Roundabouts

All About Roundabouts

Roundabouts are large, circular loops in the road that help ease congestion in crowded intersections. The design was first put into practice hundreds of years ago, on Parisian roads, and has since been adopted in certain parts of North America. The roundabout has proven to have many benefits, eliminating many issues that arise in traditional traffic-light intersections.

How to Use a Roundabout

If you aren't prepared, the first time approaching a roundabout can be intimidating. But there are only a few rules to remember, and adhering to them will keep you, and everyone else, safe.

The most important thing to remember when you encounter a roundabout is to slow down. All cars enter the circular intersection at a reduced speed, moving in a counterclockwise direction around a centre island. When a car approaches the circular intersection, it must yield to the cars already inside.Make sure to note the appropriate exit that you will need. As you approach the intersection, be sure to watch for pedestrians –just like you would in any other intersection.

Because you are yielding to cars that are already inside the circular intersection, you must wait for a gap in traffic before entering. From there, all you must remember is to maintain a safe speed throughout, and be sure to signal right as you approach your exit. Follow those guidelines, and you’ll navigate every roundabout safely, and with ease.

Roundabouts for Large Trucks

If you're driving a large truck, instead of a small car, roundabout navigation is very similar. In Alberta, these circular intersections have large "truck aprons," wider patches of asphalt that provide additional room to turn. As a large truck's turning radius is much wider than that of a car, the truck will have to make a much wider, sweeping turn. Other than the additional room provided by the apron, a roundabout is no different for a multiple-trailer truck than it is for any other vehicle.

How Do Roundabouts Help?

There are several benefits to having a roundabout in place of an intersection. Obviously, in a roundabout there is (ideally) no stopping. Rather than the stop-and-go of a traditional, traffic light intersection, roundabouts have everyone slow down, get in, and get out at their referred outlet.

With traffic moving at a slower speed, there are fewer collisions. Pedestrians and motorists alike are safer, as there are far fewer points of conflict. This also reduces the frequency of the more severe accidents, like T-bones and head-on collisions. Incorporating a roundabout reduces an intersection's fatality rate by 90%.

In addition to dramatically increased safety, and eliminated congestion and delays, there are other benefits to the roundabout as well. Roundabouts offer a reduction in noise, fuel consumption, and emissions, all of which are good for the environment. They are also cheaper and easier to maintain than a traffic signal intersection, which lessens the burden on the city.

Confusion Regarding Traffic Circles

Sometimes motorists can confuse a roundabout with a traffic circle. In all fairness, they do look very similar at first glance, but there are a few subtle yet important distinctions. First and foremost, the diameter of the centre island is smaller on a roundabout. The smaller circle makes for a tighter turning radius, which means cars cannot go as fast. This helps to reduce collisions. The second notable distinction is that the pedestrian crossings on a modern roundabout are located farther away from the centre, making it easier for cars to spot people, and safer for them to cross.

The modern roundabout is a time-tested, safe alternative to a heavily congested intersection. If we had more of these on the road, we'd spend less time in our cars, and more time at our eventual destinations.