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Roundabouts in liphook square - J Smith (5th Jan 2014 - 15:46:41) Why is it that indicating at these roundabouts seem optional. I have never seen any thing like it in the 15 years that i have been driving! We have to quess which direction you are going and then get a pomping from your car horns because our mind reading capability got it wrong! Another thing is that i start work early and there are a lot of people who think that they are the only ones on the road and can ignore give way signs at junctions, ignore traffic lights and do what ever speed you like. If you want to kill yourselves go ahead but spare a thought for those of us who want to live a little bit longer, and do not over take on a blind bend especially when the other side of the road is flooded! If you are running late for work try setting your alarms earlier!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Sue (5th Jan 2014 - 16:56:32) Well said. Can I also add TURN YOUR DIPPED HEADLIGHTS ON IN ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS. As stated in the Highway Code.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (5th Jan 2014 - 17:15:12) Very true, although I had to hoot someone today who may have thought I wasn't indicating. When I turn right from the Headley Road into Longmoor Road my indicator flicks off if I negotiate the roundabout properly. I have to flick it back on again but went for the horn instead today as the car coming from the square kept encroaching onto the roundabout towards me. My inficator had flashed at least 4 times before it flicked off though...

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - J Smith (5th Jan 2014 - 18:15:40) It is so frustrating that the 3 roundabouts in one small village can be so difficault for others to understand but the highway code does apply for Liphook too! I agree with you about headlights, the other day there was thick fog and the car in front and behind me didn't have one light on. Be more considerate for others whilst driving.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - wendy (5th Jan 2014 - 22:32:18) And just to clarify the white circle in the middle of the roundabout is meant to be driven Round not over.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Rob (6th Jan 2014 - 11:43:49) Also with the road works on Headley Road, you should not block the roundabout waiting for the lights to change!!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Antoinette (6th Jan 2014 - 11:51:35) I was beginning to think I was getting this roundabout thing wrong on Friday evening as I drove up Portsmouth Road past the pub, indicated to turn right into London Road, drove around the white circle...and a white pick-up truck passed me on the right and whizzed off down London Road. Thank you for the confirmation I was doing it right after all.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Mike (6th Jan 2014 - 18:46:19) I cant stand the dip sticks (Car Related LOL) that dont bother looking right when coming up the London road to the square. I also get rather upset with peoples lack of brains when parking their cars in Headley Road, a part of it 300 yards of having to try and over take with people not slowing down to allow you time to move in to the space. Not indicating is also part of my anger, I look after my car and ensure that all the lights are working. When I mean all lights I mean to include tail, indicators and headlights. Why cant people just make sure BOTH headlights are working... one headlight can be a danger to not only my car and passengers but also to others, whom in which may be come part of an accident.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Louise (7th Jan 2014 - 17:35:37) The painted spots - so called roundabouts , in Liphook have to be the worst highway design I have ever come across. The give way lines are clearly too near the actual 'roundabout' which seem to be ignored by the majority of drivers and I have lost count of the number of cars I have seen go 'the wrong way round' while turning right into Midhurst road without so much as an indicator working . How long will it be before there is a serious head on collision ? After all the public money recently spent on the roads in central Liphook one would think that the line marking and white spots could have been done in a far better manner. Has the highway staff monitored the new layout? Perhaps the parish council could pursue this matter with the appropriate authority

