Scared Whit- less
Roundabout named among UK’s worst
A ro u n d a b o u t branded ‘ Witless’ for striking fear into drivers has been named among the UK’s worst.
Whitletts has landed an unenviable spot in the country’s top 10 road tests to avoid.
The list, published by recovery firm 24/ 7 Vehicle Rescue, claims the “nervejangling lottery” has put Ayr on the map for all the wrong reasons.
It follows a £ 3.5m scheme to increase lanes and install traffic lights on the roundabout in 2006, which has sparked trouble for many trying to negotiate its contours ever since.
Transport Scotland held a safety review in 2015 after stats showed Whitletts was more dangerous than the giant M8 roundabout at Hermiston Gait near Edinburgh.
R a n j e n G o h r i , spokesman for 24/ 7 Vehicle Rescue, said: “Britain is famed for its roundabouts, and being able to safely negotiate them is a major part of driving in this country.
“Unfortunately, many motorists are terrified of them.
“This is not helped by some of the cases we’ve gathered that have a fearsome reputation and seem to almost unnerve drivers before they even get to them.
“With the volume of traffic and unavoidable p roblems such as breakdowns, driving in the UK is difficult enough without having to attempt some of these roundabouts from hell.”
Also making the top ten is Sheriffhall, which sits on Edinburgh’s city bypass, and Haudagain in Aberdeen, which is due for a £ 30m redesign later this year.