![]() The United States is definitely not in love with the roundabout. ![]() While the cost to build roundabouts and conventional intersections is similar, roundabouts don’t have the same hardware, maintenance and electrical costs of a conventional intersection, which can cost between $5,000 and $10,000 a year. Emissions jump when vehicles accelerate from a stop sign or red light.įor intransigent readers who fail to see the benefits of the roundabout, the Washington State Department of Transportation says circular intersections save money over time, compared to traditional signalized stops. The reasons for the reduction are many, but the bulk of emissions don’t necessarily come from idling while waiting for the green. Nitrogen oxides dropped by around 50 percent, and hydrocarbons fell by more than 60 percent. Kansas State did another study showing that by replacing four-way stops with roundabouts, carbon monoxide emissions were reduced by around 40 percent and carbon dioxide emissions by about 60 percent. Additional studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety of intersections in three states, including Washington, found that roundabouts contributed to a nearly 90 percent reduction in delays, and a 56 percent reduction in vehicle stops. Studies by Kansas State University showed a 20 percent reduction in delays at intersection converted to roundabouts. Even in this realm, roundabouts have proven to help. Because it’s a circle.īut when commuters are in a rush, careful driving can go out the window and safety takes a back seat to getting somewhere on time. In a roundabout, there are just eight, primarily because traffic never crosses. Planners have identified 32 “conflict points” in a conventional intersection. ![]() The intersections also dramatically lower the number of potential crashes between vehicles. ![]() The typical speeds in a roundabout are about 15 to 20 mph, part of the design’s intent. The safety comes from the reduced speed of vehicles entering the circular intersections. The benefits are so clear that the Federal Highway Administration’s Office of Safety urges planners to build roundabouts as a proven way to increase safety for all users: motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found a 38 percent drop in car deaths and injuries at Wisconsin intersections converted to roundabouts. Studies done by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Federal Highway Administration show that roundabouts reduced fatal collisions by 90 percent. So why the hate?Īccording to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, roundabouts reduce the number of crashes where people are seriously hurt or killed by about 80 percent when compared to conventional signalized intersections. They’re safer, more efficient, cheaper and, let’s be honest, simply more elegant than conventional intersections. ![]() It’s as if the four-way stop were covered in the Bill of Rights.īut it’s not, so bring on the roundabout. Highway 2 just west of Airway Heights, part of the Spokane Tribe of Indians casino development.ĭespite a wealth of information extolling the benefits of the circular intersection, the word “roundabout” causes shivers and engages local drivers’ lizard brains. Spokane County’s first multilane roundabout opened last week on U.S. ![]()
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