ARE ROUNDABOUTS SAFE FOR PEDESTRIANS?

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety identified roundabouts as a Proven Safety Countermeasure. Roundabouts Improve safety for all users, including pedestrians and bicycles.

Compared to traditional intersections, single-lane roundabouts typically offer the following safety benefits and features for pedestrians:

• Lower motor vehicle speeds and increased yielding behavior
• Fewer conflict points
• Higher visibility of pedestrians in the crosswalk
• Shorter wait time for pedestrians to cross than traditional intersections
• Lower exposure to motor vehicles because of the shortened crossing
• Simpler crossing due to the splitter islands, which provide mid-crossing refuge and allow the pedestrian to focus on traffic from one direction at a time

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION LINKS: 

Safe Routes Info Guide

Presentation - Pedestrian Safety at Roundabouts (November 2007)

How to Walk A  Roundabout

WILL CROSSING GUARDS BE REQUIRED AT A ROUNDABOUT?

Due to young school children, a crossing guard may be necessary at a roundabout on a school route.  Once the roundabout is constructed, the Gardner Police Department will work with crossing guards to determine if one or two guards will be required. There are currently roundabouts in many communities, including Gardner, Olathe, Shawnee, and Lawrence near public schools. 

Roundabouts near schools have proven successful in many cases throughout the United States. A roundabout near a school zone may be a form of traffic calming since vehicles are forced to slow down and yield to traffic.

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