Here in Australia (as well as other parts of the world) we call the place where roads meet and cross an intersection. Some are simple like T junctions or Y junctions/Forks or busy like some Crossroads. Lots of busy intersections are controlled by traffic lights but there are others that require a Roundabout which is sort of like a circular intersection where all the traffic moves in one direction round a central island.
As you can see in this moving diagram (below) we drive on the left here in Australia so following the road rules means we give way to all traffic on the roundabout coming from our right.
This (below) is a diagram of a busy intersection close to where I live – it’s a series of roundabouts – in fact it’s three roundabouts – put there supposedly to allow traffic on five roads to merge without any problems or hassles for the drivers! At one time not too long ago I would pass through/go round this intersection about twice a week – in both directions.
So giving way to traffic on my right means that some of the times I use this ***** intersection it is so **** busy it’s often nigh on impossible 🙁
On my way out I’m usually driving down Cambridge Road (bottom right) needing to go round the big circle in front of me, then skirt the smaller one across the way to make my way down Manchester Road. That means I would look to my right to see what’s coming down Hull Road and also what’s approaching the smaller ‘circle’ at Manchester Road.
That traffic could be turning left into Hull Road or left into Cambridge Road (where I’m waiting) or even carrying on past me.
Until I see their indicators I have no idea about where they intend to go or even if they know where they are going.
That’s if they have their indicators on at all lol
When it’s busy I sit and wait and also look across the roundabout to see if anything is making it’s way round it – any traffic at the roads on my right will have to give way and wait until it’s passed, in which case I have time to get onto the roundabout and make my way to my exit.
But wait – even tho’ I’m off and running and on my way round to Manchester Road I still have to keep an eye on traffic coming down Hull Road in the right hand lane because it could be turning right to go round the same ‘little’ circle that I’m aiming for and into Manchester Road as well.
In which case I’ll have to stop at the road markings and give way to them.
However on those days when it all seems to be too much I’ve turned left and driven ‘back’ to the first roundabout (the one on my left) taken the right hand lane at the bottom of the Croydon end of Hull Road, driven past Lincoln Road which is on my left then sailed on past my usual ‘big one’ and taken the left exit into Manchester Road.
Only thing is that this method can have it drawbacks as I can get held up giving way to traffic coming round from Cambridge Road (the place I’ve just given up on because I couldn’t find a break in the traffic) and also got caught up in Hull Road traffic turning right.
I almost give a sigh of relief if I can see no other cars as I make my way down Cambridge Road – with several schools in Hull Road I try very hard to avoid the kiss and ride parent times before 9am and after 3pm!
The thing is you can’t win with this intersection – and there’s no point in chucking a wobbly and chancing your luck as right there on the corner of Hull and Cambridge Road (the building with the light coloured roof in the picture below) is the
Mooroolbark Police Station! 😊
I don’t use it quite so much these days – unless I’m going to Chirnside Park at the other end of Manchester Road – but I must say tackling it is one way to keep your brain active
Monday Musings – a time to think and ponder
Five Ways
One of Melbourne’s unusual roundabouts – located between Hull Road, Lincoln Road, Manchester Road and Cambridge Road. It consists of three consecutive roundabouts which if used according to road rules works well but can be quite daunting to those who do not know the area. It was designed to eliminate accidents caused by drivers failing to give way to those coming from adjoining streets.
Still Waters 
I hate junctions like this. II’d avoid the area like the plague. I don’t even like traffic lights but rarely run into these things thank goodness. Only a couple of pedestrian crossings here and no one has any idea what to do with those!
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Looks like the quick or the dead!
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someone must be spreading the news aroound the world. a few years ago they put one round about in a T crossing, that one side of the T was a huge housing development to allow them to get out without hassel. it worked well, because its rare to have more than 3 or 4 cars at one time. then they thought to build the identical one you showed above, 3 circles. no one has anything good to say about it since it is on one of our highest trafficed streets. It has been open for a year. I have avoided it like the plague and now having read this intend to never drive in the future. there is another double one, out east and i will also avoid that one
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You know the intersection at least. If must be a nightmare for strangers. I can see there is a traffic build up coming in on Hull Road and Cambridge Street from the east, at 09.10.
There is only one in England, but Dutch style roundabouts are even worse with a dedicated cycle lane on the outer rim and zebra crossings for pedestrians on each road before the bike lane. I guess they would be safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Hari OM
Well-used to such traffic control here in the UK… not sure what Andrew means by ‘only one in England’, all over there, and Scotland and Wales the place is littered with roundabouts of all sizes and combinations; commonly two very close together, but in some towns they are literally at every interesection and there are places where three will run together like this… there is one famous one in Swindon (which is what he may be referring to) called The Magic Roundabout… which is a circle of five roundabouts! Add in that many of the busier and larger Rs here now have traffic signals anyway, for just such times as you have described; peak time they will kick in to ensure that the main road push is halted every so often to allow the side roads on… YAM xx
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That series of roundabouts looks like a nightmare to me. We do have some of them in our area. When they were first put in, the multiple lanes caused so much confusion. There were a lot of car accidents. It is good you know the intersections well.
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Here they introduced round abouts but failed to inform the people how to use them. I am most put off by the people who come charging straight into one without seeing if someone(namely me) is already there.
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Plenty of roundabouts in New Zealand – but that 3-some of yours is way too weird!
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