We still aren’t quite sure what rock band Yes meant by “I’ll be the roundabout, the words will make you out ‘n out.” Or even “In and round the lake, mountains come out of the sky and they stand there.”
But with their radio staple “Roundabout” from 1971, the band introduced a new word to the American vernacular. Now, nearly a half-century later, the traffic circles are playing a role in how the United States is improving traffic safety and influencing driving habits. That includes plans for two roundabouts along Highway 14 in Washougal, with construction expected to begin next year.
“A lot of folks don’t understand the benefits because they haven’t had a chance to drive through them that often,” said Tamara Greenwell, a spokeswoman for the Washington State Department of Transportation. “Once people start using them, they see the benefits. Things we’re not used to are uncomfortable.”
So true; any change to driving habits is bound to create some consternation, but the benefits of roundabouts when compared with other traffic-control measures have been well-documented. “The intersections that are the most straightforward are not necessarily our safest intersections,” said Scott Langer of WSDOT. “They kind of put (drivers) in autopilot so they think they can text and drive and be OK. Roundabouts grab their attention.”
A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that roundabouts reduce injury crashes by 75 percent at intersections where stop signs or signals were previously used. Meanwhile, fatal collisions are reduced by 90 percent. Studies in the Netherlands, Australia, Germany, France, and Switzerland have found similar results.
As the U.S. Department of Transportation points out, “The frequency of crashes at an intersection is related to the number of conflict points at an intersection, as well as the magnitude of conflicting flows at each conflict point. A conflict point is a location where the paths of two motor vehicles, or a vehicle and a bicycle or pedestrian queue, diverge, merge, or cross each other.” A typical four-way intersection with traffic lights has 32 potential points of vehicle conflict; a roundabout has eight, along with fewer conflicts with pedestrians or bicycles.
The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety also notes that modern roundabouts are more fuel efficient. Because traffic signals can cause drivers to stop and idle, even when traffic is light, drivers use less fuel when a roundabout is in place. Studies by Kansas State University found that installing a roundabout reduced traffic delays by about 20 percent.
Still, humans are inherently resistance to change. So there are some concerns about plans for roundabouts on Highway 14 at 15th Street and 32nd Street in Washougal. WSDOT estimates the projects will cost about $7.6 million, and that raises questions about the need for the change. But if the project reduces collisions and results in fuel savings, it will be a wise investment.
As they are now, the intersections at 15th and 32nd can be harrowing for drivers trying to make a left turn with highway traffic coming the other direction. “At traffic signals, when someone messes up, they blow a red (light) for whatever reason, the crash is at full speed,” Langer said. “With roundabouts, everything we see pretty much is a sideswipe.”
Or, as Jon Anderson sang about roundabouts, “Along the drifting cloud, the eagle searching down on the land.” But we still aren’t sure what that means.
