You May Not Have Traffic Lights In The Future

Road designers have argued the relative differences between traffic light-driven intersections and roundabouts for decades. But the verdict is in: Roundabouts are cheaper to build, and they reduce the incidence of collisions by 37%, according to ACS Engineers. Roundabouts aren’t universally more efficient at moving traffic — with notable points being scored by intersections with traffic lights in high speed areas. However, in residential or urban developments, the use of a roundabout is nearly always a more efficient and safer option than a traffic light installation.

Rather than enticing drivers to try and beat a sudden shift to yellow or red, and stepping on the gas as soon as a light shifts back to green (potentially endangering any lingering intersection crossers), roundabouts force drivers to slow down and proceed with caution through the curving exchange, regardless of how many other cars might be on the road. In one sense, the battle for traffic management has already been won as cities are opting for roundabout construction at record levels (via The New York Times).

We Forum also notes that roundabouts are far more energy efficient, reducing waste produced by idling vehicles. Coupled with a shift to greener vehicles more broadly, the use of roundabouts to manage the flow of traffic throughout cities and towns across America might just be part of the green shift.