By Travis Morgan
The streets of Orem and Provo have local drivers going in circles.
Roundabouts have been replacing four-way stops at intersections throughout Utah County in recent months, and some residents are confused.
'I think roundabouts are fine, as long as they are in England,' said Brady Tanner, 23, a senior from Cortez, Colo. majoring in English.
'As long as there are not a lot of people on the road, it is nice because you don''t have to go through a stop sign,' Tanner said. 'But you get more than one car coming at that thing and you don''t know what the other guy is going to do.'
The newest roundabout project was completed in Orem last week and adds another entrance to UVSC from 400 West and 1200 South.
Keith Larsen, Orem Traffic Operations engineer recognized that it would take time for local residents to get accustomed to the new roundabouts, but he said they are safer and more efficient than conventional intersections.
'We must have them well marked and we have to deflect (slow down) the traffic,' Larsen said.
He said roundabouts increase efficiency by allowing traffic to pass through an intersection without coming to a complete stop.
'Traffic flows so smoothly,' said Alena Hicken, a senior from Heber majoring in piano and organ performance. 'You don''t have to stop. Except Utah County drivers do not seem to understand that.'
Although roundabouts are new to many Utahns, they have moved traffic in other areas for decades.
The era of modern roundabout construction began in the United Kingdom in 1956, according to the Turner-Fairbank Highway Research Center.
European countries have adopted roundabouts much quicker than the United States, however, other regions of the country have had these circles for several years.
Carrie Reinfurt, an Orem resident originally from New Hampshire, said roundabouts in New England are much larger than they are here.
'I always think, ''They spent all this money to build these little things.'' It''s like the kiddie rides at Disneyland,' she said.
In addition to routing traffic, roundabouts can also bring added scenery to roads. Flags, rocks and landscaping have been added to the roundabout on Provo''s Center Street.
'I think they are aesthetically pleasing,' said Heather Riggs, 27, a senior from Orem majoring in animal and veterinary sciences. 'It gives you a chance to have a little garden in the middle of the road.'
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********The following information may work best in a box.
Thaweesak Taekratok, a Ph.D. student at Oregon State University College of Engineering offers some roundabout driving tips on his Web page.
Right Turn: Display your right turn indicator on the approach and through the roundabout.
Straight Ahead: Display your right turn indicator just past the exit prior to the one you plan to take. (No signal is required on the approach to the roundabout.)
Left Turn: Approach in the left lane, displaying your left turn indicator before entering the roundabout. Change to your right turn indicator just past the exit prior to the one you''ll take to leave the roundabout.
****Graphics for these explanations can be found at http://www.engr.orst.edu/~taekrtha/round.html.