Roundabouts are Coming to Mobile.

Posted on: Apr 10th, 2009 | News and Announcements

Why roundabouts??? Because they save lives, save fuel, save time and save money! What we?re talking about is a drop in fatalities and life-threatening injuries for roundabouts in comparison to traditional intersections! As a bonus, the roundabouts also are more efficient because traffic doesn?t have to stop and start as it moves into the intersection. What is a roundabout? A roundabout is a circular intersection as shown in the graphic. Traffic in the roundabout has the right of way. That means that motorists entering the roundabout must yield to those already in the intersection, slowly merging into existing traffic there. If traffic is clear, there is no need to stop before entering the roundabout. Drivers then go around the circle until they exit onto their street of choice. Mobile County is moving ahead with plans to build roundabouts at appropriate intersections because of the data showing these significant advantages. Only two months ago, the Federal Highway Administration underscored these points, making it a requirement for communities to give priority to roundabouts if they want federal funds. Mobile County is recommending a roundabout intersection at Grelot and Dawes Roads. An extension off the intersection will connect directly to the entrance of Mobile Regional Airport. The county also is the first recipient in the state of Alabama to receive federal dollars for construction of a roundabout under the High Risk Rural Road Program. The roundabout will be located at Three Notch Road and Dawes Lane. So how does the roundabout design deliver such outstanding safety advantages? Much of the benefit comes from the fact that you virtually eliminate the possibility of a T-bone crash that can happen when vehicles are coming at each other at 90 degree angles. Head-on crashes are also unlikely. In fact, the number of contact points between vehicles is reduced from 32 to 8 in a roundabout versus the traditional intersection. Besides safety considerations, the roundabout?s configuration offers other advantages as well: * It keeps traffic flowing steadily in and out of the circle. * The roundabouts are less costly since there is no signalization equipment to install, power or maintain. * They are more environmentally-friendly since there is less idling time and fewer stops and hard accelerations. How do I navigate a roundabout??? It?s easy to learn! When you approach a roundabout, slow down and check to see if you can easily merge into the circle. Wait until the roadway is clear and slowly merge into the existing traffic. Just by the shape of the intersection, you can?t speed through them. You will always enter the roundabout to your left and move counterclockwise around the circle. You will exit to the right. So just watch for your street and exit to when you come to it. It?s that simple. Remember these safety points: * Slow down. * Yield at entry to circulating traffic. * If there?s more than one lane, use the left lane to turn left and the right lane to turn right. * Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists. * Stay in your lane within the roundabout and use your right-turn signal to indicate your intention to exit. * Always assume buses and trucks need all available space and don?t pass them. * Clear the roundabout for emergency vehicles to pass.