There’s a state in Florida that recently added a traffic light to its perimeter, with the goal of reducing gridlock during peak traffic times. This traffic lighted roundabout is located in Sarasota County, at the eastbound Apex Road and Lakewood Ranch Boulevard roundabout.
The reason for adding the traffic light, which will control the flow of eastbound traffic at the roundabout, is to prevent traffic from entering the roundabout. This will be the first cycle in Sarasota County to add a traffic light. According to the Sarasota district, the robot will serve as “…an operational tool designed to help reduce potential lockouts.” Drivers are instructed to stop when the light is red and continue round when it is green.
This move by Sarasota County is probably a response to the level of traffic that exceeds the capacity of the roundabout to allow it to pass smoothly. By adding a traffic light at peak times, the normal flow of roundabout traffic can be restored, although drivers who have to wait for a red light may disagree. But the real reason for the traffic congestion at this roundabout, according to the Sarasota Reddit community, may be due to its location not far from a busy road and long waits for the green light.
How roundabouts work
Modern roundabouts are a traffic calming feature, which began in the UK in the 1960s when the law first required motorists to yield to traffic between them. Roundabouts reduce the speed of vehicles, making them safer for all types of road users, including pedestrians and cyclists. A roundabout is an intersection that takes the shape of a circle and usually does not use any traffic signals. In it, traffic flows in a counter-clockwise direction around an island placed in the center of the roundabout. After allowing any passing vehicles, drivers enter and exit when they reach their chosen road. But not all roundabouts work well – there’s a traffic circle in North Carolina that’s causing more accidents, getting a change for the better.
Roundabouts, or traffic circles, can be large, like Washington, DC’s Thomas Circle above, or they can be very small, like your local mini traffic circles. Despite their actual size, they all provide similar benefits by largely eliminating the types of accidents that injure most people at common intersections – those caused by turning left, hitting someone head-on, and getting T-boned at a right angle. And by reducing the flow of roundabout traffic, overall safety is improved. This makes them even safer for passing pedestrians.
There are also environmental benefits to using roundabouts instead of traditional right-angle intersections. Your engine spends less time idling since there are no idles, resulting in improved fuel economy and overall carbon emissions.