Floral display son our roundabouts a danger

FLORAL arrangements and artistic displays in the middle of roundabouts represent very dangerous visual obstructions to drivers.

They make it impossible to see a driver coming around the roundabout and consequently near-misses and crashes result.

Some drivers can move quickly on roundabouts and can appear to come out of nowhere, because their transit around the roundabout is obscured by floral and concrete objects.

Drivers should be able to see all traffic on a roundabout so the right decisions can be made when approaching a roundabout, or starting to enter it from a stopped position.

Obviously, horticultural, artistic and architectural special interests are at play — despite the grave risks involved in obscuring traffic.

Local councils have schemes which are called “adopt-a-roundabout”, where local groups, or firms, can get very carried away with floral arrangements and other items placed on the roundabout.

This allows councils to forget all about these roundabouts in practice, leaving those who have adopted, or sponsored, them to do as they will.

Let us forget about the special interests as they will do nothing for us when the worst happens at a roundabout, because somebody may want to display their green-fingered talent or create a sculpture to immortalise themselves.

Safety first — not cosmetics in lieu.