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New Bulletin Issued on Traffic Roundabouts
A growing trend in roadway design favors continuous-flow
roundabouts over traditional signalized intersections.
While their design varies widely, roundabouts typically
feature a circulatory roadway around a central island.
Entering traffic yields to vehicles already in the circle.
Increasingly popular in the U.S. because they add vehicle
capacity and reduce delay, roundabouts are a common
feature in Europe and Australia. Studies
suggest a lower incidence of serious vehicle crashes, but
researchers have not considered the safety of pedestrians,
particularly those who have vision impairments.
Because crossing at a roundabout requires a pedestrian to
visually select a safe gap between cars that may
not stop, accessibility for people with vision
impairments has been problematic. A new bulletin issued by the
Board provides guidance on access to roundabouts for
pedestrians with visual impairments. This guidance is
based on research sponsored in part by the Board at the
Department of Blind Rehabilitation at Western
Michigan University. The research assessed access issues
in-depth and provided recommendations for
design improvements that benefit people with vision
impairments. These recommendations address the
location of crosswalks, roadway design, use of traffic
signals, provision of detectable warnings, and other
topics. The Board will use this information in developing
proposed guidelines on accessible public
rights-of-way.
See photos here. See the full report at
http://www.access-board.gov/news/roundabouts-bulletin.htm
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