Exploring Roundabouts Safety and Operation in the Context of Design Consistency

As noted in the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration’s publication Roundabouts: an Informational Guide, modern roundabouts (or roundabouts in this study) were developed in the 1960s to address problems associated with traffic circles. However, there may still exist some confusion between the roundabout and similar circular intersections (i.e. rotaries and traffic circles). This confusion may lead to opposition in considering a roundabout as a viable alternative for intersection related projects. There are safety, operational, environmental, and economic benefits associated with roundabouts. Hence, it is important that the differences between roundabouts and other circular intersection forms be communicated accurately.