est. 2007

Barbados Underground

Bringing News and Opinions to the People

Drivers Beware At Darcy Scott Roundabout!

Barbadians who have reason to use the Darcy Scott Roundabout in Warrens do so with some trepidation. Although accidents have decreased in recent days, the number of times road markings have been changed by the Ministry of Transport suggests that it is a trial by error exercise. Here is the most recent communication issued by…

, , , , ,
Warrens area continues to be a concern to motorists

Barbadians who have reason to use the Darcy Scott Roundabout in Warrens do so with some trepidation. Although accidents have decreased in recent days, the number of times road markings have been changed by the Ministry of Transport suggests that it is a trial by error exercise.

Here is the most recent communication issued by Mike Williams, Communications Consultant to C.O. Williams Construction, the contractor responsible for the road works.

The takeaway from the communications issued by Mike Williams is to expect more changes at Warrens.

Drivers Beware!

29 responses to “Drivers Beware At Darcy Scott Roundabout!”

  1. MAX Avatar
    MAX

    I believe that the update to the east and west flows now make more sense.

    The issues I with the r/bout are the entrance and exist from the Industrial park and the CROSSINGS.

    I have foreseen what will be traffic nightmares when the r/bout at jackson/warrens is completed. If the road between the warrens roundabout and the new Jackson roundabout (know as Warrens bottom) is not equip with 4 lanes. be prepared for long delays.

  2. permres Avatar
    permres

    I have just looked at the map of the road markings for the “D’Arcy Scott Traffic Flow Illustration From Eastern Leg” and I observe an error, I think.

    The general rule for roundabouts on the two-lane highway continuing through its full length is that both lanes can be used to go straight on (second exit at a four road junction). Of course we stay in our lane (left or right) as we go around the roundabout, it is not a good idea to change lanes on the roundabout, but certainly to signal left for exiting.

    Throughout the world, roundabouts are the safest of road junctions once drivers have learnt to use them correctly, and they keep all traffic moving, albeit slowly (and what is wrong with the slowing down at a junction?)

    Following the blue line of traffic on this illustration, it appears that as a motorist approaches the roundabout, the first arrow on the surface of his lane indicates straight on, as might be expected from the general rule. However, he/she is then told that this lane (the blue line) is for a left turn only (second exit on this roundabout).

    Sticking to this “second exit” rule, then the arrows on the road seem OK, but the first one clearly shows “straight ahead” which might be considered to be the third exit (Highway 2). Staying on the blue line then, the arrow changes from “straight ahead” to a half-left, and the driver might think they are in the wrong lane, and attempt to change to the outside lane for “straight ahead”.

    That first arrow (just on the edge of the map) should also be a “half left only” arrow, I think, so that drivers have plenty of warning to get into the correct lane.

    Going around Hyde Park Corner in London UK, or the Place Charles de Gaulle in Paris, it is easy to get into the wrong lane, and with many drivers being considerate (not always!) it is possible to change lanes even on the “roundabout”, and I trust Bajan drivers will understand when this occurs. I have found most of them are very considerate, especially towards tourists. God bless you all.

  3. X Avatar
    X

    what a spectacular mess; I wonder what the pricetag is? such a pity that petty politics prevented all the flyovers when this one was/is so badly needed.

  4. road blocked Avatar
    road blocked

    i agree warrens is a transport mess, about the cost at least paint is cheap. I must confess to being a fan of MTW but i am glad they are trying different options and not stcking pigheadedly to the first choice which is the norrm in barbados. the ability to admit that things are not working as planned and make amendments to improve as best as possible is a sign of maturity that has finally visited the caribbean. lets rejoice and hope that it works out. i also believe that the government must take responsibility for the mess in warrens as in 1988 when the ABC highway first ran through there and plans were identified in the development plan to build a new “city” there there was mostly bush there, a proper road network shold have been planned. it is cheaper to buy bush land for planning purposes than to do so when there is a building on it.

  5. road blocked Avatar
    road blocked

    opps, not being a fan of MTW.

  6. permres Avatar
    permres

    Well, I just Googled “roundabouts” and there as so much there. The history, the types, and their occurrance world-wide. Not least, of course, their safety record (better than traffic lights and stop signs), the slowing down of traffic yet keeping the flow in all directions, their low cost maintenance and comparative low cost construction.

