The VERY slow-paced introduction of roundabouts to Japan

[Viator]

Although the provision of modern-style roundabouts has been allowed in Japan since (I think) 2014, they remain extremely thin on the ground -- and where they do exist they tend to be very heavily signed: see this example, photographed in Hanyū Ciy, Saitama Prefecture, in April 2017.

The biggest problem, apparently, is that Japanese motorists have been brought up to believe in a totally black-and-white "I must stop OR everyone else must stop" culture -- with no room for any give-and-take assessment of a situation (especially not one relying on -- oh, horrors! -- eye-to-eye contact between drivers). That's why there are so many traffic lights, millions of "stop" signs, and absolutely no "give way" signs in Japan. (Come to think of it: not so very different from the situation in North America.)

[RichardA626]

I heard they were considered too confusing when they were first considered for use in Japan.

According to someone I used to work with roundabouts aren't used in Indonesia, & she reckoned drivers would be very confused by them.

[Viator]

I heard they were considered too confusing when they were first considered for use in Japan.

According to someone I used to work with roundabouts aren't used in Indonesia, & she reckoned drivers would be very confused by them.

With respect to your former colleague, there certainly are roundabouts in Indonesia (probably more in Jakarta than in the whole of Japan), but what there isn't is very much idea of lane discipline -- or any other kind of observance of most of the rules of the road! https://youtu.be/prbXozlPx1c

[Peter Freeman]

there certainly are roundabouts in Indonesia

Quite a lot in Bali (part of Indonesia)

… but what there isn't is very much idea of lane discipline -- or any other kind of observance of most of the rules of the road! https://youtu.be/prbXozlPx1c

Drive anywhere in INDIA and the lane discipline (lack of) and the routine non-observance of road rules is similar to that video clip - but even worse!

[Chris Bertram]

Drive anywhere in INDIA and the lane discipline (lack of) and the routine non-observance of road rules is similar to that video clip - but even worse!

Been there, and while I haven't been behind the wheel myself, I'll agree with you completely. I assume they have some sort of driving test, but it can't be very demanding. Pass on the right or the left, it's all the same, traffic lights are suggestion rather than instruction, speed limits are for decoration only and lane markings are just there to hold the concrete together. Tuk-tuks (auto rickshaws) and scooters may well drive against the traffic on dual carriageways in congested conditions. All vehicles have a sign "STOP Signal" next to the nearside brake light, and most vans and lorries ask for "Horn please", not sure why but it means the roads are a very noisy place. Most of my colleagues there have had some sort of collision, usually minor but inconvenient nonetheless.

[Bryn666]

Although the provision of modern-style roundabouts has been allowed in Japan since (I think) 2014, they remain extremely thin on the ground -- and where they do exist they tend to be very heavily signed: see this example, photographed in Hanyū Ciy, Saitama Prefecture, in April 2017.

The biggest problem, apparently, is that Japanese motorists have been brought up to believe in a totally black-and-white "I must stop OR everyone else must stop" culture -- with no room for any give-and-take assessment of a situation (especially not one relying on -- oh, horrors! -- eye-to-eye contact between drivers). That's why there are so many traffic lights, millions of "stop" signs, and absolutely no "give way" signs in Japan. (Come to think of it: not so very different from the situation in North America.)

Interesting image, also looks to emulate US design rather than our awful entry path overlaps.