Ranting About The Roundabout

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Story Published: May 5, 2008 at 6:06 PM PST

By Holly Zuluaga

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RICHLAND--It's one of the busiest roundabouts in our region.

You've told us it's dangerous, and even a state trooper told us he's almost been hit at the Richland at the intersection.

Action News decided to find out if it's really a problem.

"It's just chaos," Jennifer Hughes said.

Drivers aren't all on board with this traffic circle, especially the two lanes.

"I don't think people know how to use them," Hughes said.

Jennifer Hughes works on Steptoe and uses the roundabout at least twice a day.

"Every day I see accident that almost occur," Hughes says.

Jennifer says she tenses up every time she approaches it.

"When I go in there I'm cautious, and that's because people on the inside lane are always cutting in front of the outside lane," Hughes said.

That seemed to be the big concern from most drivers, people getting cut off!

"I feel like it's dangerous but it's really my only option," Hughes said.

As you get closer, there are signs showing you which lane to use depending on where you want to go.

But roundabout riders say those signs are confusing.

"I think a solution would be the signage, and giving more education. I don't even know how to use the darn thing. I think it’s a problem," Hughes said.

She isn't the only one regretting the roundabout.

" I think it's a huge accident waiting to happen," Cindy Diamond said.

But is perception really reality?

Action news called up Washington State Patrol to see what they think.

They pulled the records and found there have been eleven accidents in the roundabout over the past six months, and half of those happened just in the month of March.

Sergeant Zach Elmore told me that's more than most intersections, but this spot also sees more cars than most intersections. So those numbers aren't very high.

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