Are more roundabouts in your driving future? There is a good chance that they will be. In fact, Roanoke County alone will construct three new roundabouts in one traffic corridor in the next year.

Some Virginia drivers like them, and others hate them. Does this attitude say more about the use of

roundabouts or more about our driving habits? Perhaps it just says more about our understanding of roundabouts.

Let’s review the basics.

What is a Roundabout?

A roundabout is a circular intersection that moves traffic without traffic lights or signals. The traffic moves in a counterclockwise direction around a central island. When entering a roundabout, traffic slows down and yields the right of way to the traffic already in the roundabout. By directing all traffic in the same direction, the roundabout eliminates the need for drivers to make left turns in the intersection. A roundabout may move one or more lanes of traffic. [Read more…]