Published: November 05, 2009 08:32 am      

Maybe roundabout won’t be so bad

If you’re concerned about the plan to build a roundabout on Chase Road, now is the time to speak up.  Before you get too upset, though, you might want to take a look at the advantages of this new-fangled option.

For one thing, it’s cheaper. Designers say building a roundabout will be about $50,000 cheaper than the alternative, which would be straightening out the intersection of Chase, Perrysburg and Davis roads.

For another thing, it’s safer. Rather than a traffic signal where motorists will inevitably hit the gas when the light turns yellow, a roundabout is designed to force drivers to slow down. And with slower speeds, the experts say, come less damage and fewer injuries.

And to top it all off, engineers say the proposed roundabout will handle more traffic than a traditional four-way intersection.

Of course, that doesn’t change the fact that roundabouts are different, and different can be scary.

The engineers say they understand the reluctance of local motorists to try something new, but they say they’ll have an informational campaign to fill folks in on the proper technique.

We’ll have to admit we’re a little skeptical about that. How do they propose to convince all of the clueless drivers to pay attention?

Some of us have experienced roundabouts in places like Carmel and even Kokomo, and we know that Kokomo’s roundabout hasn’t been a huge hit. Some of the problem apparently came in the design. Critics say it simply wasn’t big enough to handle the large buses that frequently travel that intersection.

But the biggest problem with roundabouts is the drivers. Some folks simply don’t know how to use them. They stay in the outside lane when they should be in the middle, and as a result, people in the middle lane have trouble getting to the outside in time to make their turn.

Many a novice has ended up making more than one lap around, and some veterans will tell you that a roundabout at rush hour is no place for the timid.

Still, we’re somewhat swayed by the arguments put forward by the designers. If they really can build an intersection that is both safer and less expensive, maybe Logansport should give it a try.

Of course, if you disagree, it’s not too late to say so. The deadline for public comments is Tuesday.