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Susie (7th Jan 2014 - 19:42:37) I can't believe that no one has mentioned the clowns who when turning left into Longmoor Road, from the roundabout, drive down the wrong side of the road to cut the corner. It's not that tricky to follow a bit of a curve!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Jen (8th Jan 2014 - 14:45:23) This is a subject long overdue for discussion. Every time I drive through the centre of Liphook I seem to have a "near miss". I second many of the comments already made above. Many people seem to be unaware of the Highway Code with regard to mini-roundabouts and signalling. Yes, you are meant to drive round the circles not across them or - as I have seen - go round the wrong way. The worst problems seem to be at the northern roundabout - are people scared Sainsburys may have run out of food? Also there seems to be an incorrect belief held by some drivers driving on the north/south route, i.e. to and from Haslemere Road, that their route has right of way! Some driving southwards make no attempt to slow down at all. And yes drivers need to give way from the right - but not to vehicles 50 yards away still on Haslemere Road. These roundabouts have always been an issue but the problems have greatly increased since the re-surfacing and re-marking carried out last summer. As previously suggested I would also hope that the Parish Council ask the Highway Authority to examine the road markings at the roundabouts. Not sure about the use of north and south in the above. Haslemere Road is roughly West to East, and the northern most roundabout is near the Green Dragon. The 'Sainsburys' roundabout is actually the most Southern of the three.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Karen Wilson (8th Jan 2014 - 16:07:36) Totally agree with everything said. I live on the Longmoor Road and quite honestly don't know how half the drivers ever passed their test. No consideration for other road users or pedestrians. I leave early too and am disgusted in the lack of indication. I also walk my dog around 5.15 and drivers do not have the consideration to even stop for me at the zebra crossing. As you say get up a bit earlier and have a safer journey into work. Think of others not yourselves for once!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Peter (8th Jan 2014 - 22:20:04) I would suggest all concerned write/contact the County Councillor for Liphook, Ferris Cowper and express their concerns. He has the ability to liaise with Hampshire Highways and perhaps could enable a dialogue to be started.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Drives Me Mad (9th Jan 2014 - 12:28:58) Agree with all comments. I turn into Headley Road from London Road in the mornings - no point going up Tower Road as it is basically a car park (my complaints about school traffic, parking and general ignorance of oncoming traffic with obstructions on their side who don't give way have been ignored by the way). The number of people who block my entrance onto the roundabout because their exit is not clear is, well, unfortunately completely believable for the attitude of most Liphook drivers. You do not enter a roundabout if your exit is not clear. Then the lovely Longmoor Roaders assume that they are psychic and that I am going down Longmoor Road and pull out in front of me. Aside from that at non rush hour times there are an alarming number of people who don't even seem to hesitate when coming from the Headley Road and just carry on straight onto the roundabout without slowing down. How they can see if anything is on their right to give way to is beyond me. Can you image what it will be like if all of these new houses are built. I don't think anyone in the Square will move for days at a time even if a new road around the back of Bohunt is built.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - iwik61 (9th Jan 2014 - 12:39:29) agree with all the comments but does anyone agree that having two ped. crossing next to each other compounds the problem as people just walk out without waiting so therefore the drivers are not always the problem.The traffic does not flow as it should do.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (9th Jan 2014 - 13:26:11) Drives Me Mad is making up his/her own rules. There is nothing in the Highway Code about not entering a roundabout unless your exit is clear - that would clog up the traffic even further! As everyone knows, you should not enter the roundabout if traffic already on the roundabout is approaching from your right. This effectively gives everyone their turn. The problem with traffic coming out of the Headley Rd is that it often expects to have right of way over traffic which has come from the London Rd. but is already on the roundabout - keen observation and some patience needed!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Peter (9th Jan 2014 - 16:12:25) Sorry am I missing something. the roundabouts look exactly the same as before the resurfacing and the problems have always been here ever since the roundabouts were introduced. It is correct to give way to the right but you often see people speeding up and aiming their cars at the person going for a perfectly acceptable gap and promptly sounding the horn. I've never actually seen a car go 'round them' anyway. Good luck asking Ferris Cowper and the parish council for help!!!!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Peter (9th Jan 2014 - 23:11:07) So people are not able to go round roundabouts properly, so what if all 3 roundabouts were to be replaced with traffic lights? That would solve that problem. Then we could all moan about the traffic lights clogging up the traffic and making it impossible to get through the centre to the train station or Sainsburys.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Janet (10th Jan 2014 - 06:27:37) Roundabouts only work for light traffic. When there is congestion they are hopelessly inadequate. This is why many larger roundabouts now have traffic lights on them. Liz, is it not so that drivers shouldn't obstruct the roundabout? If someone enters it when it's going to cause gridlock, they prevent other traffic from exiting and everything is at a standstill. The sight lines from the Headley Road are quite good, so it is possible to simply slow down, rather than stop, then proceed if nothing approaching from the right. That can make it pretty unnerving for drivers turning right into Headley Road from London Road, as the sight lines there are very restricted and cars can appear to pop out of nowhere. Caution advised! "Drives me Mad", why would the people waiting in Longmoor Road assume you were going straight on and pull out in front of you - unless of course you weren't indicating right?

