One Michigan study claimed that every single-lane roundabout on average added about $500,000 to the economy in increased productivity. (Shutterstock image)
January 23, 2020
Joel Kurth
Michigan Government
Confused about roundabouts? You’re not alone.
Designed to reduce speeds and serious crashes, roundabouts also have a tendency to increase confusion among some drivers. As Michigan slowly joins other states in adding roundabouts, here are some facts and tips:
Traditional intersections are dangerous
About 37,000 people per year die in car crashes nationwide (including about 1,000 in Michigan), according to federal statistics. About 40 percent of all injury-related crashes occur at intersections, involving some 767,000 people.
Roundabouts are designed to slow traffic and eliminate the sharpest angles of turns that cause the most serious crashes. The tradeoff: At some roundabouts, less-serious sideswipes actually increase.
