SYSTEMATIC CONTROL OF TRAFFIC IN LOCAL AREAS USING SMALL ROUNDABOUTS

This paper describes how small roundabouts have been used to influence traffic behaviour and limit traffic volumes along local streets. A traffic management study was established with the objectives of improving overall safety, controlling speed, reducing the volume of traffic in local streets, and ensuring that no significant disadvantage was created by restricting access to properties within the study area of 3 square kilometres. Fourteen small roundabouts were installed along the routes most used by through traffic. Traffic volumes varied in accordance with network considerations and the number of roundabouts constructed along the route. In the streets where the roundabouts were constructed, reductions in the volumes of traffic of between 20 per cent and 64 per cent were recorded. There was a two decibel reduction in the l (sub 10) noise readings at the two locations where measurements were taken. Speeds were significantly reduced at roundabout sites and at mid-block locations along the two streets where measurements were taken. Although the majority of residents within the area favoured the use of small roundabouts, a number of people objected strongly in the period immediately following their implementation. One year later, the roundabouts are generally accepted as an effective and acceptable means of controlling traffic in local streets (a). The number of the covering abstract of the conference is TRIS No. 368448. (TRRL)