You Say Traffic Circle, I Say Roundabout
Roundabouts, traffic circles, or rotary traffic islands (rotaries for short) are all names for a type of circular roadway infrastructure we’re seeing more and more of in the Greenville area. Originating in the United Kingdom in the 1960s, these intersections were created to improve traffic flow. When arriving at a traffic circle, a car merges into the counterclockwise-moving traffic unless the circle is full. Once a vehicle enters the roundabout, it follows the circular route until reaching the exit for the desired roadway. Roundabouts provide many benefits over conventional intersections. In addition to providing a typically nice greenspace to drive around, roundabouts, with their yield signs and low speeds have been found to be 30% safer than traditional four-way intersections with traffic signals and stop signs. According to greenvillesc.gov, compared to traffic signals, roundabouts typically reduce crashes by 40 - 60%, reduce injury by 35 - 80%, and almost completely eliminate in...