    Flyovers are not needed unless there is a requirement for unimpeded flow along a major route. The only major route in Barbados fitting this bill is GAIA to the West Coast, therefore flyovers would only benefit the upper classes. Locals must accept that to travel the north-south route to avoid Bridgetown then roundabouts are the economical best buy. We are not a developed country constructing motorways.

    Coming back to roundabouts and my Google search, I quickly noticed that roundabouts, when introduced anywhere in the world, although it took the local population to get used to them and learn how to use them, the surveys show that now they are preferred.

  7. David Avatar
    David

    Is it conceivable after paying out millions to 3S for termination of contract, millions to remodel Warrens that a BLP government would implement their idea of a flyover? The result more millions spent? Could this occur?

  8. road blocked Avatar
    road blocked

    Anything is possible with a politician. i understand flyovers cost about 10 times that of a road on the ground, therefore it is reasonable that we couuld equate about 10 roundabluts for the cost of one fly over. Well maybe 8 to be on the safe side. there is also a higher maintenance cost as you are not only dealing with a pothole but the possibility of it collapsing. can heir cost be justified? clearly as a last resort only.

  9. Hants Avatar
    Hants

    David “BLP government would implement their idea of a flyover?”

    Yes they would. In Canada we call it a “make work project”.

  10. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    Interesting to note that the instructions are currently written on the road (which people drive over before they can read them)…

    Rather than on road signs (which no one reads anyway)….

  11. David Avatar
    David

    The document embedded in the blog speaks to overhead signs which are in the pipeline.

  12. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @David: “The document embedded in the blog speaks to overhead signs which are in the pipeline.

    Come soon. Come soon?

  13. A Customer Avatar
    A Customer

    A Customer.What I have seen recently is that motorist coming from the Everton Weeks roundabout going south or to the Darcy Scott Roundabout are coming around this roundabout in the left lane or outer lane and making a right turn to go towards Redmans Welches direction.I had a near miss only this week when I was in the right lane going in this direction and this driver was on my left as I was about to change to the left lane to turn into Clermont and I had to give way to him to avoid an accident

  14. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Eventually we may have to do what was done at the Mottley Roundabout,( not the present Mia & Owen one),but the one previous in place at the bottom of Bishop Courts Hill which was subsequently demolished and replaced with traffic lights.

  15. The Scout Avatar
    The Scout

    All I’m hearing is that bajan drivers would eventually get to understand the round-about. This is true but what about the vistors/tourists who drive? I thought things would have been made easier but it seems this government knows very well how to complicate matters. Fly-overs would have costed the government fat less and they would have been less complicated.

  16. permres Avatar
    permres

    There is absolutely nothing wrong with roundabouts! Please Google “roundabouts” and learn something.

    The problem stems from the people using them.

    I was most impressed when I came to Barbados in 1996 how the consideration for vehicles trying to leave a gap onto a main road was predominent, very often motorists would stop on the “main” road and let out the driver waiting, left or right. This was after my 30 years driving in the UK.

    Regrettably, this courtesy was not apparent at roundabouts, I noticed. It seemed as if the devil in us all had taken over, and because the drivers thought that smooth, speedier access through the junction would be available, their courtesy seemed to go out of the window.

  17. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    permres | February 1, 2012 at 12:03 PM |
    There is absolutely nothing wrong with roundabouts! Please Google “roundabouts” and learn something.

    The problem stems from the people using them.
    ************************************************************************************
    Quite agree with you. But after 42 years of being exposed to roundabouts, our drivers has yet to grasp how to use them correctly. Part of the problem stems from poor driver training ,and the reluctance of the MOT to educate the public via the media, or “town hall meetings”. Many drivers, as you are aware do not know the significance of single or double yellow lines, and apparently the Ministry of Transport, who erect bus stops next to double yellow lines.
    If a publication may be described as a “Worst Seller”, then in Barbados that honour goes to the Barbados Highway Code.

