<p>I don’t think it was the traffic circle- I think it was the girls who felt they had to call " a friend" when a resident inconveinced them, by making them slow down while he watered the plants</p>
<p>Geez, Midwestparent, for a second there I thought our kids might attend the same school! We have the same situation … except that there’s no mosaic mascot in the circle.</p>
<p>I have a suspicion that traffic circles by high schools were put there with the purpose of raising the new generation of drivers accustomed to roundabouts. 
Our local HS used to have japanese maples in the middle of the circle.</p>
<p>The circles on the drive from my brother’s home in Monmouth County to the beach have become nearly impossible to navigate…nice to hear though that the Netcong circle is still around, gotta drive that one again for old times sake…</p>
<p>They installed a circle at a very dangerous intersection in our town two years ago, which actually made things safer, but it was comical to watch people try to navigate it that did not know the basic rules…yield to those already in the circle, and if you miss your turnoff, you just go around again (DONT stop and back up!)</p>
<p>I’ve heard there are two planned for our county. Had only driven through a couple in NJ while visiting once and was terrified. However, when we were in Ireland this spring, we rented a car, and I actually came to really appreciate the roundabouts… and we were (OK… H was) driving on the opposite side of the road and the steering wheel is on the opposite side of the car - we survived and like I said, I felt traffic moved much more smoothly than here in the states where it’s all about stop signs and traffic lights. </p>
<p>One benefit, when there are power outages, you don’t have to worry about traffic lights not working… traffic continues to flow.</p>
<p>I think the issue in the states is that they’re aren’t enough of them for people to get used to, so it’s not second nature like it is in Europe.</p>
<p>I love rotaries. There are a lot of very busy rotaries in my hometown. The issue is that rotaries/traffic circles/roundabouts/etc. have their own traffic rules in different areas. The rules about yielding, stopping, whether there are lanes and how they’re used, and joining the rotary vary with state, region, and country. It’s always very annoying–not to mention dangerous–when I need to drive a rotary when there are a bunch of tourists around. In Massachusetts, the basic rule for rotaries is to be a bit aggressive. If you just get in the rotary and start driving around you’ll be fine, but if you stop, hesitate, or yield inappropriately you’ll be putting yourself and the cars around you in danger. Also: use your mirrors and the eyes in the back of your head, especially if you need to change “lanes.”</p>
<p>just curious for those who have rotaries near their homes and have also traveled to Europe. I was incredibly impressed with how well the rotaries were marked with HUGE signs… didn’t leave any room for error. Do U.S. rotaries make signage the same priority?</p>
<p>I like the circles in DC. Makes the town more Europeon. </p>
<p>I also like the Big Circle around DC. Makes the town American.</p>