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Lawmakers concerned with the airport road “roundabout” after dust-up lands on social media

House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale
fili@samoanews.com

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — There’s a call for the Department of Public Safety to conduct another round of public awareness on the law and rules of the road when it comes to the “roundabout” on the airport road.

The call surfaced Monday during the DPS fiscal year 2019 budget hearing, where House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said there are still many drivers who don’t understand the rules of the roundabout.

Police Commissioner Le’i Sonny Thompson said the law is “yield to your left” allowing that vehicle to go first. However, he says there are motorists using the yield sign as a stop-sign, allowing vehicles on other sides to go first.

He says that perhaps it’s time for DPS to conduct another round of public awareness and explanations on TV regarding the law and use of roundabouts.

There have been several close calls at the round-about as driver’s failed to “yield” to the left, and there are also times when a driver takes a complete stop and allows other motorists to move through the roundabout.

And there is no stopping the car when you’re on the roundabout (i.e. you have the right of way once your car is “on” the roundabout); and stopping was the case in an incident last week that almost got out of hand. The incident ended up on social media, where it was described as “road rage”, with a message to drivers “learn how to use the roundabout.”