A roundabout is a form of intersection control that is being utilized as an alternative to signalized or sign controlled intersections. A roundabout has been successfully used throughout the world and United States to control speed, manage traffic, increase capacity, and reduce crashes. The City of Lincoln is introducing the concept of roundabouts as a viable solution to address traffic problems on the city s street transportation system. A roundabout is a circular intersection in which the entering vehicles yield to the circulating vehicles.
All vehicles circulate around a central island.
The design of a roundabout contributes to lower speeds, greater safety, and increased efficiency. The safety benefits of a roundabout to roadway users are significant. Figure 1 demonstrates a comparison of a conflict diagram for a typical intersection and a roundabout intersection. The number of conflict points is reduced at a roundabout from 32 to 8 for vehicles and 24 to 8 for pedestrians. This significantly reduces the decision making process for drivers and pedestrians, contributing to an overall safer environment.