I think you’re probably right about that!! I’m not a traffic engineer, and I don’t even play one on TV, but looking at some of the traffic snarls I’ve experienced, circles make sense in a twisted, psychotic sort of way.
And to think we have you Brits to thank for it:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout
In the circle, vehicles are moving. Objects in motion tend to remain in motion, so the chance of major dead-stopped incidents is reduced.
On the other hand, the vehicles are moving relatively slowly, and at acute angles to one another, rather than right angles, so if they collide, the damage to people and vehicles is reduced. Take to that, physics!