ROUNDABOUT
ROUNDABOUT
WHAT IS A ROUNDABOUT?
A modern roundabout is an unsignalized circular intersection
engineered to maximize safety and minimize traffic delay. Over the last
few decades, thousands of roundabouts have been installed in Europe,
Australia and other parts of the world.
In the cities and towns where roundabouts have
been built and even where the public has been
hesitant about accepting them initially,
roundabouts ultimately have been accepted
enthusiastically because of the increased safety
they provide, along with traffic calming, and
aesthetic benefits.
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WHY USE A ROUNDABOUT?
Safety
Calming Effects
Low Maintenance
Reduced Delay
Capacity
Aesthetic
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Why do roundabouts have such a
good safety record?
Studies by the Insurance Institute for Highway
Safety show that roundabouts provide:
90% reduction in fatal crashes
76% reduction in injury crashes
30-40% reduction in pedestrian crashes
10% reduction in bicycle crashes
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…..(cont’d)
Conflicts are reduced
Roundabouts have fewer conflict points in comparison to conventional
intersections. The potential for hazardous conflicts, such as right angle
and left turn head–on crashes is eliminated with roundabout use.
Conflicts at a Crossroads Conflicts at a Roundabout
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…..(cont’d)
Speeds are reduced and are more consistent
Low absolute speeds associated with roundabouts allow drivers more
time to react to potential conflicts, also helping to improve the safety
performance of roundabouts. Since most road users travel at similar
speeds through roundabouts
Pedestrians cross one direction of traffic at a time
Pedestrians need only cross one direction of traffic at a time at each
approach as they traverse roundabouts, as compared with two–way
and all–way stop–controlled intersections. The conflict locations
between vehicles and pedestrians are generally not affected by the
presence of a roundabout, although conflicting vehicles come from a
more defined path at roundabouts (and thus pedestrians have fewer
places to check for conflicting vehicles).
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Difference between roundabouts and traffic circles
Roundabout Traffic circle
Entering vehicles yield Stop sign, stop signal, or giving priority to
entering vehicles
Vehicles in the roundabout have Allow weaving areas to resolve conflicted
priority over the entering vehicle movement
Use deflection to maintain low Some large circles provide straight path for
speed operation higher speed
No parking is allowed Some large circles permit parking within the
circle
Pedestrians are (usually) Some large circles allow pedestrians on
prohibited from the central island central island
All vehicles circulate around the Mini-traffic circles with left-turning vehicles
1
central island passing to the left of the central island.
1
For countries that drive on the right side of the road.
(Source for table: Oregon Department of Transportation [2])
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FEATURES OF A ROUNDABOUT
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DESIGN ELEMENTS AT ROUNDABOUT
Characteristics roundabout should have:
Traffic Control
Priority to Circulating Vehicles
Pedestrian Access
Parking-not allowed
Direction of circulation
The other elements:
Adequate speed reduction
Design vehicle
Entry flares
Splitter Island
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AN OPERATION AT ROUNDABOUT
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ROUNDABOUT CATEGORIES
Mini Roundabout Rural Single Lane
Roundabout
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…Cont’d
Urban Double Lanes Roundabout
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…Cont’d
ROTARY
INTERCHANGES
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MAGIC ROUNDABOUT
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MAGIC ROUNDABOUT
