Road design in California has evolved over the years. The standard two-lane highway is no longer adequate in many areas. Municipal authorities may prefer multi-lane roads that prevent traffic congestion.
Another shift that has occurred over time is the preference for roundabouts at locations that may have previously featured very busy intersections. Intersections generally use stop signs or traffic lights to control the flow of vehicles and pedestrians. People have to monitor their surroundings and follow the instructions of signs or lights.
Recent years have seen roundabouts becoming a popular alternative to intersections during the development of new roads or the improvement of existing infrastructure. Why do so many municipal authorities use roundabouts, which confuse some drivers, instead of intersections, which everyone understands?
Roundabouts are safer and more efficient
The reason municipal planners and road designers use roundabouts instead of intersections is simple. They drastically reduce the risk of collisions. Many of the worst crashes that occur every year happen at intersections. A large percentage of those crashes occur because people don’t watch where they’re going or they cut others off in traffic. Left turns, in particular, have a strong association with intersection collisions.
Roundabouts help eliminate that risk. No one turns left at a roundabout. Instead, they follow the flow of traffic and make a right turn to exit on the appropriate street. When traffic is heavy, those approaching a roundabout yield to those who are already in the center circle and then enter when there is a break in traffic.
When there is no traffic, drivers can proceed directly through the roundabout without stopping. Roundabouts therefore eliminate the frustration and traffic congestion that often develop at intersections with stop signs and lights.
When used properly, roundabouts significantly reduce the number of crashes that occur and also the severity of those crashes. Collisions in roundabouts are more likely to be sideswipes or rear-end collisions rather than head-on collisions or dangerous front-end angle collisions.
The failure of municipal authorities to address dangerous intersections and improve their conditions is one of many factors that can contribute to overall collision risk. The government may be partially to blame for collisions at intersections with poor visibility and high levels of congestion.
Understanding when road design, rather than driver decisions, may have caused a crash can help those affected hold the right parties accountable. Drivers and those who have lost loved ones can sometimes take legal action against a party responsible for designing and maintaining a particular section of road and allowing unsafe conditions to persist.