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (10th Jan 2014 - 10:12:23) Janet. What you say is incorrect. If people are sure to give way to the right there will not be gridlock. I agree the sightlines from the Headley Rd are good but that does not give you priority over traffic on the London Rd that has already moved onto the roundabout before you got there - but you do have priority over the next car that is not on the roundabout yet. Perhaps it is you who beeps people for supposedly 'blocking' when they are only taking their turn!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - A. Ryan (10th Jan 2014 - 11:33:57) Basically the only real problem we have here is people either NOT indicating or not indicating in advance What is wrong with letting drivers know which way you will be going. If one can see the signals of the three or four cars leading up to the roundabout you can see when to take your chance. It is the ones that decide to indicate once they get to the roundabout that cause the trouble, as you have to stop and wait to see which way they will go. As for road markings I see no problem, we all know you give way to the car on the right, so there is no excuse. As for going "around" the roundabouts, well some entrances to them are more difficult than others. From the Haslemere Road going towards the Anchor you can not get round that without your back right wheel from going over it, or turning right into the Haslemere Road from Sainsburys, again you end up going over it, so I find that comment slightly churlish. As for blocking the roundabout... I feel patience during the morning would help. If you turn right from the Longmoor Road, when you start, your exit might be clear, but when the pedestrian crossing is being used, cars will then stop which means a car exiting will not be able to clear the roundabout. People should help each other by allowing each other to feed in and around the roundabouts, if you don\'t then some exits can be impossible to get out of in the morning . Also be aware that we have children to add to the mix twice daily , so caution and patience would be good. On Jersey they have a "filter in turn" system on some roundabouts, so people on the right do not have "right of way" you have to merge one car from each direction at a time.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (10th Jan 2014 - 13:08:26) Liz - you're wrong, if I understand what you have said correctly. If there is heavy traffic on the London Road and through the square (which is quite common at rush hour) then you should not enter the roundabout until there is room to exit it on the square - assuming you're going in this direction. Otherwise, you will unnecessarily prevent a driver coming along the Headley from turning right via the roundabout onto the Longmoor road. You would be causing an entirely unnecessary blockage to the other vehicle when all you needed to do was wait for the exit of the roundabout to be clear before you enter it. Whilst I agree that this is not mentioned in the highway code, I think it's precisely this sort of "me first, me first!" driving attitude that is responsible for most of the driving frustrations we all encounter on a daily basis. And it causes unnecessary congestion on the square.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (10th Jan 2014 - 14:17:08) Andy I disagree. If I were approaching from the London Rd and there was no traffic approaching from the right I would pull onto the roundabout even if the exit was not clear. If not of course I would wait. Put another way, if the car in front of me pulled onto the roundabout as nothing from the right, then traffic was approaching from the Headley Rd I would have to give way - no grid lock - just a reasonable flow of traffic which is what roundabouts are designed for.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (10th Jan 2014 - 14:41:48) Liz - So, if you arrive at the roundabout and the exit to the square is not clear but there is nothing coming from the Headley Road, you will pull onto the roundabout and sit there. Then, if a car subsequently arrives from the Headley Road, the fact that you are blocking his / her progress to the Longmoor road is justified because you were there first? I would be surprised if many people would agree with this. I would expect to be hooted or flashed for this inconsiderate behaviour if I were you.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - malex (10th Jan 2014 - 15:36:07) Liz, I think you are one of the problems here. If the exit is not clear what is the point of pulling onto the roundabout - regardless whether you have right of way or not - if you cant leave the roundabout. Perhaps someone coming from another direction (who doesn't have right of way) could enter and exit the roundabout quickly and easily. Sounds like a case of the 'me first, me first' mentioned in this thread.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (10th Jan 2014 - 16:50:11) I am making the assumption that the traffic in the square is not completely locked up solid - then of course I would hold back. Otherwise I am just taking my turn. If not, each time there is a space on the Square side of the roundabout it would be filled by traffic from my right which has priority, I have to move when there is a gap in the traffic if it is busy. As for the rest I don't think you read the second part of my comment properly. Been in Liphook a long time and so far never been 'beeped' on the roundabouts here (or elsewhere for that matter) - there's always a first time I suppose!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - tony (10th Jan 2014 - 18:21:19) I agree with Liz. If you have a gap please move off! Just don't do it unless you can leave space to clear the exits for crossing traffic. Put another way, don't block exits, but do block entrances. Simple really. And indicate too, of course (that's the highway code). Maybe we need signs to remind people. As for traffic lights, believe me, you will hate them more than roundabouts as they are on 24/7, day or night, whether there is anyone else on the road or not. There is nothing worse than racing for the lights on an empty road, only for them to turn red seconds before you get there. And separate lights on all three roundabouts???

