Traffic roundabouts, those circles at intersection that rely on drivers to keep the flow of traffic moving, as opposed to traffic lights, have some safety benefits.
But that doesn't mean there's less traffic accidents at those intersections.
In fact, Norb Franz of the Oakland Press reports that accidents are up sharply at some Oakland County roundabouts. Oakland County has the most of any county in the state with 24.
Franz writes:
After the roundabout at Hamlin Road and Livernois was constructed in 2010, collisions skyrocketed more than 700 percent from the prior year, to 2,011. After changes in signage and pavement markings in January 2012, the number of crashes has dropped but remains well above pre-roundabout levels.
At Farmington and Maple roads, the total number of crashes remains significantly higher since a roundabout was installed there in 2007, according to data provided by the Road Commission for Oakland County. Between 2000 and 2006, total crashes ranged from 20 to 51. After the traffic circle opened, yearly totals ranged from 65 collisions in 2011 to 93 the next year. The vast majority of injuries were very minor.
The number of accidents also remains significantly higher since roundabouts replaced traffic signals at Drake and Maple roads, built in 2007, and at Farmington Road and 14 Mile.
The Upside: The Oakland Press reports that road agencies says roundabouts force drivers to slow down, injuries usually are less severe, traffic flow is tremendously improved, emergency vehicles get through more quickly, and auto emissions are reduced.
The paper reports that serious injury accidents in Oakland County have dropped sharply in places where roundabouts replaced typical intersections.
