I should like to suggest to Iraqi insurgents a novel and humane way to discourage American patrols from driving through the streets of Baghdad.
Instead of home-made ordnance. I recommend roundabouts. Dozens of them, if possible.
According to a recent report in The Economist, American drivers are baffled by roundabouts, and when one is constructed, State Troopers have to be stationed at the approaches to explain the operating principle – time and time again. Yanks just don’t get it, which perhaps explains why fewer than 1,000 roundabouts exist in the whole of North America, compared with 10,000 in the UK and 20,000 in France.
Apparently, Americans find leaving the roundabout the biggest challenge and some have been known to keep circling until they run out of fuel.
I’m not sure how, but the Iraqis seem to have got wind of my idea, at least according to a recent newspaper headline, which read: ‘Americans faced with Iraqi merry-go-round.’
Graham,
I agree with your comments, but i recommend that you don’t visit the USA in the near future.
Martin.
AlfaMartini | 17 Aug 07 - 19:06Leaving politics aside, roundabouts in UAE create a great deal of confusion for newcomers (and also to long term residents with limited powers of observation & concentration behind the wheel) because there would appear to be no enforced rule regarding who has the right of way…
Some roundabouts are marked with a faded white (stop) line across the road at some point or points within the roundabout, indicating that cars entering beyond that point have right of way. Others are marked with a similarly faded white (stop) line across one or more entries to the roundabout, indicating that cars already on the roundabout at that point have right of way. Very few drivers appear to be aware of this, and there are no “Give Way” signs .
Adding to the confusion, the local police authorities recommend and encourage the use of roundabouts as parking areas.
The lesson to be learned is to approach roundabouts with extreme caution, setup your entry and exit lines carefully, and keep your options open.
AlfaMartini | 05 Sep 07 - 17:33