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - A. Ryan (10th Jan 2014 - 20:53:43) Hmmm, Now we know where the problem lies. Andy and malex seem to have a problem with filtering on to the roundabouts. Liz and Tony, you are right , to keep traffic flowing as I said in my previous post, helping one filter on to the roundabout makes good driving and keeps the traffic moving. Traffic lights would be a nightmare!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Janet (10th Jan 2014 - 23:11:25) I still contend that the real problem is that roundabouts are inadequate in heavy traffic. Traffic lights would be more appropriate.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (10th Jan 2014 - 23:13:34) A.Ryan. That isn't what I said at all. You should not pull onto the roundabout if the exit isn't clear and you cause a blockage to other drivers. It is selfish, inconsiderate and poor driving and causes unnecessary congestion. I haven't mentioned filtering.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Jen (11th Jan 2014 - 12:21:42) From the amount of comments it is clear that people feel very strongly about this subject. Of course one of the main problems is weight of traffic but we can't do anything about that. The other main problem is that people are too impatient. As mentioned above some drivers don't want to slow down at all and then hoot if you dare to already be on the roundabout. Traffic lights would be a disaster - and don't forget they have an ongoing running cost that we would have to pay for. The comment regarding pedestrian crossings I find quite sad - this is a difficult area to drive in but also extremely difficult for pedestrians and that includes children walking to and from school and elderly people.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Ian (11th Jan 2014 - 16:36:55) I work in offices that overlook these roundabouts and everyday I see impatience, intolerance and incompetence. With the increase in traffic I suspect there will be no solution unless human nature changes. However the most shocking sight I see is the incredible number of drivers who negotiate these roundabouts whilst using a mobile phone, utterly disgraceful!!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - A. Ryan (11th Jan 2014 - 19:03:32) Andy In most circumstances you are right about not entering the roundabout when the exit is not clear, but these are not the most easiest of roads to navigate onto.The London Road entrance to the roundabout is one that you do need to filter in to, if you don\'t you will sit there all day, as the traffic from Longmoor and Headley Road is constant in the morning. Also from the old Portsmouth road, taking your chance usually fits in with someone on the pedestrian crossing. This is why due diligence and patience are needed. Nothing is black or white here, If all drivers indicated leading to the roundabout everyone could plan their move and keep the traffic flowing. What we have here are lazy, bad and impatient drivers,turning the rest of us into cross and frustrated drivers. We all took our test with the same rules, so let us apply them, as the alternative of traffic lights is too unbearable to think about.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - RH (11th Jan 2014 - 22:21:40) Please remember all those drivers of Chelsea tractors who have everything done for them. Keyless go do not have to fumble with a key , auto box, lights that turn themselves on and off, wipers which start when it rains, interior mirror which dips itself, cruise control which prevents them getting too close to the car in front, automatic reverse parking at the kerb side, seats program to their own setting,and sat nav which tells them where to go. Does it not operate the indicators as well? Oh dear I expect they thought it did, and now you expect me to stick my finger out and operate that little stalk behind the wheel. How will I ever manage.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (12th Jan 2014 - 09:11:30) A.Ryan - i understand what you're saying but it bears no relevance to the point I am trying to make. I think you're talking about the rush hour whereas I'm talking about normal, flowing traffic but when the square itself gets busy. In your scenario, if you filter into the roundabout when the exit is not free you're simply taking your turn. In my example, if you enter the roundabout when the exit is not free then you are unnecessarily blocking traffic flow to the other roundabout exits. I tend not to experience the former, as I travel through Liphook before rush hour. The latter, though, is a common (once or twice a month for me) occurence at weekends or during the main part of the day.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Peter (14th Jan 2014 - 21:34:02) Rules for the roundabout: 1 Do not give any indication as to when you will enter the roundabout 2 Do not give any indication as to where you will exit 3 It helps to have your headlights on full beam when its dark 4 If by entering the roundabout you make it full, claim an extra point 5 When on the roundabout do not make eye contact with any other driver of a vehicle who could enter the roundabout 6 Give way once in a while, it will confuse the hell out of them 7 Go a different route, especially if you use the roundabout at the same time every day 8 Wait to ensure there are no other vehicles in sight on any other entrance before entering the roundabout 9 Always give way even if its your right of way 10 If you have a lorry it doesn't really matter what you do Enjoy

