Is it a Round-About, a roundabout or a rotary? Let’s talk roundabouts in a round about kind of way. And now you are thinking what the heck, can’t I see a cookie recipe or an outfit instead, am I right? Well every so often I like to take you in a different direction and talk life and what’s happening.
Today, I want to talk about Allstate Canada’s campaign, Allstate Takes ActionTake Action and Allstate. It provides tips and tools on how we can make communities a better place to be in and a much safer place to drive in. Gosh, it’s tough enough when I get behind the wheel not trusting other drivers. Having our “children/young adults” with their license is a whole other concern parents dread. I have total confidence in the kids and how they drive, it’s everyone else I worry about.
A Rotary or a Roundabout?
Cool bit of history, I am from the East Coast and learned to expand my driving knowledge in Halifax. Halifax/Dartmouth was my first experience or exposure to a roundabout concept. The Mic Mac Rotary for this gal was one of the coolest yet weirdest concepts.
How could cars drive around in circles and understand how to get to their proper exit. How was one supposed to maneuver in this kind of environment? But truth be told I also use to think they were the most polite drivers ever. The ease to which the cars moved in and out of the constant flowing circle was amazing. Total foreign to my experience at Simms corner in Saint John. That was four main roads converging together with just yield signs and a trust in other drivers.
Roundabouts Hit Ottawa
Well fast forward few decades when Ottawa started discussing installing “Roundabouts” I was thrilled. As opposed to the rest of the community I had more confidence in this practice than the stoplight system. Did you know Roundabouts are known to significantly reduce vehicle collisions? I know that seems odd especially if you see an inexperienced driver in action in the “circle” but it is totally true.
Roundabouts have 35% fewer crashes, 90% fewer vehicle-related fatalities and 76% fewer vehicle-related injuries. Honestly it has been reported that one of the most reported collisions include crashes involving turns at intersections. Well,I don’t know about you but I am all about the ditching the streetlights and let’s move to more circles.
At this point in time Ottawa actually now has 21 roundabouts with more currently being proposed and planned. The key is signage and instructions. In a roundabout vehicles are required to yield to pedestrians while traffic already using the roundabout, drive counter-clockwise and always to the right of the central island.
Road Safety and Take Action
Understanding Canadian road signage when navigating a roundabout is key. Hey that’s a cool car game with the kids, teaching them early what the arrows and around the circle mean. This is a great way to teach your children about road safety early in their pre-driving careers. Let’s skip the license plate game and go to straight to road signs
6 Practical tips to safe driving in roundabouts.
Expanding on the actual rules of the roundabouts also keep in mind some practical tips.
- You can never go wrong by showing common courtesy behind the wheel.
- Don’t cut drivers off in a roundabout,
- Enter only when there is a safe gap in traffic.
- Be mindful of pedestrians and cyclists when approaching a roundabout.
- Do not stop within a roundabout, expect to avoid collision.
- If you miss your exit, continue all the way around the roundabout again and proceed to exit.
Allstate Canada and Take Action
For the past 11 years, Allstate Canada has been releasing its claims collision data revealing collision trends and information on the safest – and least safe – communities to drive in. This has been to help kick-start conversations about the importance of safe driving behaviours.
In honour of the 10th annual Safe Driving Study in 2018,they decided it was time to do more and launched the Allstate Takes Action contest. Allstate Canada is committed to making a positive difference across the country by advocating for safety and social responsibility and by giving back to the people and communities in which it operates.
Allstate ‘s Takes Action campaign is another example of the company taking further action to help prevent collisions and protect the communities we live in.
The winning submission was Nepean, Ontario. Yep that would be here in Ottawa. The citizens expressed so many concerns about newly installed roundabouts and drivers lack of education. There were so many issues regarding merging and how to drive safely that Allstate Canada decided to take action.
A week long education blitz to remind residents about the importance of safe driving. What are you doing to promote safe driving? Are you teaching your children when you drive? Do you refresh yourself on the rules of the road?
I try to keep current on road rules, I read the signs and question what I don’t know.
Bella and Dawn at Dear Mummy Blog says
We have lots of roundabouts and ring roads here in the UK and there are always accidents on them. This sounds like a great initiative x
Natural Beauty And Makeup says
Such a great post for the drivers, especially newbies like me! I get so confused with the signs ? Thanks for sharing ?
Kristine Nicole Alessandra says
This is a must read for all drivers. In my place we call it a “rotunda” and I learned early in my driving life how to go navigate around it and get to my exit safely. I wish all drivers would be respectful of the other drivers they share the road with.
Catherine Santiago Jose says
This is such a great post and it’s definitely gives a better understanding to all drives on what to do and not to do when they are driving.
Linda Cassidy says
thanks, I was trying to help some
Linda Cassidy says
thanks, I was trying to help some
Jennifer Gladwin says
There are lots of roundabouts near where we live and it’s really shocking how many people don’t know how to approach and leave at the exits safely. This is a great informative post.
Linda Cassidy says
we have a large number now bt people still seem to get confused
Lisa Rios says
Goodness. Roundabouts are so stressful to me, and driving safety is a must! One can never learn too much.
Monica Young says
that is such a great post, very informative and I will let my teen that is learning to drive learn a lot from here
Catherine Santiago Jose says
This is such a great post and it’s definitely gives a better understanding to all drives on what to do and not to do when they are driving.
stayingafloat blog says
Love this!! A must read for ALL drivers. Currently live in New England and it’s incredible how many people have no clue how they work!!
Linda Cassidy says
isn’t it crazy
Lady Gourmet says
Such an interesting post and very informative. It can get confusing for sure!
Linda Cassidy says
hopefully this helps
Ashley Rollins says
Admittedly, I am from an area where roundabouts are not common and so I panic a little bit when I see them! But this is such an informative post !
Linda Cassidy says
well thank you hopefully next time you see one you will be able to follow the route
kumamon jeng says
Roundabout can be confusing especially those big one with a numbers of exit. When I was on a road trip in UK, there are just so many roundabouts and it was pretty confusing too and we end up exiting wrong exit several times.
Linda Cassidy says
the signage is key I think
Coombe Mill (Fiona) says
My children are all around driving age and safety is very important. I have 3 now driving and 3 coming up to driving age. Roundabouts are a tricky one to get right but it is essential to understand them in England.
Linda Cassidy says
it truly is essential, honestly they are so much safer than the alternative
Staci says
I think everyone should read this, re-read it, and then read it again. I have always found roundabouts to be SUPER confusing. LOL
Linda Cassidy says
I hope this helped just a bit to make it less confusing
Nate says
The signs look crazy to me, lol. I can appreciate the diversity compared to the US.
Linda Cassidy says
it makes sense once you focus on the rules, I think. Or maybe it is the sign that makes it confusing
Heather Castillo says
The signs totally confuse me. They are very different from the signs here in the states.
Linda Cassidy says
I need to do a comparison between the two and see which makes more sense
DJ Reyes says
Nice. Thanks for sharing – Jojo R.
Linda Cassidy says
thanks
Cece says
An original and interesting insight that is hard to read on a blog.
Linda Cassidy says
interesting comment, I thought it was pretty straight forward.