Roundabouts offer a
sensible solution to safety and capacity problems at some
intersections. Here’s a list of some of the benefits associated
with modern roundabouts:
Safety
According to the Federal Highway Administration, installing a
roundabout may result in:
| A 76 percent reduction in
injury-accidents |
| A 90 percent reduction in fatalities |
| 75 percent fewer “conflict points” compared to standard
intersections (see diagram below) |
| A reduction in pedestrian injuries |
Conflict Point
Diagram
Less delay
Roundabouts are designed to handle traffic more efficiently than
signalized intersections. With traffic constantly moving and
vehicles entering the intersection at lower speeds, more
vehicles are able to move through the intersection at any given
time.
An Improved Environment
With more vehicles able to move through the intersection at any
given time, there will be fewer vehicles idling for shorter
periods of time. Because idling vehicles cause the most air
pollution, roundabouts result in reduced air pollution.
Why do roundabouts have such a good
safety record?
1. Conflicts are reduced.
With fewer conflict points, roundabouts eliminate the
potential for hazardous conflicts, such as right angle and
left-turn head-on crashes.
2. Speeds are reduced and are more consistent. Low speeds
driven in roundabouts allow drivers more time to react to
potential conflicts, thus helping to improve the safety of
roundabouts. Since most drivers travel at similar speeds
through roundabouts, crash severity is reduced compared to
traditional intersections.
3. Pedestrians cross one direction of traffic at a time.
Pedestrians need only cross one direction of traffic at a
time at each roundabout approach, as compared with
signalized intersections.
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