October 2023 ASCE Newsletter | Page 6

ENGINEERING TERM OF THE MONTH - ROUNDABOUT -
In transportation , circular intersections are referred to as roundabouts , rotaries and traffic circles . According to the State of Massachusetts , Roundabouts are a type of circular intersection which promotes slow and consistent vehicle speeds entering , circulating , and exiting the intersection . They differ from rotaries because of their smaller size , slower speeds , and lack of lane changes within the intersection . In New Hampshire , there were 40 roundabouts as of 2017 .
In general , these features are used to replace traditional traffic single or all-way-stop intersections . The benefits of roundabouts or rotaries include safer passage of vehicles and allowing for improved travel times for emergency vehicles by eliminating stops . In recent years , roundabouts have become preferred over rotaries due to their smaller size , slower speeds , and as a result safer use . Three rules for safe use of these intersections are : 1 ) slow down ; 2 ) look around ; and 3 ) be ready to yield .
In some cases , these features can lead to increased crashes , potentially due to lack of awareness of how roundabouts are intended to operate . Public outreach programs have been used to improve user awareness .
https :// www . mass . gov / info-details / what-are-roundabouts # overview-
Sources :
• New Hampshire Public Radio : www . nhpr . org / nh-news / 2017-08-25 / you-askedwe-answered-are-roundabouts-becoming-more-common-in-n-h
� State of Massachusetts : www . mass . gov / info-details / what-are-roundabouts
� Federal Highway Administration : highways . dot . gov / safety / intersection-safety / intersection-types / roundabouts
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