The Magic Roundabout: Swindon's Terrifying Traffic Circle and Emergent Behaviour

[UntakenNick]

It would be nice to have a drone film the whole group in a rush hour..

[Gleamiarts]

Imagine doing your driving test there.

[antoinefantoine]

"I'm in Swindon" OH MY GOD TOM i'M SO SORRY

[notdaveschannel]

2 ways to tell a native Swindonian. 1. They can drive across the Magic Roundabout at rush-hour without a second thought but can't explain how. 2. They can see a sign saying "Dick Lovett" without giggling.

[Nimmo]

"I'm in Swindon..." You have my condolences.

[hahanamegobrrr]

"place a roundabout"
"okay"
"and another one"
"wait wh-"
"and another one"
"sir what are you saying-"
"and another one"
"sir i don't think this is a great idea-"
"and another one"
"sir stop it please"
"make all 5 roundabouts a roundabout"
"...okay"

[johnsixfiveohtwo]

The first time I came across that roundabout, I drove clockwise around the central circle, causing consternation and terror to all. I never got used to it, and learned to hate driving. And Swindon. Sorry Swindon.

[jamesharmer]

I think there's another one in Hemel Hempstead. I've heard that it drastically reduced the accident rate by making everyone really scared, so they paid more attention to what they were doing...

[Fedaykin]

Wow, I once drove on the magic Roundabout by accident having never heard of it. I was on a business trip and had to come off into Swindon to get petrol. I found myself on the magic roundabout and it nearly blew my mind!

As it happened my then house mate was a transport research engineer and I mentioned it to him at the pub that evening. He said "You found the magic roundabout...weird isn't it"!

[verdiss]

But as they spin do the cars change colors based on their angles?

[Larry]

There was another Magic Roundabout in Hemel Hempstead, until they built a massive Debenhams on it destroying the circle.

And there was a bizarre mini double roundabout near Ruislip. That's gone too,   but was an experiment.

[Saltoric]

Hemel Hempstead also has a 5 roundabout Magic Roundabout. Its usually got more traffic than the one you showed in Swindown though but it is efficient.

[alexwales]

Calling Swindon a city is sensitive subject

[TheChipmunk]

Roundabouts are SO much better for traffic than traffic lights/give-way(yield)/stop signs.. So our local council is putting traffic lights on the roundabouts. :\

[hamnchee]

I heard they dropped an atomic bomb on Swindon.
About 15 quid worth of damage.

[raykent]

This might mlidly amuse some: near me there's a road junction called "le rondpoint" (= roundabout). My 83 year old neighbour says it has always been a simple crossroads, no roundabout.

[intimidator]

I used to live in Swindon and call my self a swindonian as I was born there. And this truly is terrifying to look at but once you drive over it it makes perfect sense, it is as simple as point and go.

[linusavogadro]

"You don't need advanced driving skills"
Literally as the truck is driving over the median. 1:10

[xenosmoke]

You can actually buy T-Shirts that say “I survived the Magic Roundabout” with a picture of the road sign as the art.

[HeyLaserLips]

It's really not that daunting at all when you're actually on it compared to seeing it from the sky. It's the same rules as any other roundabout. Just give way to your right. Several time over. xD