Traffic improvements celebrated with new roundabout
CARTHAGE, Mo. – A simple change to road design is estimated to significantly reduce serious injuries and traffic fatalities in Jasper County. Construction has begun on a new roundabout on Zora and Duquesne Streets in coordination with National Roundabouts Week: September 16 – 20.
The Jasper County Health Department joins the Federal Highway Administration to help raise awareness about the benefits of roundabouts.
Roundabouts use a Safe System Approach to reduce the number of serious injuries and deaths by preventing crashes.
“Roundabouts make intersections safer while moving traffic in a counterclockwise direction around a center island,” says Health Department administrator Debbie Darby. “They force vehicles to slow down and keep traffic moving efficiently.”
The roundabout’s circular pattern also ensures drivers can see other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists more easily.
The National Center for Rural Road Safety also says roundabouts reduce the energy of moving objects so that if there is a crash, the angle of impact and the kinetic energy of the moving objects are slowed down to “survivable limits.” This approach is estimated to reduce fatal and serious injuries by almost 78%. For more information about the benefits of roundabouts, watch this video from the Federal Highway Administration, or view their fact sheets, available in English and Spanish. More information is also available by contacting the Jasper County Health Department at 417-358-3111.
FHA Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?
FHA Fact Sheet (English): fhwasa08006.pdf (dot.gov)
FHA Fact Sheet (Spanish): fhwasa08006sp.pdf (dot.gov)