Yes No Stop Go
May 24th, 2007
I don’t know why but the words “yes no stop go” always come into my head when I go through the rotary downtown. It doesn’t make much sense but sometimes neither does the way people drive at this intersection.
It’s the law that drivers in the rotary have the right of way but so many times I will be in the rotary and someone will just sail though coming from Union or Concord St. and I’ll have to stop for them OR I will be waiting to enter the rotary (with smoothly flowing traffic, not gridlock) and someone already in it will stop and motion for me to go which stops traffic behind them. While I appreciate the gesture (I really do), I hate to condone stopping the flow of the rotary traffic when it’s not necessary.
Then there is the driver who I call “the plug”, they get into the rotary just enough to block the flow of traffic even though they see two exits in is backed up. People who would be exiting one opening to their right now get to watch them talking on their phone or just ignoring the fact they’re stopping people from getting out. I know there are those who really didn’t know they were going to that but there are others who just want to secure their spot and pull up when they shouldn’t.
BUT, I kind of like how the rotary looks. It’s lightly landscaped, compliments the greenery outside the Memorial building and in theory, I think it’s a nice alternative to traffic lights which, as seen at Concord and Lincoln, can be just as frustrating.
I find the rotary so much better than what was there before.
Comment by ptcakes — May 24, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
I agree. The landscaping looks great.
I also think that everyone here needs to learn to drive in England. The laws of how a rotary works is so well defined and if you do it wrong you are in big trouble. Traffic moves so smoothly.
Comment by Jennifer — May 24, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
I find that the main problems with that rotary ARE the drivers on Concord and Union who just sail into that rotary as though they’re the only car on the road. Most people either don’t or won’t understand the rotary law. It’s really quite simple if only people would follow it!
Comment by Rev. Bob Baril — May 24, 2007 @ 4:34 pm
I think we need a more intensive driving test here in the U.S. before anyone gets their license. I agree with you about drivers in a rotary (but am not familiar with this one in Framingham since I live in Waltham). Also, many drivers don’t seem to realize they should use their headlights while driving in the rain, and also during dusk and dawn. This is especially dangerous on a highway when traveling 55 MPH plus. I don’t know why this bugs me so much, but it does! One-handed drivers yakking on cell phones is another peeve of mine. I’m tempted to get one of those “Hang up and Drive” bumper stickers. And isn’t it against the law to make a turn without using your turn signal? But I see this happening every day. People who don’t use their seat belts too…I could go on and on.
Comment by Seth — May 24, 2007 @ 7:50 pm
I noticed recently as I was driving through town that there are no yield signs for the cars approaching the rotary.
Maybe the town needs to install yield to rotary traffic signs on each approach? I believe most other rotaries in the area have yield signs. The ones that come to mind are on Route 2 and the two by Alewife in Cambridge.
Comment by scott — May 25, 2007 @ 1:42 pm
Scott, I believe those yeild signs are there.
I drive through this particular rotary every day on my way home from the office. The upgrade has lowered my blood preasure. I rarely encounter rarely get a “plugger” that Michelle diagramed. Of course I go through it from the tracks and onto Union heading to Rt9.
Comment by Rich — May 25, 2007 @ 2:46 pm
Nope, definitely no yield signs at this downtown rotary, I just drove through this morning and thought about that again. I was heading south, there was a car in the rotary as I approached, and I yielded, again noticing no yield sign and the car in the circle DEFINITELY was not going to yield to me if I drove right in./
Comment by scott — June 4, 2007 @ 1:17 pm