PennDOT safety coordinator highlights benefits of roundabouts
The Federal Highway Administration is celebrating National Roundabout Week between Monday and Friday, Sept. 21 through 25, to raise awareness and promote the benefits of roundabouts.
According to official figures from the FHWA, placing a roundabout in place of a traditional four-way traffic intersection can reduce injury or fatality-causing intersection crashes by 82% on average.
“Roundabouts offer improved safety with fewer conflict points and slower speeds,” said Amy Shellhammer, coordinator of the Community Traffic Safety Project for PennDOT District 10. “Roundabouts also help improve motorists’ decision making while driving through the intersection.”
The FHWA estimates roundabouts also reduce traffic delays by 62% to 74% on average. It also said installing a roundabout in place of a traditional four-way intersection can save a municipality money on installing and maintaining traffic signals.
According to Shellhammer, there are rules to driving in a roundabout that may confuse drivers who are unfamiliar with them. The most important rule is that once a driver is in a roundabout, they should not stop or slow down until they are out of it.
“Do not stop inside the circulating lanes,” Shellhammer said. “Never stop or brake suddenly once you are inside the roundabout to let other cars in or to figure out your exit.”
Drivers are also advised not to abruptly change lanes and to yield to traffic already in the circle.
According to an unofficial map of roundabouts across the U.S., there are 13 roundabouts or similar circular intersections in Butler County, all concentrated in the southern part of the county. The vast majority are in the Cranberry Township and Seven Fields area, although there is one found along Route 228 and Saxonburg Boulevard in Clinton Township.
“I think the roundabouts are great. The problem is, most people don’t know how to use them,” Jim Saltzer, who lives in Cranberry Township, said. “I often see people already in the roundabout stop to let others in. They think that they are being nice. Actually, this is a good way to cause an accident.”
“I like the idea of (roundabouts),” Danielle Cather, who responded to a Butler Eagle request for comment through a Cranberry Facebook group, said. “However, the roundabout at the end of Freedom Crider (Road) is wild. I’m glad to not have to use that too often. I’m surprised that one hasn’t caused more accidents.”
Some of the intersections referred to as roundabouts in Butler County are not technically roundabouts, but traffic circles. While the two are similar in concept — both are circular traffic intersections — traffic circles feature some key differences.
“Roundabouts are designed to be as small as practical to accommodate continuous, slow-moving traffic. Entering traffic must yield to circulating traffic,” Shellhammer said. “Traffic circles vary significantly in size and traffic speeds. Entering traffic or circulating traffic may be controlled with stop signs or traffic signals. There may even be parking within the circle.”
