Modern roundabouts are a Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Proven Safety Countermeasure and supported by a Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Policy on intersection design decision-making. Modern roundabouts have shown to be highly effective in reducing the rate of serious injury and fatal crashes. Replacing stop-controlled and signalized intersections with roundabouts can reduce crashes that result in incapacitating injuries and deaths by up to 80%.
This is because they significantly:
- slow travel speeds and calm traffic;
- increase driver awareness;
- reduce the number of conflict points; and,
- reduce the possibility of high-impact "t-bone" crashes.
Modern roundabouts are a safer intersection solution for both drivers and pedestrians. Because of the safety benefits, the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization was an early adopter of a regional policy that roundabouts be prioritized as a design alternative when a new intersection project is proposed.
Other than the critical safety benefits, roundabouts:
- create opportunities for placemaking (public art, landscaping, landmarks, gateways);
- support a more efficient use of resources by reducing idling time and slowing travel speed;
- reduce noise pollution caused by fast-moving traffic;
- continue to operate in the case of power outages; and,
- are less expensive to build and maintain than conventional intersections.