America Is a Great Place to Drive: These 3 Things Would Make It Better

The United States is a great place to drive. Put together it’s vast and varied terrain, extensive road network and exciting selection of cars and you have a top-notch driving destination for the enthusiast. Just stay away from traffic-prone city sprawl of course.

Despite these driving friendly features of the USA there are some major improvements that could be made with the introduction of a little international flavor to the US road system.

Here are some features popular in Europe that would help make America American roads great again:

Replace Stop Signs with Yield Signs

America loves the stop sign. The octagonal red symbols make great spots for laying down some rubber on acceleration but many, many times they just aren’t necessary. Especially in 4-way stop form.

It’s time to introduce more “Yield” or "Give Way" signs in place of stop signs. You can spend weeks driving around a country like Denmark and not see a single stop sign. Switching stops out for yields would:

• Increase fuel economy (less fuel wasted accelerating from a full stop)
• Reduce/eliminate traffic tickets for rolling through intersections with stop signs
• Reduce vehicle wear and tear (less braking required, less acceleration/shifting required)
• Encourage driver attention (drivers will have to observe and think for themselves)

Roundabouts / Traffic circles

This ties in with the above point. All 4 way stops could/should be converted to roundabouts. Many of the same benefits that come with yield signs would be enjoyed with roundabouts. Additional benefits would be:

• 90% fewer fatal collisions (fewer high speed, perpendicular impacts which are very common on intersecting US roads)
• Easy direction reversal if you miss a turn (just loop around the circle and retrace your path)
• Reduction in congestion and delays
• Cost savings over time (compared to an intersection with traffic signals which cost $5,000-10,000 USD/year)
• No loss of function during power outages
• Elevation of the arts and gardening (beautiful sculptures and/or landscaping can be placed in the central circle of the roundabout...okay joking)

Red > Yellow > Green Traffic Lights

In the US traffic lights warn drivers when the light is about to turn red by switching from green to yellow but the change from red to green is abrupt. There is no indication that green is coming up and many drivers -now distracted with their smartphones- are slow to accelerate after the light change.

Contrast the above with traffic lights in countries like Denmark, Germany and the UK where a red light transitions to a brief period of simultaneous red AND yellow indicating that green is coming up and you’ll be able to accelerate through the intersection shortly. The benefits of this system are:

• Drivers can be prepared for acceleration (choose the right gear, depress the clutch etc)
• Less wasted green light time waiting for slow-to-react drivers
• Better fuel economy because of less time idling at traffic lights

What About You?

• Do you think these changes would be good or bad for US roads and drivers?
• Are there other benefits I’ve left out?
• Do you have a favorite road improvement idea to share?