Evaluation of roundabouts in Maryland

Mount Rainier Circle
Originally uploaded by Mr. T in DC

(Roundabouts do not have traffic signals. Traffic circles a la DC do have traffic signals.)

See "State's traffic roundabouts reviewed," from the Annapolis Capital.

From the article:

The study also made suggestions for a double-lane roundabout located at Route 1 and 34th Street in Mount Rainier. There were 61 crashes there in a four-year period, with nearly half being run-off-the-road collisions. Some changes in signs and pavement markings to reduce speeds could help.

One overriding theme has been that many drivers don't know what to do when they approach a roundabout, Mr. Retting said.

"There's definitely a learning process and some drivers learn more quickly than others," he said. "In some ways, it's analogous to switching from a typewriter to a computer. There's a learning process and once you learn that process, you're much better off for it."

(Flickr image of the roundabout in Mount Rainier Maryland by Mr. T in DC.)