Videos on Modern Roundabouts

Getting to Know Modern Roundabouts Video

Modern Roundabouts are becoming increasingly popular in Southeast Michigan and throughout the United States. These intersections are specifically engineered to reduce traffic congestion and improve pedestrian safety without the use of traffic signals or stop signs.

The following video, titled “Getting to Know Modern Roundabouts”, narrated by Paul W. Smith of WJR in Detroit, was produced to help educate the public on modern roundabouts for the proposed Northwestern Connector Project in Oakland County, Michigan. The Washtenaw County Road Commission would like to thank The Road Commission for Oakland County and the Michigan Department of Transportation for their permission to post this informative video on our website.

IIHS Modern Roundabout Video

The following production created by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is a brief video educating others on the design aspects and benefits modern roundabouts have to offer to motorists.

Pedestrian Crossings: Refuge Islands versus Modern Roundabouts

Many traffic engineers and citizens feel that pedestrian refuge islands found on multi-lane, high speed, high volume roadways provide higher levels of safety to pedestrians crossing a road. This is because pedestrians are provided the option of crossing the roadway in two stages and allows the individual(s) to focus on one direction of traffic at a time. Splitter islands found at modern roundabouts serve the same purpose. The following video clips demonstrate the similarities between the two devices.