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Sue (15th Jan 2014 - 12:38:39) 10 out of 10 Peter

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Mike G (15th Jan 2014 - 14:05:06) Quick, perhaps rhetorical, question. There is a car waiting to enter the roundabout from Midhurst Rd. intending to exit on Haslemere Rd. At the same time there is a car from the Square intending to exit on Midhurst Rd. Also there is car from Haslemere Rd. intending to exit onto the Square. All are indicating right as they all wish to skip an exit. Who has right of way to move first?

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Sam K (15th Jan 2014 - 14:40:43) Mike G...the most courageous one LOL !!!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (15th Jan 2014 - 14:43:22) Erm..... Theoretically no-one if they all arrived at exactly the same time? Doesn't help that problem, but traffic from Haslemere Rd towards the Square would only indicate right if it intended to turn into the garage.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Debbie (15th Jan 2014 - 14:54:36) From experience Mike who ever breaks the deadlock and moves first, it's like a gun fight at the O.K. Corral!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Andy (15th Jan 2014 - 15:27:39) Liz or A. Ryan is the answer. ;-)

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - A. Ryan (15th Jan 2014 - 18:16:36) Had such a scenario about half an hour ago. Guess what, I lost out this time... next time they wont be so lucky. Liz I agree with most of what you say, but I have to say you should indicate right from Haslemere Road going to the square. By doing so it does not cause confusion.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - godric (16th Jan 2014 - 10:17:09) It is obvious the new designs of the roundabouts in Liphook are fundementally WRONG. Accepting the general motorist is impatient etc etc the difficulties in negotiating 3 roundabouts in close proximity was not such a problem before the roadworks. Surely the parish council should be taking this up in order to get something done about it - and I don't mean 3 months of taxpayers money being wasted on traffic counts ? This is a satellite image of the roundabouts before the roadworks - can some one confirm what is actually different now ?

