What if you don’t know it’s a roundabout?

It may seem like I’m are beating a dead horse on safety issues on the Jeremy and Pinebrook roundabouts. However, the Park Rag continues to point out issues because they may be heard and maybe improvements will be made.

With that in mind, a friend of ours was driving last night in the roundabout and encountered a driver going the wrong way. Her comment was informative. “If you know it’s a roundabout and you are somewhat competent, you will likely do the right thing. However, what if you don’t know it’s a roundabout?”

Her comment was enlightening. This morning, I drove from the Jeremy side and underneath I-80. At that point, the road goes left and right. I imagined it as if it was dark, or snowing as it sometimes does in the winter, and what if you didn’t see the Keep Right sign? If you didn’t know it was a roundabout, you’d likely go left toward the I-80 on-ramp. That, of course, is the wrong direction.

I could see myself making that mistake if I was unfamiliar with the intersection. If say, I was visiting for Christmas or New Years or Sundance or President’s Day.

We have a long winter ahead of us and lots of opportunities for a mistake. That mistake will cost someone thousands of dollars and could cost them their life if they meet up with a construction vehicle.

I have been in meetings with Public Works personnel and I think between Kilby Road Curves and these roundabouts they are tired of hearing about it. They give off the impression that the public is just over-sensitive and everything is OK.

It’s not.

If something goes really bad, some lawyer is going to find negligence in the actions of leadership. They are going to dig up the 30+ reports of issues with the roundabouts (so far). That liability claim may go past Summit County and to the individuals directly responsible for the negligence. The “corporate veil” will be pierced.

If that doesn’t incent individuals in the county to try harder on this, then I’m not sure what will.