For more than 100 years roundabouts have been a crucial part of our road network and have by and large stayed the same – after all, why fix something that isn’t broken?

But across the North Sea, some innovative thinkers in The Netherlands have come up with the concept of a “Turbo Roundabout” which is now starting to be rolled out around the world.

This now includes Kent with the county council announcing last week its first one would be installed in June.

The works will cost £650,000 and see the Running Horse Roundabout on the A229 Blue Bell Hill, near Maidstone, redesigned.

But since Kent County Council’s (KCC) announcement, eyebrows have been raised by many grappling with the idea as to what exactly is a “Turbo roundabout”?

It was given its name, not from the speed one uses on it, but for its design.

Due to the layout, the centre isle is more tear-duct in shape, like the shape of a turbo.

At a basic level, the roundabout works similarly to any other with drivers following a path around the centre island and exiting at their desired junction - but how one goes about it is what separates the two concepts.

Unlike normal roundabouts, Turbo Roundabouts require drivers to choose which exit they want and to pick the lane they need as they approach.

Lanes are separated by coloured markings and lines preventing motorists from switching lanes while on the roundabout circulatory.

Each lane can be separated by a raised embankment, almost like a kerb.

The junction itself is also split into an inner and outer ring, again commonly split by a raised kerb, and which one you use depends which lane you are in.

For example, anyone approaching using the outside lane will be guided into the outer ring and be able to take the first exit, being funnelled to the outside lane – like a slip road.

The inside lane guides drivers into the inner ring which will then take them to the rest of the roundabout where it will rejoin the roads either in the second lane on the second exit or first lanes of the third and fourth.

KCC explained it would also be colour-coding the roads to make this easier for drivers but will not be using raised kerbs to split lanes in its design

New signage will also be posted to help explain how to use the junction.

An advantage to this design is it stops any lane changes from happening on the roundabout itself, reducing the chances of a crash.

Yet, due to the raised kerbs it means if a driver picks the wrong lane when approaching, it is very difficult to change and so they are stuck taking an exit they perhaps didn’t want to take.

Also, anyone who missed their exit will now no longer be able to loop around again and will have to get off and try again.

However, since their concept was put into practice in 2000, there has been little evidence to say the latter has been an issue.

The change of design has been decided in the hope of reducing the number of accidents at the junction.

KCC explained in the past three years, 13 personal injury crashes were reported with that figure increasing to 29 for the past five years.

But despite the praise for the junction being promoted others have been vocal of their scepticism when commenting on KentOnline’s previous story.

All commenters have written under an alias.

Dan, from London, wrote: “I don't think the improvements will help much.

“The main problem seems to be the fact there are nine entry/exits on quite a tight diameter roundabout, not helped by the slope of the carriageway on the Aylesford side which gives the illusion that vehicles are travelling faster as they come round from under the bridge and take the M20 and Chatham exits.”

Meanwhile, Nodiggity wrote: “Can't see how this will work without enforcement.

“The type of entitled idiot that pushes in from the left having skipped the queue to get round to the M20 is not going to abide by more lines, irrespective of colour or European design.

“Just in case I’m wrong do A2459/M20 junction 5 next.”

The roundabout is set to close for work for three weeks, lasting between 8pm and 5am, starting from April 15.