Latest news with #Dutch-style
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
New roundabout has three-minute video to explain how to drive through it – but can you figure out how it works?
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NEW £2 million roundabout has a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it - can you figure it out? The Dutch-style roundabout in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, is set to welcome motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on June 6. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 5 A new £2 million roundabout has a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it Credit: Getty 5 The system prioritises cyclists which has sparked controversy Credit: Getty 5 The tutorial reveals how cyclists must give way to pedestrians and 'keep attentive' for cars Credit: YouTube / Hertfordshire County Council But the controversial project, which prioritises cyclists, has been slammed by locals. It comes after plans for the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout were originally blasted by drivers, who called it a cyclist "killing zone". Cyclists have an outer ring on the new roundabout, with cycle crossings over each of the four approach roads in a contrasting red surface. It also features zebra crossings over each approach road for pedestrians. Read More STREETS AHEAD Inside tiny UK village where cars are BANNED & donkeys make deliveries Motorists must also give way to pedestrians and to cyclists when joining and leaving the roundabout. Reduced lane widths on the roundabout and at exit and entry points are designed to encourage drivers to slow down. As reported by the Telegraph, the upcoming Hemel Hamstead has been dubbed Britain's 'most woke' roundabout. In light of a new three-minute video released by Hertfordshire county council, to explain the system, residents have branded it "complicated' and 'confusing'. The tutorial reveals how cyclists must give way to pedestrians and 'keep attentive' for cars – despite having priority on a separate cycle track. Cars and lorries must also give way to both cyclists and pedestrians when joining or leaving the roundabout. One fuming nearby resident commented: "For cyclists heading to, or coming off of, the M1, this is money well spent.' Another added: 'That's going to be carnage at rush hour. Literally eyes needed everywhere. "Assuming anyone uses it. I don't like the idea of braking when exiting the roundabout to give way to pedestrians." Others claimed it was a 'disaster waiting to happen' and highlighted a similar roundabout in Cambridge that opened in 2020. It is one of only three Dutch-style roundabouts in the UK, with two others located in Sheffield and Chichester. A scathing local said: 'There was a perfectly usable roundabout already there. Now they've pimped it up at great cost – what a joke.' The roundabout was funded by Active Travel England, the Government's executive agency for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling. Mark Doran, executive director of growth and environment at the council, added: "Hemel residents are no strangers to an innovative roundabout, so we're pleased that work on Boundary Way is nearing completion, on time. "We're keen to support our residents in becoming familiar with the layout so that everyday journeys are as smooth and safe as possible." This comes after we reported how the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout had increased the number of accidents, according to figures. Ten crashes - three serious - were reported across three years after the £2.3 million Fendon Road roundabout was installed in 2020. The accidents involved eight cyclists and two pedestrians being struck by a car, according to figures obtained by the BBC. That's six more than the four minor accidents recorded in the three years before the Cambridge layout was wheeled out. The system gives priority to cyclists thanks to a bright red outer ring lane and gives bikes their own level crossings. Motorists must wait for cyclists - and pedestrians - to enter and exit before manoeuvring around the roundabout. It means vehicles are made to give way twice while travelling through the pedal-friendly system. The roundabout was popularised in the bike-loving Netherlands and came about in Cambridge after locals demanded better cycle and pedestrian facilities. But within a few days of its opening in 2020, it had to close temporarily after a hit-and-run driver crashed into a zebra crossing beacon. And to this day, the system still divides opinion. 5 It also features zebra crossings over each approach road for pedestrians Credit: PA
The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
New roundabout has three-minute video to explain how to drive through it – but can you figure out how it works?
