Modern Roundabouts: Safe, Efficient, Attractive

This article focuses on roundabouts, presenting a persuasive argument in their favor. Despite general public perception, modern roundabouts offer an effective design solution for safe and attractive intersections. Roundabouts today bear little resemblance to the fast-paced rotaries found in Europe and the eastern U.S. in the early twentieth century. Distinctions between roundabouts and turning circles are pointed out. Key features of modern roundabouts are discussed, such as a raised central island in the center of the roundabout, splitter islands to separate traffic, and pedestrian crossings to facilitate traffic. The article concludes with a look at the advantages of roundabouts, and cites statistics reflecting the reduction in fatal and injury accidents when roundabouts are used.