Posted on 09/25/2022 6:42:21 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks
Some drivers may be confused or intimidated by roundabouts, those circular intersections where all traffic circles to the left until motorists find their exit to the right.
But drivers better get used to them — the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is sold on the improved safety and traffic flow roundabouts provide and expects to install more of them to replace traditional intersections that use traffic signals or stop signs.
The department last week released a study that reviewed 36 roundabouts that had replaced traditional intersections for at least three years. It found that deaths at those locations dropped to just one from three; serious injuries dropped 76%; minor injuries 22%; and possible or unknown severity injuries 70%. Overall, the number of crashes dropped by 9%.
Jeff Bucher, PennDOT’s division chief for highway, design and technology, said the state expected the increased safety numbers. That’s because roundabouts slow down drivers in general and eliminate left turns across traffic that lead to high-impact side crashes.
“The roundabouts are designed so people enter at a slower speed so if there is an accident, it’s usually a minor fender-bender rather than the T-bone accidents you get at traditional intersections,” Mr. Bucher said. “All the turns are right-turn movements, not left turns across traffic.”
The use of modern roundabouts began in the early 1990s and were approved and encouraged by the Federal Highway Administration in the later 1990s. Some states, such as Florida, Washington and Wisconsin, have been leaders in adopting them.
Pennsylvania is about in the middle of the pack on roundabout use, Mr. Bucher said. In addition to those included in the study, another 38 have been installed on state routes and 16 are in the design stage.
(Excerpt) Read more at post-gazette.com ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NFV57kkjXTI
There is one near me that a full-sized vehicle cannot navigate without going over the curb. It really fouls up traffic as cars come to a stop trying to make the turn and finally realizing they’re going to have to pull up on the curb to make the turn.
There’s one near me here in PA but I’ve never tried it. Maybe I’ll decide to go that way one day just to educate myself on them. I checked it out on Google street view and it looks like it’s a LOT smaller than those infamous circles I’ve had to drive through in NJ.
We have a seven entrance roundabout in the next town over. It was called the “most dangerous intersection in America.”
Rotaries are nice if people follow the rules. I had to drive through that thing every day for years. I learned that when people don’t follow the rules, it can have bad outcomes.
https://www.youtube.com/c/MilwaukeeRoundabout/videos
That's going to cost a lot.
Wow. Almost as bad as the can opener bridge.
The right-turn ramp concept does sound safer. Do you have an idea of the cost difference between the types?
My understanding is that the real estate needed is the biggest factor, not the grading, substrate, curbing, and paving.
They do take up a lot more space and as far as I can tell will create more accidents.
Photo of roundabout.
https://streets.mn/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/07Are-Roundabouts-Safer_535.jpg
Here is one by my old high school in Crystal, MN. I just noticed it earlier this year on a map so it must have been built not long ago. It looks like they have removed a house on the right. I bet many accidents have happened there.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Douglas+Dr+N,+Crystal,+MN/@45.0035566,-93.3606001,406m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x52b3341a5d149891:0x69ce397bf717688a!8m2!3d45.0271346!4d-93.3600922?hl=en
It's a mere fraction of the videos online of cars plowing through intersections that have traffic lights.
I think they need pillars or dragon's teeth to stop cars from going airborne over the top or driving straight through.
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