Essex’s ‘monster’ roundabout once named the most confusing in Britain

Essex has many confusing roundabouts. Near misses and crashes often happen there, and drivers frequently go the wrong way on one roundabout, causing stress for other motorists.

The North Station roundabout is in Colchester, near Colchester’s railway station. The Sun newspaper calls it a ‘monster,’ and many ‘almost accidents’ occur there. Some even call it the UK’s most confusing.

This roundabout uses 48 traffic lights. Colchester added lights to control traffic, and it now has more than Grovehill Junction. Grovehill Junction, in Beverley, used to have 42. This change likely confuses drivers even more.

Dashcam footage shows the confusion. One video shows a car going the wrong way, then cutting across traffic to exit.

Another video shows a car driving incorrectly and staying in the inside lane while wrong. Lane confusion contributes to the chaos, but other factors may also be important.

The roundabout sits near Colchester Hospital, a large ASDA, and the train station. Traffic is probably heavier than on other roundabouts. Is it confusing, or do people not know how to use it?