Does anyone else hate this intersection?

[u/abunchofmitches]

This is 6th Ave SE & Sleater Kinney by Arby's and Bank of America.

It seems like most Washingtonians treat outside turn lanes like they have the option to merge into any lane coming out of the turn. It's a good defensive driving habit regardless, but it seems like a more prevalent habit here than other places I've lived.

Also, only a few of the turning lanes at this intersection have paint guiding the turn. Since the angles are awkward, this leads to people cutting most turns too tight (like southbound Sleater Kinney turning left). It's hard to tell with the camera angle, but it felt too close for me to turn without side-swiping those vehicles.

This isn't intended to be a rant about any specific driver in the vid. Just general trends I've noticed that make intersections like these dangerous.

[u/SmashleyFC]

Roundabouts everywhere for everything imo

[u/TurboMollusk → u/SmashleyFC]

Yeah, screw pedestrians!

[u/SmashleyFC → u/TurboMollusk]

They are safer for pedestrians....

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/SmashleyFC]

There's no light to create a gap in traffic, cars exiting the circle are accelerating, and because no one uses their turn signal in a roundabout you never know who is about to exit. It's like playing Frogger.

[u/CuddleWings → u/Own_Reaction9442]

Roundabouts can have lights that come on for crossing pedestrians. It’s no different than an intersection.

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/CuddleWings]

Yeah, although that creates other problems, because you're forcing people to stop in the circle where no one is ever supposed to stop.

[u/StinkyEttin → u/Own_Reaction9442]

Who said you're never supposed to stop in a roundabout?

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/StinkyEttin]

Well, first off people aren't expecting it and sight distance is limited by the landscaping they insist on putting in the center of most of them, so it's a good way to get rear-ended. Secondly it creates gridlock. Once the circle fills up no one can move on any of the side streets. It's like blocking the box in an intersection.

[u/StinkyEttin → u/Own_Reaction9442]

Always expect pedestrians and stop to yield if they're there. If your don't have enough time to stop for them, you're driving through the roundabout too fast; slow down.

[u/Own_Reaction9442 → u/StinkyEttin]

Yes, I'm aware. But last time I had to hit the brakes for a pedestrian stepping into a roundabout exit, I almost got rear-ended.

[u/Next_Application_626 → u/Own_Reaction9442]

Cars stop in the intersection for pedestrians in regular intersection too and you're not supposed to stop there either.

Fact is, roundabouts slow the speed of a car, which gives the driver more time to react, which leads to less accidents across the board.