A recent traffic study from the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) shows the state’s roundabouts are reducing serious injuries and saving lives.
The study reports severe injury and fatal crashes were reduced by 59% and overall crash numbers are down by 33% in the state.
“Roundabouts are a proven counter safety measure,” said NDDOT Director Ron Henke in a press release on the study. “This data shows roundabouts are preforming well and saving lives in North Dakota.”
This study examined the safety performance of roundabouts by comparing the before-and-after completion crash rates and severity. Data was analyzed from 12 roundabouts on the state transportation system.
“Safety is the number one priority and consideration in all our highway projects. While we are pleased with the results of this study, we continue to explore new ways to reduce serious injuries and fatalities to zero,” said Henke in the press release. “But we can’t do it alone. We need every driver, passenger, bicyclist, and pedestrian to take responsibility for their safety by staying alert and following the rules of the road.”
North Dakota’s first roundabout was built in 2012 on State Route 22 near Killdeer. Today, there are 14 roundabouts on the state transportation system with 13 additional roundabouts planned to be installed in the next few years.
Roundabouts are just one method the NDDOT is deploying to improve safety on the state highway system.
The state’s first “reduced conflict intersections” are being built on U.S. Highway 2 near Williston this year. At these intersections, drivers from the side street only need to be concerned with one direction of traffic on the highway at a time.
According to the report from NDDOT these intersections will help with accidents, as traditional four-lane divided highway intersections have an elevated risk of severe right-angle “T-bone” crashes.
Source: North Dakota Department of Transportation, KXNET.com
