Roundabout accidents, according to the Florida Department of Transportation FDOT, are a relatively rare occurrence. Officials say that roundabouts can reduce fatal car accidents as well as pedestrian and bicycle crashes.
You’ve been seeing roundabouts being built all around the state lately due to their operational and safety advantages. FDOT is aggressively advocating their implementation throughout Florida’s roadway network. Currently, there are around 300 roundabouts on local roads throughout the State, and about 20 roundabouts are active on the state highway network. In addition to being safer – especially for beginning and elderly drivers – officials say they save time and money for drivers, and they reduce pollution because drivers are not idling at traffic lights.
Roundabout projects also add to general infrastructure improvements, because construction usually includes upgrades to drainage systems, new sidewalks, new landscaping, and new pedestrian and bicycle paths. Experts say roundabouts are also less costly to maintain than traditional intersections with traffic lights.
Fewer Roundabout Accidents
Roundabouts improve traffic flow, safety, and accessibility. For instance, roundabouts slow down traffic and make drivers more alert. In a typical intersection with traffic lights, drivers often speed up to beat yellow signals. But drivers have to slow down to enter a roundabout and yield to existing traffic. Further, roundabout accidents are typically less serious than accidents at conventional intersections. A driver running a red light at an intersection often results in a “T-bone” crash with a high potential for death and injury. Roundabout accidents are more likely to be angled collisions, with less serious impact.
Many studies have shown that there are fewer roundabout accidents because the design greatly reduces “points of conflict,” meaning that cars are made to flow in such a way that the potential for collision is much less than with traditional intersections.
Nonetheless, roundabout accidents do occur, and they are generally the fault of carelessness or negligence on the part of the driver. Roundabouts may be safer, but there’s always a risk of accidents because of speeding, distracted driving, or some other unsafe driver behavior. If you’ve been hurt in a car accident, call 866-730-1367 for a free consultation with an Orlando car accident attorney at the Martinez Manglardi personal injury law firm.
