new roundabout intersection with no traffic Although somewhat confusing to drivers encountering them the first time, roundabouts are significantly safer than standard intersections. According to the Federal Highway Administration, the safety benefits of roundabouts result in a 35 percent annual reduction in overall crashes, a 90 percent annual decrease in fatal accidents, and a 76 percent annual reduction in overall intersection injuries.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration attributes this decline in catastrophic accidents to the overall design of roundabouts and how that design affects traffic.

Safety Benefits of Roundabout Design

Roundabouts are circular intersections where yielding ensures a constant traffic flow. Instead of vehicles dangerously crisscrossing their paths, as in conventional intersections, roundabouts force traffic to follow a single counterclockwise direction and use exit lanes to funnel drivers to their desired locations.

When used properly, this elaborate design not only forces traffic to flow easily but it also provides inherent benefits to limit the risk of serious accidents and injuries. These benefits include:

  • Slower speeds. Due to the curve of the circle, as well as the short distances between a vehicle’s entry and exit points, speed limits in roundabouts are typically under 25 mph. Drivers are not physically able to speed through a roundabout intersection without running the risk of missing their exits.
  • Fewer acceleration and deceleration accidents. Since roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving, vehicles no longer have to stop abruptly or accelerate quickly for changing lights.
  • Fewer impact points. Roundabouts pretty much eliminate head-on and high-speed side-impact collisions due to the fact that there are significantly fewer potential traffic cross points for a collision. Standard intersections have 28 potential collision points (right and left turns, crisscrossing, etc.), while roundabouts have a mere eight possible points of impact (passing entrances and exits).
  • Increase in pedestrian visibility. Roundabout crosswalks are placed before entrances and slightly behind exit points, making it easier to see pedestrians; additionally, pedestrian accidents are dramatically decreased since there are no left-hand turns.
     

Accidents Can Still Happen, But You Can Hold the Negligent Driver Accountable

Although roundabouts are inherently safer than other intersections, reckless and poor driving can still put your family at risk. If you or a family member suffers from serious injuries due to a roundabout collision, you may be entitled to more compensation than you know. Don’t allow your insurance company to give you the runaround—let us help you find the most direct path to your injury settlement.

Post A Comment

Free Case Evaluation

Fill out this form, and our attorneys will get back to you immediately to discuss your case.

FAQs

Results

Working with Andrew and his team has been--without exception--one of the most pleasant, productive, and professional experiences of my adult life. I was seriously injured in an accident in July, 2018, in Virginia. I was driving a company vehicle that was registered in Maryland, for a company that was based in Wisconsin. And I live in New Jersey, where my personal vehicles are insured. The several jurisdictions involved presented a very unique case that demanded an experienced and nuanced strategy. I found Andrew Thomas (of Dulaney, Lauer, & Thomas) through some online research. And it is noteworthy that Andrew has worked the other side of the aisle--he used to work with insurance companies. Andrew took on my case with the assurance that he would work it with no less energy than he does each of his cases. At each turn, and with each question I had, Andrew and Paralegal Misty kept me informed, returned my calls, provided detailed explanations, and kept me feeling like I was in the loop and there was an eventual end to our journey. Nearly five years after the accident, we settled out of court for a significant sum in recognition of my personal injuries. The settlement was much more than I had expected. And without Andrew & Misty, I am sure the award would have been much less. If you are looking for professionalism, knowledge, dedication, answerability, responsiveness, integrity, and human-level communication from a personal injury attorney--look no further. You have found him. Thank you, Andrew and Misty. Gary Daley
I'm grateful for all your work . . . Roger V. (Remington, VA)
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with Best Law Firms 2025
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with Best Lawyers
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with MDAF
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with Northern Virginia Magazine Top Lawyers
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with SuperLawyers
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with Martindale-Hubbell
Logo Recognizing Dulaney, Lauer & Thomas's affiliation with AVVO