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - dawn (16th Jan 2014 - 11:03:30) The Parish Council do not have powers or finances regarding 'Highways'. The County Council do this. That is one step above 'District' council and two steps above 'Parish' council. If you would like to speak to Ferris Cowper the County Councillor for Liphook, he regularly attends monthly meetings in Liphook. He is friendly and reproachable and is able to liaise with Hampshire Highways. However - he does not have the ability to ban all stupid people from driving, teach forgetful people how to use indicators, or stop inconsiderate people from 'dumping their cars at junctions instead of parking them in proper places. [Just think how wonderful the place would be already if he could!] I fear that it is not the fault of the roundabouts - but the fault of the humans choosing to aim their vehicles at them in an inappropriate manner. It should not matter that there are 3 if the rules are applied to each.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - liz (16th Jan 2014 - 11:06:57) On the roundabout outside Lloyds the layout appears to have changed but not sure how. Coming from the Square to the Portsmouth Rd you seem to have to take a more exaggerated turn towards the Haslemere Rd. Either the white centre you have to drive around is bigger (which I suspect) or the white lines outside the bank in the Haslemere Rd have been moved.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - A. Ryan (16th Jan 2014 - 11:27:53) Is it just me or has everyone gone MAD. There is nothing wrong with the roundabouts, you still have all roads leading the way they always did. Just because the paint on the road is slightly different make not a jot of difference!. You manoeuvre exactly as before. Just indicate!! I am not in my car and I am getting road rage, gggrrr! What I would say , is the cars parking on the pavement outside the garage is very dangerous. I have see the school children have to walk out into the road to get past them. This should not be allowed.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Mike G (16th Jan 2014 - 14:15:31) Dawn, I'm not sure Councillor Cowper would appreciate being described as 'reproachable'. I hope you did not mean it, lol.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - dawn (16th Jan 2014 - 16:03:52) That is hilarious - auto correct did that! How funny!! Of course folks I meant approachable!

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - godric (16th Jan 2014 - 16:40:13) could I ask for the parish to request the plans before and after of all the roundabouts and to include this on an agenda with a representative of the highways attending?

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - Guy Stacpoole (16th Jan 2014 - 17:55:54) At long last Liphook raises its game a little to get rid of its title of \'the most uncomfortable village in Hampshire\' with the square looking like an army practise ground and tower road etc deliberately designed to ruin mysuspension, my wife\'s spinal cord and now my new replacement hip. Coming up fast on the rails in the race to destroy business and pleasure use is Lindford, once a pleasant country village and now a monument to the ambitions of local politicians intent on improving their environment at the expence of others. As any politician knows, it is always possible to find a few in every street who will happily ruin it for their personal benefit at the expense of other users. Ferris is an excellent and effective Councillor on the County Council which is in charge of roads. Keep pressuring him for results, such as the removal of all humps,lumps,bumps etc in central Liphook. By the way, the sun light conditions in Liphook Square are exceptional, making it difficult to see if one of those tiny lights on the front of cars is blinking or not. Guy Stacpoole Www.guystacpoole.co.uk

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - peter (16th Jan 2014 - 23:31:50) Hi, Thanks to the editor putting up an earlier photograph of the roundabouts prior to the changes, it is clear that the major difference is the cars -they appear to all be in different positions.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - dawn (17th Jan 2014 - 16:19:59) Godric, You can ask the Parish Council what you like by calling them on 01428 722988, emailing council@bramshottandliphook-pc.gov.uk or popping into the Midhurst Road office any morning. Any of those would work.

Re: Roundabouts in liphook square - godric (3rd Feb 2014 - 11:01:51) ............ having just had a very near miss ...and verbal abuse at the midhurst road junction roundabout I think someone should look into returning the juction back to a T juction. this way traffic from the square will need to STOP to make a right turn ! this roundabout is just a serious accident waiting to happen

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