How does a Roundabout differ from a Traditional Intersection?
A roundabout reduces vehicle-to-vehicle conflict points from 32 (at a conventional four-way intersection) to 8 (See figure below). Among those conflict points eliminated are left-hand turns, which can result in more serious crashes at traditional intersections. Since roundabout traffic only enters and exits via right-hand turns, occurrence of severe crashes is greatly reduced. Small angle collisions may occur as a result of right-hand turns, but these are typically less severe types of collisions. According to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, roundabouts have a greater than 90% reduction in fatalities, a 76% reduction in injuries, and a 35% reduction in all crashes when compared to conventional intersections.
