be driven across, with care, to make a right-hand turn. (Left-hand in the US).

Its only danger under these circumstances, is being aware that the driver in front may be making a U-Turn round it, whilst the following drivers are taking a short-cut across it!

We have one on the approach to our Supermarket, and it works well in speeding up the traffic flow. when the majority of the traffic is traveling in one direction....they driver OVER it.

It does require great care in anticipating what maneuver other drivers are taking on the approach, especially if they are not indicating their intention!
...otherwise they can be useful...

Paul... ...!

..I know its nothing to do with Roundabouts, but it does involve Traffic Lights...

Pedestrian Controlled Traffic Lights. Referred to as a; "Pelican Crossing"....>>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelican_crossing

I have a habit of noting that the Traffic light ahead is Red after the Pedestrian has pushed the Button, and I come to a stop...

The pedestrian has crossed the road, and proceeded on their way, and there in no-one else visible approaching, or likely to cross whilst the light is still on Red, I then start, and proceed carefully with my journey, without waiting for it to turn Green, so as not to unnecessarily delay the traffic behind me for no good reason... ...!

Probably illegal... ...but what would you do?....Your Honour?

Paul....Mr. Common Sense!... ...!

The conflict:
Common sense...and The Law!......!

...I'll tell you something else which is unbelievably annoying, is when inquisitive little 4-year-old Johnny, out shopping with his Mum, observes that fascinating Button above him...and pushes it.....
.......and neither of them have any intention of crossing the road....

...and...also....

Annoying School Children, who push the button as they pass on the pavement to and from School, and bring the Traffic to a standstill, with no intention of crossing, just for a giggle!

Small Children...and School Children...and Teenagers... and Pelican Crossings!.......!

Paul... ... ... ...!

Whey-up!....and I haven't mentioned timed; "Road Works Traffic Lights" on Red....when there is no-one, in the far distance, as far as the eye can see, approaching in the opposite direction...especially late at night on deserted Country Roads!
...BAH....Mr. Impatient!... ...!

.... ....!

Hagar wrote on Oct 27^th, 2009 at 1:47pm:


...I know..... ....

...I almost bought "Photoshop"!... ... ... ... ...!

Paul... ...!

beaky wrote on Nov 9^th, 2009 at 11:24pm:


At large road junctions that is the case ....... but here in the UK we have stand alone predestrian controlled crossings where you push the button and wait a short time for the traffic to be stopped. CLICKY
As Paul has stated it can be extremely annoying when someone presses the button but doesn't cross.

eno wrote on Oct 26^th, 2009 at 5:49am:


Seems the North Koreans quite liked it as a traffic management system....

.mic