DRIVERS have been left with their heads in a spin by a “comedy of errors” roundabout where they can’t even see the road signs, saying it makes “no sense”.
The bizarre junction has come under intense criticism after being built as part of a £20 million “improvement scheme” from the local council.
This roundabout in Basingstoke, Hampshire, has been dubbed ‘confusing’ and a ‘comedy of errors’Solent
Drivers have been left with their heads in a spin as traffic lights and even a bus stop block signageSolent
Others have claimed that the road markings make some exits inaccessibleSolent
Motorists passing through Basingstoke, Hampshire, have been warned to watch out for confusing signage that means some standard turns are “not doable”.
No fewer than 24 driving instructors have publically criticised the roundabout, which took two years to build and was intended to “make travel easier” in the area.
One of the main issues is the obstruction of signage, with sets of traffic lights, a bus stop and even other signs obscuring instructions to drivers.
Critics also claim that the “confusing” road markings force those using the roundabout to change lanes frequently and prevent them from driving normally.
One instructor, Stephen Sillitoe, even claimed that some of the signs were incorrect, making the South Ham district almost inaccessible from the roundabout.
He and the other instructors now only take students in three directions around the junction to avoid confusion.
He said: “The roundabout markings and signage make no sense and some turns are not doable.
“If qualified drivers don’t know how to navigate it how am I meant to teach a learner to?”
Mr Sillitoe has accused the council of failing to ensure the roundabout was properly installed and called on the authorities to fix it.
The 54-year-old added:”[The council] must have known or had an idea how the roundabout would work when they designed it and we need to know.
“We hope that if they explain this it will help highlight if the signage or road markings are wrong.
“If you just ignore the signs it works but if you follow the signs it doesn’t and I can’t teach learners to ignore the signs.”
Another instructor, who wished to remain anonymous, echoed his concerns, calling the roundabout a “comedy of errors”.
They said: “Some of the signs just aren’t clear and people don’t know what lane they need to be in.
“It’s just badly designed, the best thing they could have done is left it.
“I mean, who puts traffic lights on a roundabout? The whole point of a roundabout is to keep traffic flowing.”
Hampshire County Council has now announced that “planned works” to resolve the issues will commence on February 19.
This will include moving some important signs to “improve visibility” by placing them in a “more suitable location”.
A council spokesperson said: “We have discussed our plans for extra signage text and road markings with local driving test examiners, who support these changes.
“At a complex new junction such as this one, we always monitor closely to understand how drivers are responding to new arrangements.
“This enables us to further refine and optimise the signage to ensure that it supports the smooth running of the junction in the best possible way.
“The work will be done in the spring, when freezing temperatures have subsided, as road markings are best applied when there is no residual salt on the roads.”
More than 20 driving instructors have publically criticised the junctionSolent
One said he was left having to resist telling learners to ignore the signsSolent
The local council has announced that roadworks to improve the situation will be carried out from February 19Solent