Roundabouts

Background

Program Goals:

A form of roadway intersection designed to control safety and traffic speeds

Intent:

Unintentional

Risk Factors Addressed:

High accident rates at roadway intersections

Place of occurrence:

Community

Age/Age Range:

All Drivers and Pedestrians

Resources

Year Developed:

Ongoing program implemented in 1991 for Vaxjo and in 1997 for Gorham

Collaborative Organization(s):

Swedish Transportation and Communications Research Board
Swedish National Road Administration
Swedish Association of Local Authorities
National Society for Road Safety (Sweden)
Maine Department of Transportation
Town of Gorham
University of Maine

Funding Resource(s):

Roundabouts were developed, maintained and implemented by the cities of Vaxjo, Sweden and Gorham, Maine

Costs:

The city of Vaxjo paid about 2 million Swedish Kroners ($140, 000 US) for the installation of 21 temporary roundabouts;
The city of Gorham paid $259,000 for one permanent roundabout 

Implementation

Context/Setting:

Community-based implementation

Strategies Used:

Education, Engineering, Enactment

Activities Used:

Within the roundabout,  traffic is accommodated in one direction around a central island; deflection is used to maintain low speed; parking is forbidden; pedestrian activity is not allowed on central island; intersections with high accident rates were chosen for the implementation of roundabouts in each city 

Program Evaluation:

short-term and long studies were conducted

Source of Best Practice:

Volpe, R., Lewko, J., & Battra, A. (2002). A Compendium of Effective, Evidence-Based Best Practices in Prevention of Neurotrauma. University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

Original Source:

Växjö, Sweden, and Gorham, Maine, USA

Supplementary Material:

N/A

Local Example(s):

N/A

Contact Information: 

Per Garder
Associate Professor,
Transportation Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Maine
Orono, ME
04469-5711
Tel: (207) 581-2177
Fax: (2070 581 3999 

Outcomes

Long-term outcomes/Effectiveness:

Reduction in speed and delay; increased pedestrian safety;

Short-term outcomes:

Accident rates and speeds were reduced

Cost-Effectiveness:

Roundabouts increased intersection’s capacity, resulting in significant cost savings

Other Benefits:

Intersection control – to reduce vehicle conflicts, traffic delays, fuel consumption, air pollution and construction costs while increasing capacity and aesthetic beauty.

Other

Date of Review:

2000

Classification:

Best Practice