Science

Who invented the roundabout?

Who invented the roundabout?
Written by adrina

Driving at intersections can be dangerous because that’s where most collisions occur. Today, roundabouts are gaining popularity nationwide as potentially safer alternatives to traffic lights and stop signs. Who invented the roundabout and does this type of intersection improve car safety?

What is a roundabout?

*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{height:100%}img,span{position:absolute;width:100%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto}span{ Height: 1.5cm; text alignment: center; Font: 48 pixels/1.5 sans serif; Color white; Text shadow: 0 0 0.5 cm Black}

><span>▶</span>” source=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/6OGvj7GZSIo?feature=oembed” frame border=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; auto play; write clipboard; encrypted media; Gyroscope; picture in picture” Allow full screen></iframe></p> </div> </figure> <p>You may have seen them in your neighborhood. In the United States, roundabouts are taking over intersections once dominated by traffic lights and stop signs. </p> <aside class=

So what exactly is a roundabout? Erie Insurance defines it as “a circular street that loops around a raised central island.”

The purpose of roundabouts is to control the flow of traffic as all cars move around the roundabout in the same direction. A roundabout differs from a roundabout in that vehicles do not have to stop before entering a roundabout like a roundabout does.

Who invented the roundabout?

Columbus Circle in Manhattan is a famous roundabout | Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

The history of the roundabout is long – much longer than the history of the automobile. We can trace the use of roundabouts back to at least 18th-century Europe. For example, the famous Arc de Triomphe in Paris, which dates back to 1780, stands at the center of the busy Place Charles de Gaulle roundabout, also known as Place de l’Étoile.

It is not known exactly who invented the roundabout as a concept and where the first appeared. However, we do know that in 1777 the Marquis de Marigny completed massive streets at the intersection where Place Charles de Gaulle is today. It even still has streets paved in the shape of a star.

The first roundabout in the United States is Columbus Circle in New York City. American landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted designed this roundabout in 1857 as part of a larger plan for Central Park.

Because of this, circular intersections are safer than four-way stops

*{padding:0;margin:0;overflow:hidden}html,body{height:100%}img,span{position:absolute;width:100%;top:0;bottom:0;margin:auto}span{ Height: 1.5cm; text alignment: center; Font: 48 pixels/1.5 sans serif; Color white; Text shadow: 0 0 0.5 cm Black}

><span>▶</span>” source=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/6OGvj7GZSIo?feature=oembed” frame border=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; auto play; write clipboard; encrypted media; Gyroscope; picture in picture” Allow full screen></iframe></p> </div> </figure> <p>Why the sudden craze for roundabouts in the United States? It mainly boils down to security. Study after study has shown that roundabouts are less likely to result in fatal car crashes than conventional intersections. </p> <p>Roundabouts offer more safety in many ways. For starters, entering the circle requires riders to slow down. