A Winnipeg man says traffic circles aren’t calming drivers in his neighbourhood. When the circles were installed a few years ago on some residential streets, the city said they would keep traffic flowing and improve safety.
“They’re not calming anybody. I mean there (are) frustrated drivers out here because people are still using it the wrong way,” said Les Irwin.
He’s taken pictures showing various drivers not following the arrows on the circle at Helmsdale Avenue and Roch Street in the Rossmere area and turning the wrong way. Irwin is concerned a serious crash could occur at a traffic calming circle.
“The signs point out which way to go and they’re going every which way,” said Irwin.
The city, however, said collisions are less likely to happen because drivers can’t run straight through the intersections, adding drivers normally slow down for a traffic circle.
Some drivers who spoke to CTV News on Tuesday agree, while others said they prefer stop signs.
Irwin said some drivers are purposefully disobeying the rules of the road when approaching traffic circles, making it unsafe for everyone.
“They’re powering through the turn because they want to get through them so nobody sees them or notices,” said Irwin.
Drivers filmed by CTV News Tuesday appeared to follow road rules when approaching the traffic circles at a handful of intersections.
Drivers are supposed to slow down as they approach an intersection controlled by a traffic circle. Vehicles need to stop in advance of a sidewalk if a pedestrian is crossing. Vehicles also need to yield to other cars arriving at the circle before them, and if two approach a circle at the same time, yield to the person on the right.
- with a report from Jeff Keele
