A roundabout is an intersection where traffic travels around a central island in a counterclockwise direction. Vehicles entering or exiting the roundabout must yield to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians.
Roundabouts can have many advantages over traffic signals when constructed in the right location, including:
- They provide traffic calming, resulting in reduced speeds.
- They require less maintenance, have lower yearly operational costs, and have a longer service life.
- They reduce greenhouse gas emissions by reducing vehicle idling time.
- The median islands provide refuge for pedestrians, allowing them to cross one direction of traffic at a time.