Roundabouts Too Confusing?
Complaints about roundabouts are shortsighted. While the tiny ones in my neighborhood are rarely used correctly, they force people to slow down, thereby avoiding big accidents.
State transportation officials believe smoother driving is ahead at the I-43-Moorland/Rock Ridge roundabout and others, especially after drivers get accustomed to using them.
They acknowledge that there have been a lot of crashes at the roundabout. But many have been fender-benders, and there have been far fewer crashes involving injuries than in the past. Of the 49 crashes, only three involved injuries.
"The one thing I think that needs to be kept in mind about roundabouts - I know they are not popular - but three injury accidents, that's a good number," Rieder said.
DOT spokesman Dennis Shook points out that since the roundabout became fully functional in July, the number of accidents has decreased. "People are starting to get the hang of it," he said.
The DOT has had better luck at the roundabout north of the I-43/Moorland Road overpass. Since that opened in November 2008, 14 crashes have occurred there. But that is still more than the average of eight crashes per year that occurred there between 2000 and 2008 before the roundabout.
Despite the crashes, Shook doesn't consider the roundabouts dangerous.
"We've virtually eliminated personal-injury accidents. It's infinitely better to have a fender-bender than a fatal accident," he said.
