Transit Roundabout Trend Is A Nightmare

Transportation planners across the U.S. are replacing stop signs with roundabouts designed to slow drivers. The impact is precisely the opposite.

1 minute read

January 19, 2002, 9:00 AM PST

By Chris Steins @planetizen

So far, there have been more than 500 accidents at the [Clearwater, Florida] roundabout, which was touted at its opening as the greatest ever built in the U.S... The frequency of accidents is eight times higher at the roundabout than at the intersections it replaced. City officials say the crashes are less severe, primarily because cars are now moving more slowly.It's a similar story elsewhere. As traffic planners across the U.S. rip out stop signs to install roundabouts that can slow aggressive drivers, some cities are discovering that these so-called "traffic-calming devices" do exactly the opposite... In some places, accident rates have surged after the installation of roundabouts, causing them to be razed in favor of old-fashioned traffic lights or stop signs.

Thanks to D. Watson

Read the full story: For Safety's Sake, Roundabouts Replaced Stop Lights, but Pileups Began Piling Up

Friday, January 18, 2002 in Wall St. Journal

Transportation United States

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

Start Learning

Advertise with us

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.