  18. Checkit-Out Avatar
    Checkit-Out

    IslandGal and Colonel Buggy. I saw a car ahead of me in the roundabout this afternoon turning right onto oncoming traffic from the rightmost lane this afternoon (ie. entering the roundabout to go anti-clockwise). That sign at the entrance is dangerous for persons not accustomed to roundabouts. The right arrow should be removed in the next set of changes as it actually serves no purpose.

  19. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @Checkit-Out: “That sign at the entrance is dangerous for persons not accustomed to roundabouts. The right arrow should be removed in the next set of changes as it actually serves no purpose.

    Or, perhaps, the signage should be more accurate.

    If you’re wishing to turn right, you have to go towards, but left around, the round-about (in the right most lane) until you are at your desired exit. Then you just exit (since anyone in the round-about has right-of-way), and hope no one hits you as you do so.

    Sounds complicated.

    It is, and it isn’t….

  20. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    Checkit-Out | February 3, 2012 at 4:38 PM |

    IslandGal and Colonel Buggy. I saw a car ahead of me in the roundabout this afternoon turning right onto oncoming traffic from the rightmost lane this afternoon (ie. entering the roundabout to go anti-clockwise).

    Did you stop and check out the driver to see if he or she were a visitor or a local?

  21. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @All… And now let’s talk about the logic of have the Warren’s Chefette, Shell and KFC in-feed (and out-feed) block the south lane out of the Darcy Scott Roundabout.

    Can anyone say “Stupid”?

  22. David Avatar
    David

    @Chris

    Not sure why you are underestimating those with deep pockets and the influence they wield on the political class.

  23. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    The public should know that they have to keep left as they approach a roundabout. There should be keep left signs to the approach.

  24. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @David: “Not sure why you are underestimating those with deep pockets and the influence they wield on the political class.

    Not sure I am.

    I’m trained in the sciences.

    I ask questions with complete disregard to where said questions lead…

  25. Checkit-Out Avatar
    Checkit-Out

    Islandgal246;

    I couldn’t stop, there were a lot of people behind me and I am actually quite scared of being on that roundabout. But there were a few clues that the driver was probably local. The license plates were local, it was not a Hired car. The driver hesitated for quite a while even though no one was coming towards him/her at the time before turning right, then a few cars came towards him and stopped, i presume to allow him/her to safely exit back up the road towards redman’s village (as he had proceeded quite far in an anticlockwise direction on the roundabout).

    I suspect it was someone who was not familiar with roundabouts (the long hesitation before actually turning right suggests that it was not a typical speeding roundabout “hidiot”). Perhaps it was a senior citizen who had a temporary memory lapse, but it could also have been a visitor who had been loaned a car by local family or otherwise. In any case, I am sticking to my view that the sign would have contributed to the strange manouvre.

  26. Christopher Halsall Avatar
    Christopher Halsall

    @CO: “In any case, I am sticking to my view that the sign would have contributed to the strange manouvre.

    That would be funny; if it wasn’t so sad….

  27. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    slandgal246 | February 3, 2012 at 6:08 PM |
    The public should know that they have to keep left as they approach a roundabout. There should be keep left signs to the approach.
    ************************************************************************************
    Checking the approach to many of our roundabouts recently, I’ve noticed that the International road sign, which denotes direction of traffic flow around the roundabout are not in place .The large map type directional signs provided on approach at our roundabouts , do not clearly indicate to road users the direction of traffic flow. The international roundabout road sign is especially useful as a reminder for drivers visiting from those countries which drive on the opposite side of the road,as well as for us country folk who do not come into town too often.
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/27392491@N02/2684511503/
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/27392491@N02/2684511503/

  28. Colonel Buggy Avatar
    Colonel Buggy

    Ooops! this is the other Roundabout road sign..
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/_radim/5044985664/

    Blue indicates that the roundabout conforms to international standards,while the red denotes that the roundabout have some local peculiarities, (i.e, we have done our own thing) which all of our roundabouts fall under.

  29. David Avatar
    David

    The fact that the number of accidents have drastically reduced of late speaks to the fact that our people need to be educated on how to use the roundabout. The view does not mean there is no room for tweaking the design/markings etc.

Leave a Reply to XCancel reply

Trending

Discover more from Barbados Underground

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading