Module 3 Safety Considerations Safety benefits of roundabouts Roundabouts in the United States Research has shown there are many safety benefits associated with roundabout intersection design.

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Safety is a major consideration on our highways and roadways In the year 2003 there were an average of 6,850 motor vehicle crashes per day at intersections in the United States. For transportation professionals, safety is a major concern. PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Fred Ranck

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Fred Ranck Intersections are the scene of many accidents. Transportation professionals are always looking for ways to reduce the number and severity of crashes.

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations What is the effect on crash rates after an intersection is converted to a roundabout? Conventional 4-way IntersectionRoundabout Data from 55 intersections with at least 2 years of crash data before and after conversion of the intersection to a roundabout.

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations RoundaboutConventional 4-way Intersection What is the effect on severe injury rates after an intersection is converted to a roundabout? Data from 55 intersections with at least 2 years of crash data before and after conversion of the intersection to a roundabout.

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Urban Signalized IntersectionRoundabout How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts?

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Suburban Signalized IntersectionRoundabout How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts?

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts? AWSC intersectionRoundabout

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Rural TWSC intersectionRoundabout How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts?

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Suburban TWSC intersectionRoundabout How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts?

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations RoundaboutUrban TWSC intersection How do typical types of crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts?

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Typical types of crashes at roundabouts Entering

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Typical types of crashes at roundabouts Exiting

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Typical types of crashes at roundabouts Examples of Loss of Vehicle Control

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Typical types of crashes at roundabouts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Bicycle and Pedestrian Considerations Intersections also introduce concerns for transportation professionals on the safest way to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists. PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Pedestrian Considerations at Roundabouts Data on pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes is very limited. PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations How do typical types of pedestrian/motor vehicle crashes compare between conventional intersections and roundabouts? Motor vehicles conflict with pedestrians in the crosswalk areas and can occur as the vehicles enter or leave the intersection from several different directions. A roundabout allows a pedestrian to observe motor vehicles from one direction at a time as they cross the travel lanes. PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Pedestrian Considerations at Roundabouts “Personally, I love them,... you only have to stop one lane of traffic, then go to the middle and wait. The cars can’t go much faster than 20 mph through the roundabout so the crossing aspect is great” From the Howard-Suamico—Denise Haltom, School Crossing Guard, Suamico, Wisconsin PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Bicycle Considerations PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Cyclist Movements at Roundabouts – Circulating as a Vehicle. Bikes merge with motor vehicles Bikes re-enter bike lane Bike lanes are not recommended within a roundabout. Instead, cyclists merge with traffic before entering the roundabout, circulate with traffic, and then re-enter the bike lane after exiting. Lower motor vehicle speeds (15-20 mph) Fewer conflict points with motor vehicles

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Cyclist Movements at Roundabouts – Circulating as a Pedestrian. If a cyclist is uncomfortable riding with traffic, a cyclist can choose to travel instead as a pedestrian. Bikes join shared path with pedestrians Bikes return to bike lane Bicyclists cross as pedestrians

Roundabouts in the United States Module 3—Safety Considerations Summary of the Safety Features of Roundabouts Travel speeds generally reduced by traffic calming effects PHOTOGRAPHY SOURCE: Lee Rodegerdts In almost all cases, the total number of crashes is reduced when a conventional intersection is replaced with a roundabout And more importantly, the number of severe injury crashes is dramatically reduced due to the roundabout’s common direction of travel and similar speeds