ROUNDABOUT EXPERIENCE IN NEVADA AFTER 20 YEARS 1 SAMUEL KOFI AHIAMADI Graduate Student University of Nevada, Reno Email: [email protected]

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Outline

 Introduction  Data Collection Methods  Observations  Data at Selected Roundabouts  Conclusions and Recommendations 2

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Introduction

 First Modern roundabout built in the UK 1966  Spreads to France, Germany, Australia etc  Introduced to the United States 1990 (Las Vegas)  Currently over 2000 roundabouts across the US in more than 40 States 3

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Objective

•

The objective of this paper is to discuss

observations

made at selected roundabouts related to

vehicle

and

pedestrian safety

,

capacity

and

delay 4

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Data Collection Methods



The following procedure were used

• Video Recording • Radar Speed Gun for Speed Measurements • Crossing and Observing Driver Behavior 5

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

 Speeding Drivers

Observations

6

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

 Hesitant Drivers

Observations

7

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

 Stopping in the Circulating lane

Observations

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

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 Illegal Turning Movement

Observations

9

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Observations



Pedestrian Issues

• Drivers are unwilling to stop for pedestrians • For two-lane roundabouts, one driver stops and the adjacent driver does not stop • Very challenging for the blind and elderly 10

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Speed Data

 MEASURED SPEEDS FOR VEHICLES AT SELECTED ROUNDABOUT 11

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Crash Data

 Crash Data For Selected Roundabouts In Nevada 12 

NDOT, 2011

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Causes of Crashes



Failure to

yield

right of way



Failure to

maintain lane 

Driving

too fast  Unsafe lane

change

 Improper

turn

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

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Preliminary Data From Research

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Roundabout Type Critical Headway Follow-up Headway Nevada Data National Average Nevada Data National Average

Single Lane 3.3 - 4.4 (3.9) 4.2 - 5.9 (5.1) 2.9

2.6 - 4.3 (3.2) Left Lane 4.1 - 5.9 (4.9) 4.2 - 5.5 (4.5) 2.9

3.1 - 4.7 (3.4) Double-Lane Right Lane 4.3 - 5.5 (4.8) 3.4 - 4.9 (4.2)

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno 2.9

2.7 - 4.4 (3.1)

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

Conclusions

 Significant number of drivers continue to speed when approaching and negotiating roundabouts  Drivers are unwilling to stop pedestrians for  Unsafe driver behavior still exist at roundabouts

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

15

Recommendations

  Need for public education for any newly installed roundabout DMV’s should consider around a roundabout testing new drivers  Increasing Roundabout information on NDOT website with Video demonstrations  Experimenting with touch button flashers for pedestrians 16

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

QUESTIONS ?

THANK YOU

CATER-Center for Advance Transportation Education and Research

University of Nevada, Reno

2012 ITE Western District Annual Meeting

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