BOZEMAN, MONTANA – 9/16/24 – The National Center for Rural Road Safety (the Center) encourages rural transportation agencies to consider the benefits of roundabouts during National Roundabouts Week (NRW), Sept. 16-20.
The Center joins the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and other transportation agencies across the nation in observation of NRW.
Circular in shape, a roundabout is a type of intersection that moves traffic in a counterclockwise direction around a center island. Its channelized, curved approaches force vehicles to slow down and yield to crossing pedestrians or bicyclists and traffic already in the circle.
This configuration results in a significant 78-82 percent reduction of fatal and serious injuries at formerly signalized and two-way stop-controlled intersections. Other roundabout benefits include:
- Steady and efficient traffic flow
- Better intersection visibility
- Lower speeds for pedestrians and bicyclists
Simply put, roundabouts save lives.
Over 10,000 roundabouts have been installed in cities and towns across the U.S. Despite their growing popularity, some drivers may be unfamiliar with navigating roundabouts. Here are supplemental resources to help:
More resources
- Article: Rural Roundabouts Save Lives
- Fact sheet: Roundabouts
- Video: Going Round and Round about Roundabouts
- FHWA Roundabouts Webpage
- FHWA NRW Social Media Graphics
For more information about roundabouts and National Roundabouts Week, visit the FHWA campaign page: https://highways.dot.gov/safety/intersection-safety/nrw. Stay in the conversation on social media by using #RoundaboutsWeek.
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