Roundabouts are among nervous drivers’ most feared junctions.
They require skill and judgment as to when to safely pull out, get in the correct lane and then exit, all while remaining aware of other vehicles, which may be all around you.
Scotland-based road safety consultant Neil Greig gives his assessment of ten of the country’s most notorious roundabouts, with additional comments from AA motoring group staff based north of the Border - performance leader Bob Drummond and patroller John Carroll.
There’s also collision data from analysts CrashMap
Mr Greig said: “In general, roundabouts have been shown to be safer than traffic light intersections, but they have their traffic design limits, and these busy junctions show what happens when you exceed them.
“Regular peak time congestion and long delays if minor disruptions occur leads to unneeded pollution and cost to the Scottish economy.
“The Scottish Government has now abandoned its ridiculous traffic reduction targets, but need to provide solutions for these key junctions as they are only going to get worse.”
Nicholas Lyes, director of policy and standards for motoring group IAM RoadSmart, said: “When constructed well and properly maintained, roundabouts tend to be a far more efficient way in managing traffic at junctions than lights.
“But in recent years, poor maintenance hasn’t only resulted in more potholes on Scotland’s roads, but also faded line markings, which can cause a few issues for vehicle positioning when approaching and merging into roundabouts.
“Anticipation and positioning are two key skills for safely navigating roundabouts, but poor maintenance has made the latter far more difficult.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government’s Transport Scotland agency, which is responsible for roundabouts on trunk roads, said: “The second Strategic Transport Projects Review considered the need for major investment across the whole of Scotland’s trunk road network as part of the accompanying transport appraisal that was completed in 2022.
“The conclusion of the appraisal did not recommend any significant upgrade to Broxden, Inveralmond, Hermiston Gait or Stoneymollan junctions.
“Instead, and in line with our Sustainable Investment Hierarchy (SIH), the recommendation was that future investment should be focused on maintaining the existing assets.
“This is in line with the SIH rationale for investment in transport infrastructure projects, which is to prioritise maintaining and make best use of our existing transport assets, over building new infrastructure.”
5. Inveralmond - A9 and A912 in Perth
Junction at the north end of the Perth bypass, seen from the A9 northbound. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded two serious incidents between 2019 and 2023 (latest available data). Neil Greig: “Like Broxden, delays here undermine the benefits of the Perth bypass and new roads around Perth city.” Transport Scotland said no significant upgrade was planned. | Google Street View
6. Longman - A9 and A82 in Inverness
Junction at the south end of the Kessock Bridge where Scotland's main north-south route meets the A82 into the city, seen from the A9 northbound. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded three incidents between 2019 and 2023, one serious (latest available data). Transport Scotland plans to replace it with a flyover but funding is required because Highland Council requested money from the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal be earmarked for a new Corran ferry instead. Neil Greig: “The forgotten man of Scottish roundabouts! Longman is now a huge brake on free flowing traffic around Inverness and needs substantial investment rather than just tinkering with traffic management ideas that never seem to work.” Transport Scotland: “We remain committed to the Longman junction improvement scheme. Although the project has been removed from the Inverness and Highland City Region Deal, at the request of Highland Council, it remains on the Scottish Government’s transport investment pipeline. While a significant amount of work has been undertaken on the detailed development and assessment of the preferred option, the programme for further progress of the preparation stages and, subject to the successful completion of the statutory process, delivery of improvements at Longman, will be subject to the availability of funding from the annual budget setting process.” | Google Street View
7. Stoneymollan - A82 and A811 at Balloch
Junction where the A82 dual carriageway from Dumbarton narrows to one lane towards Loch Lomond, seen from the A82 northbound. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded two incidents between 2019 and 2023, one serious (latest available data). Neil Greig: “All part of the growing delays on the A82 down Loch Lomondside.The mix of local, tourist and long distance traffic does not help, and also traffic racing to get on the first dual carriageway south for 100 miles, or the last if you are going north." John Carroll: “One to avoid if possible at certain times as this can be one of the busiest roundabouts when the sun is out and in the tourist season. As the A82 reduces to single carriageway north of the roundabout, it can be a very busy place with people getting frustrated and in the wrong lane heading northbound or sitting in traffic heading southbound.” Transport Scotland said no significant upgrade was planned. | Google Street View
8. Silverburn - M77 and shopping centre in Glasgow
Slip roads on and off the motorway meet Cowglen Avenue, New Pollok Avenue and Fairchild Avenue to the east side of the busiest shopping centre on the south side of Glasgow. The Crashmap collision analysis website recorded one serious incident between 2019 and 2023 (latest available data). Neil Greig: "The issue here is more about confusing markings rather than capacity. Traffic coming round the roundabout to access parts of the shopping centre frequently come into conflict with fast-arriving traffic from the M77 slip road. Clearer markings and signposting is needed and other measures to try and reduce the speed of traffic on the roundabout." Glasgow City Council said it had no plans to alter the roundabout. | John Devlin/The Scotsman