TEAM Arizona Riding Tip: Round and Round (Riding Roundabouts)
Last Updated: November 30th, 2020
What position on the road do motorcyclists have the most dangerous interaction with other vehicles? You got it; intersections. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety(IIHS) says that more than 7,000 people are killed annually at intersections and nearly one million people are injured.
The IIHS says it has a way to drastically reduce intersection crashes, especially the type that cause motorcyclists the most grief; the car turning left in front of us. How? They say roundabouts are one giant step towards reaching a solution.
What Are Roundabouts?
In the United States, a modern roundabout is an unsignalized circular intersection and traffic flows counter clockwise around the intersection. It is engineered to maximize safety and minimize traffic delay. Over the last few decades, thousands of roundabouts have been installed in Europe, Australia and other parts of the world, but now we’re seeing them in Arizona.
What Are the Benefits to Roundabouts?
According to the IIHS, there are significant benefits to utilizing roundabouts versus intersections. They include, but are not limited to, the following:
- 90 percent reduction in fatal crashes
- 75 percent reduction in injury crashes
- 30-40 percent reduction in pedestrian crashes
- 10 percent reduction in bicycle crashes
- 30-50 percent increase in traffic capacity
Additional benefits to drivers include:
- reduction in fuel use and pollution.
- no signal equipment to install and repair (thus lower public maintenance costs).
- quieter neighborhoods.
Any downsides? So far, the IIHS claims just the learning curve on behalf of the drivers utilizing the intersections. They’ve determined the American public is initially expressing some reticence for migrating to roundabouts. They are sure once Americans understand the huge benefits, they’ll quickly change their minds.
How Do We Use Roundabouts?
As you enter a roundabout, remember two key points:
- Never merge. The right of way is observed at the yield sign. Motorists already in the roundabout have the right of way. You must slow down or stop to yield to traffic approaching from the left. Wait for a gap in traffic, then carefully proceed into the roundabout.
- Go SLOW:
- Slow down to 15-25 mph when entering.
- Let vehicles already circulating go ahead.
- Obey all one-way signs.
- Watch for pedestrians, bicyclists, emergency vehicles and large vehicles.
For multiple-lane usage, follow these guidelines depending on traffic patterns:
- For right-hand turns, travel in the right-hand lane and use your turn signal.
- For left-hand turns, travel in the left-hand lane and use your turn signal.
- For continuing forward, remain in the same lane you entered.
- For missed exits, circle around the roundabout again.
What’s In It For Us?
As motorcyclists, moving to a roundabout model will be immensely beneficial to us. Roundabouts greatly reduce the risk of fatality crashes and truth be told, increases the amount of fun we have on the road. Less stopping means more riding!
Do you have an opinion about roundabouts? Want to get your two cents in? Visit our Facebook page and tell us your thoughts!
For the Entire TEAM Arizona Newsletter Content, CLICK HERE
