In the past, the word roundabout often conjured images of small cars zooming in a circular pattern in the United Kingdom or somewhere in Europe. Today, roundabouts are growing in popularity in the United States and for very good reason. If you’ve recently heard your city wants to install a roundabout in your area, you might be wondering what exactly that is and if they really help to reduce accidents.

What is a roundabout?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “Roundabouts are essentially forms of intersections at which traffic entering the intersection area is deflected into a circular pattern and vehicles travel around the circle until they find their desired exit point.”

The NHTSA states key characteristics include:

* A circular design that may include a center island for pedestrians

* The design deflects traffic from its original path and forces it to slow down

* Traffic entering the roundabout always yields to traffic already in the roundabout

Many people not familiar with roundabout driving might find them bothersome, and consider it to be just another nuisance delaying their journey from point A to point B. But much research has found that roundabouts are an effective way of reducing accidents and therefore preventing injuries to drivers and passengers.

Roundabouts help keep everyone safe. Compared to other types of intersections, roundabouts have demonstrated safety and other benefits, according to the United States Department of Transportation – Federal Highway Administration.

Slower vehicle speeds resulting from a roundabout help reduce crashes by 35 percent. In addition they help reduce accident fatalities by more than 90 percent and accident injuries by 76 percent. These slow speeds are generally safer for pedestrians as well.

Roundabout rules:

If you have never used a roundabout before, keep some simple rules in mind. Go slow and always yield to pedestrians and traffic already in the roundabout. If there is more than one lane, use the right lane as the exit lane and be sure to signal. Keep an adequate distance from vehicles in front of you, especially large trucks that might need extra space. Before you know it, using a roundabout will be second nature.

Accidents do happen, especially in areas of high traffic. A roundabout intersection can help prevent them and keep roads and the communities they are located in safer.