Are roundabouts a blessing or an obstacle?
Roundabouts allow for the flow of traffic through an intersection without the vehicle needing to stop, however they can provide some challenges for pedestrians.
Roundabouts can be particularly difficult for people with mobility issues because unlike at a traffic light, vehicles in roundabouts never come to a complete stop, and pedestrians must instead rely on timing gaps between traffic. This is tricky for those with visual impairments or those who are unable to cross a lane of traffic quickly.
Two-laned roundabouts provide an additional challenge for pedestrians as they're forced to navigate an extra lane. Often there is a blind spot if there is a vehicle in the nearest lane, it can be difficult to see if there is any incoming traffic in the far lane.
Roundabouts are also more unsafe for cyclists. Speed and visibility of circulating vehicles are the major contributing factors to collisions with cyclists particularly as bicycles are often located where drivers do not look.
Roundabouts can be safer for vehicles rather than T-intersections with lights, as collisions generally occur at a reduced speed than they would if a car ran a red light.
Crashes are often at safer points on the vehicles, not head on, and not at a right angle but there tends to be more rear-end collisions.
Consultation has concluded
