Many older roundabouts (also called traffic circles) were built primarily
as a location for a fountain or statue, with little regard to traffic
principles. As a result, there has been considerable variation in design
features and traffic regulation, causing confusion and accidents.
During the last decade traffic engineering organizations have developed
roundabout design standards and management practices to maximize traffic
efficiency and safety. They always include yield on enter, and design
features that channel traffic and limit vehicle speeds. They are usually
one lane, and never more than two rotating lanes. These are called "Modern
Roundabouts".
In addition, there are "mini-roundabouts" or "traffic circles" which are
generally smaller circles installed within existing intersections as a
traffic calming device. They too require vehicles to yield on entering the
intersection.
To maximize safety and establish consistency it is very important that all
roundabouts be designed (and existing ones redesigned) to reflect these
principles.
References and Resources:
DETR, Traffic Calming Bibliography, Department of Environment, Transport
and Regions, (www.roads.detr.gov.uk/roadnetwork/ditm/tal/index.htm), 2000.
FHWA, Traffic Calming Website
(www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/tcalm/index.htm) by the Federal Highway
Administration provides a variety of resources for traffic calming planning.
Carman Hass-Klau, Inge Nold, Geert Bocker and Graham Crampton, Civilized
Streets; A Guide to Traffic Calming, Environmental and Transport Planning
(Brighton, UK), 1992. Comprehensive guide to Traffic Calming with numerous
case studies, mostly in Europe.
Kittelson and Associates, Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, Turner
Fairbank Highway Research Center, Federal Highway Administration,
FHWA-RD-00-67 (http://www.tfhrc.gov/safety/00068.htm), June 2000.
Bhagwant Persaud, Crash Reductions Following Installation of Roundabouts in
the United States, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.iihs.org),
2000.
Roundabouts USA (www.RoundaboutsUSA.com) provides information on roundabout
design and implementation.
VTPI, "Traffic Calming," Online TDM Encyclopedia, Victoria Transport Policy
Institute (www.vtpi.org), 2002.
At 02:25 PM 1/3/2003 +0001, Cerny Jan wrote:
>Dear Colleagues,
>
>Please, could you inform me what type of right of way is used on
>the roundabouts in your country?
>
>The reason of my request is the following: Until now, at the Czech
>roundabouts, the vehicles having already entered the roundabout
>(the ones which are "in") have the right of way and the others,
>willing to enter (being "out" yet), have to give the right of way. I.e. it
>is a "priority from left", the opposite to the "priority from right" which
>is valid in other, not circular, junctions. However, there are persons
>who want to change it, to introduce the "priority from right" in
>roundabouts as well. I am afraid that it may cause traffic blocking
>effects. One of the arguments against this idea could be the
>experience from abroad if you describe it to me.
>
>Looking forward to your answers, wishing happy new year
>
>Jan
>********************************************************************
>
>Jan Cerny, professor,
>University of Economics (Prague)
>Faculty of Management,
>37701 Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Rep.
>phone ++420-384-417203,-361343,
>fax -417 277, email [log in to unmask]
Sincerely,
Todd Litman, Director
Victoria Transport Policy Institute
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
1250 Rudlin Street
Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, Canada
Phone & Fax: 250-360-1560
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: http://www.vtpi.org
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