The experience of Americans attempting to navigate a roundabout in town for the first time can be described as a nightmarish scenario.

If the mere thought of roundabouts induces anxiety, witnessing footage of Americans attempting to navigate one for the first time might make you contemplate giving up driving altogether.

Firstly, it's worth noting that roundabouts do exist in America, albeit less commonly than in the UK. However, a video has surfaced that portrays them as incredibly complex:

To be fair, roundabouts can be stressful, especially when dealing with multiple lanes. Rarely, though, have I witnessed such chaos on a small stretch of road.

This particular roundabout was installed at a junction in Rowan County, Kentucky, with authorities likely not anticipating the level of difficulty observed in the video.

The footage, captured by Walker Construction, shows cars taking incorrect exits or even going the wrong way around the roundabout. It's a challenge for machinery to appear confused, but after watching the video, the sentiment becomes clear.

Given the havoc caused by the roundabout, local drivers expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the previous four-way stop junction worked perfectly.

To be fair, their point is valid, especially considering the evident confusion surrounding the use of the new junction.

This roundabout marked the first installation in northeastern Kentucky, prompting a local resident named Jason Whisman to comment: "It's going to throw them for a loop. A complete 360. No doubt about it."

Another driver added, "I'm sure that it's going to take them a while to get used to it, but once they get used to it, I'm sure it's going to work very well."

Walker Construction clarified that they shared the video with the intention of educating people on how not to use a roundabout, making it a valuable resource for that purpose.

As per information from the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), the installation of the roundabout was motivated by its proven safety benefits compared to other types of junctions, especially in busy areas with high daily traffic volume.

A transportation official stated to local news, "We're exploring a solution to mitigate the severity of accidents that have been a recurring issue at this intersection."

Data from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reveals that roundabouts contribute to a 38 percent reduction in overall crashes and a remarkable 90 percent decrease in fatal or incapacitating crashes. This significant improvement is attributed to the reduction of head-on or T-bone collisions.

Additionally, roundabouts are considered environmentally friendly, as they minimize the need for cars to come to a complete stop or start frequently during use.

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