A NEW £2 million roundabout has a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it - can you figure it out? The Dutch-style roundabout in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, is set to welcome motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on June 6. 5 A new £2 million roundabout has a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it Credit: Getty 5 The system prioritises cyclists which has sparked controversy Credit: Getty 5 The tutorial reveals how cyclists must give way to pedestrians and 'keep attentive' for cars Credit: YouTube / Hertfordshire County Council But the controversial project, which prioritises cyclists, has been slammed by locals. It comes after plans for the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout were originally blasted by drivers, who called it a cyclist "killing zone". Cyclists have an outer ring on the new roundabout, with cycle crossings over each of the four approach roads in a contrasting red surface. It also features zebra crossings over each approach road for pedestrians. Read More Motorists must also give way to pedestrians and to cyclists when joining and leaving the roundabout. Reduced lane widths on the roundabout and at exit and entry points are designed to encourage drivers to slow down. As reported by In light of a new three-minute video released by Hertfordshire county council, to explain the system, residents have branded it "complicated' and 'confusing'. Most read in Motors The tutorial reveals how cyclists must give way to pedestrians and 'keep attentive' for cars – despite having priority on a separate cycle track. Cars and lorries must also give way to both cyclists and pedestrians when joining or leaving the roundabout. One fuming nearby resident commented: "For cyclists heading to, or coming off of, the M1, this is money well spent.' Another added: 'That's going to be carnage at rush hour. Literally eyes needed everywhere. "Assuming anyone uses it. I don't like the idea of braking when exiting the roundabout to give way to pedestrians." Others claimed it was a 'disaster waiting to happen' and highlighted It is one of only three Dutch-style roundabouts in the UK, with two others located in Sheffield and Chichester. A scathing local said: 'There was a perfectly usable roundabout already there. Now they've pimped it up at great cost – what a joke.' The roundabout was funded by Active Travel England, the Government's executive agency for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling. Mark Doran, executive director of growth and environment at the council, added: "Hemel residents are no strangers to an innovative roundabout, so we're pleased that work on Boundary Way is nearing completion, on time. "We're keen to support our residents in becoming familiar with the layout so that everyday journeys are as smooth and safe as possible." This comes after we reported how the UK's first Dutch-style roundabout had Ten crashes - three serious - were reported across three years after the £2.3 million The accidents involved eight cyclists and two pedestrians being struck by a car, according to figures obtained by the That's six more than the four minor accidents recorded in the three years before the Cambridge layout was wheeled out. The system gives priority to cyclists thanks to a bright red outer ring lane and gives bikes their own level crossings. Motorists must wait for cyclists - and pedestrians - to enter and exit before manoeuvring around the roundabout. It means vehicles are made to give way twice while travelling through the pedal-friendly system. The roundabout was popularised in the bike-loving Netherlands and came about in Cambridge after locals demanded better cycle and pedestrian facilities. But within a few days of its opening in 2020, it had to close temporarily after a hit-and-run driver crashed into a zebra crossing beacon. And to this day, the system still divides opinion. 5 It also features zebra crossings over each approach road for pedestrians Credit: PA 5 Reduced lane widths on the roundabout and at exit and entry points are designed to encourage drivers to slow down Credit: Getty
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Dutch-style roundabout to keep cyclists safer has three-minute video to explain how it works
A new, Dutch-style roundabout, with its own three-minute video tutorial, is set to open in Hertfordshire next week. The cycle-friendly roundabout, popular in the Netherlands, is currently under construction in Boundary Way, Hemel Hempstead, with the opening slated for 6 June. Ahead of its opening, Hertfordshire County Council have produced an animated video which shows how cars, bicycles and pedestrians should use the new road feature correctly. The project aims to improve safety and connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists whilst easing traffic congestion. But the plan has been criticised for being 'complicated' and 'unnecessary' with some residents raising concerns about the new road layout, specifically when braking whilst exiting the roundabout. The construction of the new roundabout comes as part of a £2.6m investment by Active Travel England - the government's executive agency for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling. At first glance, a Dutch-style roundabout can look baffling to British road users unfamiliar with this new road layout, but the CGI video explains the process simply. The video shows an outer green ring that cyclists are expected to use, surrounded by zebra crossings used by pedestrians. Cyclists are expected to slow down when entering and exiting the roundabout to give way for pedestrians on the zebra crossings before continuing to cycle clockwise (as with any roundabout) on the outer green ring. The video demonstrates how cars and lorries must slow down or come to a stop on entering or exiting the roundabout to let cyclists and pedestrians cross in front of them safely. The advantage of this layout is that cyclists have their own designated area - hopefully making the roundabout safer for those on bikes. Hemel Hempstead is already home of the so-called 'Magic Roundabout', where six roundabouts converge, which is situated around 2.5 miles away from the new Dutch-style roundabout. The council say these roundabouts can help connectivity in the area, making it easier and safer to walk, wheel and cycle. Phil Bibby, Executive Member for Highways and Transport, Hertfordshire County Council, said: 'Our aim is to offer all residents a cleaner, greener, healthier Hertfordshire. 