Roundabouts have become a popular road planning tool for those designing new roads and improving existing ones. Roundabouts involve a circular center obstacle in what was once a standard intersection. The traffic flows counterclockwise around the central island, eliminating the need for everyone to stop and wait at a light or sign.
Roundabouts therefore help eliminate traffic congestion at busy intersections. While speeds do decrease for drivers in the roundabout, they can be quite efficient overall because they eliminate unnecessary waiting at intersections. Drivers approaching a roundabout may not need to stop unless there is already a vehicle approaching them in the roundabout.
According to an analysis of the number of roundabouts installed in each state, North Carolina leads the nation. There are over 500 roundabouts throughout the state, many of which assist with traffic regular in areas with high traffic.
How do all of those roundabouts affect traffic safety?
Roundabouts eliminate common traffic hazards
Vehicles traveling in different directions can very easily collide with tragic consequences. Left turns, in particular, have a strong association with severe collisions at intersections. Such maneuvers aren’t necessary or even possible at locations with roundabouts.
Vehicles flowing in the same direction are less likely to collide and may have less severe crashes when they do occur. Roundabouts can potentially help reduce the risk of crashes at busy intersections. A large number of collisions occur at intersections every year, and roundabouts help reduce that risk.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) estimates that the investment in roundabouts translates to real-world safety improvements. When looking at the impact that 13 roundabouts installed at intersections on roads with 55 miles per hour (mph) speed limit, the NCDOT found that they reduced crashes overall by 41%.
Crashes that resulted in death or serious injury decreased by 79%, and front-impact crashes declined by 62%. The investment made across the state in installing roundabouts and educating the public regarding their use has paid off in the form of major public safety improvements.
Understanding what contributes to crash risk and what helps mitigate it can help people plan routes that reduce their risk of a motor vehicle collision. Roundabouts are one of many traffic safety solutions that can help reduce collision risk.