'By increasing access to walking and cycling initiatives, we'll improve health and air quality, as well as helping to reduce traffic congestion.' The UK currently has three Dutch-style roundabouts in operation, with the new Hertfordshire roundabout set to become the fourth. The first opened in Fenton Road, Cambridge in 2020, followed by one in West Bar, Sheffield in December 2024, and the third opened in Westgate, Chichester in February 2025. But Dutch-style roundabouts have been criticised after an uptick in accidents on the Fenton Road roundabout since its installation. Cambridge County Council revealed in 2023 that between 2020 and 2023, there had been ten collisions, eight involving cyclists, on the roundabout compared to six incidents between 2017-2019. In 2022, the UK Government introduced a swathe of changes to road rules surrounding cycling on British roads in an attempt to make British roads safer. The guidance, updated in Highway Code rules 79, 167 and 186, stipulates that drivers must give priority to cyclists in certain situations, for example, on a roundabout. The code was updated to clarify that motorists or motorcyclists should take 'extra care' and give priority to people cycling on roundabouts. It stipulates that people driving and or riding a motorcycle should not attempt to overtake people cycling within that person's lane on a roundabout. The rules state that people cycling, riding a horse and driving a horse-drawn vehicle may stay in the left-hand lane of a roundabout when they intend to continue across or around the roundabout. Motorists should also allow cyclists to move across their path as they travel around a roundabout, for example when preparing to exit. Motorists should also stop and wait for a safe distance between cyclists at roundabouts or during slow-moving traffic, states the code. Other key amendments, which came into effect in January 2022, included clearer guidance for drivers to leave a distance of at least 1.5 metres when overtaking cyclists. The code also clarified that when turning into or out of a side road, cyclists should give way to people walking who are crossing or waiting to cross.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Confusing' new roundabout needs three-minute explainer video
Credit: YouTube/Hertfordshire County Council A new £2 million 'Dutch-style' roundabout needs a three-minute-long video explaining how to use it. The roundabout, currently under construction in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, includes a dedicated space for cyclists away from motorised vehicle traffic. The project is slated to open on June 6 but has been controversial with locals for its 'inclusive route' for cyclists and pedestrians. It has been dubbed Britain's 'most woke' roundabout because drivers must give priority to pedestrians, then cyclists, and then other cars and lorries before continuing on themselves. Locals have pointed out the priority for cyclists and pedestrians is unnecessary because only cars and lorries regularly use the Boundary Way route. It has also been branded 'complicated' and 'confusing' with Hertfordshire county council releasing a CGI walk-through on how to use it. The three-minute-long video explains how cyclists must give way to pedestrians and 'keep attentive' for cars – despite having priority on their segregated cycle track. It also demonstrates how cars and lorries must give way to both cyclists and pedestrians when joining or leaving the roundabout. Criticism has flooded in online, with one local saying: 'For cyclists heading to, or coming off of, the M1, this is money well spent.' Another said: 'That's going to be carnage at rush hour. Literally eyes needed everywhere. Assuming anyone uses it. I don't like the idea of braking when exiting the roundabout to give way to pedestrians.' Some locals have branded the roundabout an 'disaster waiting to happen' citing the similar Dutch-style one in Cambridge. In 2023, it was revealed the roundabout had seen more collisions in the three years since it was built compared to its predecessor over the previous three years. Between 2020 and 2023, there had been 10 collisions on the Cambridge roundabout compared to six incidents between 2017-19. Speaking on the Hertfordshire roundabout, one man said: 'There was a perfectly usable roundabout already there. Now they've pimped it up at great cost – what a joke.' Another added: 'A disaster waiting to happen.' The Hertfordshire roundabout has been funded by Active Travel England, the Government's executive agency for promoting walking, wheeling and cycling. There are currently three Dutch-style roundabouts in operation around the UK. The first one opened in Cambridge in 2020, followed by one in Sheffield in December 2024, and the third opened in Chichester in February 2025. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Business Mayor
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Mayor
Rachel Reeves gearing up for Dutch-style pensions takeover – everyone could be worse off
A shift to Dutch-style pension schemes could see savers given less control over their investments – and more money going towards the government's growth plans. Chancellor Rachel Reeves is paving the way for more collective defined contribution (CDC) schemes, The Telegraph reports, based on the premise that they offer better returns and less risk. CDC schemes offer members the stability of a regular target pension income for life after retirement, based on pooled contributions from employers and employees into a collective fund. The schemes are considered safe bets for employers and cut the risk of pensioners outliving their savings – but the downside is that the target income can fluctuate based on factors including investment performance. Since the approach is collective rather than individual, it also limits agency around choice of investments and spending in retirement. While the Netherlands is commonly viewed as one of the world's best countries for pensions, its CDC schemes have come under scrutiny for their lower-than-expected targets based on underperforming investments. A House of Commons briefing also warned that employees who die earlier could be worse off under CDC schemes because they have effectively subsidised their longer-living counterparts. CDC schemes are already in place for Royal Mail employees in the UK – although in their current form, the plans can only involve a single or connected employer. A greater focus on this kind of pension could involve the introduction of industry or sector-wide multi-employer schemes – something the government has committed to facilitating. Pensions Minister Torston Bell said last month that individual schemes meant people were facing 'significant risks about how their individual investments perform and how long their retirements last'. 'Pooling some of those risks will drive higher incomes for pensioners and greater investments in productive assets across the economy,' he said. However, Tom Selby of AJ Bell accused Labour of plotting to use other people's money to doggedly pursue a growth agenda and criticised the government's favourable comparison of the schemes to annuities, which can be bought with pension pots and effectively guarantees an income for life. 'There is no guarantee that CDC schemes will deliver higher incomes than existing defined contribution schemes,' he said, 'And comparing them to annuities suggests the income setup is the same, which it isn't. 'Annuities pay a guaranteed income for life, whereas CDC scehemes aim for a target income which could be reduced if investments underperform, which is exactly what happened in the Netherlands. 'Offering people a choice of retirement income options is a good thing, but the Government needs to be transparent about what's really happening here – it wants to use other people's money to deliver on its economic agenda.' READ SOURCE
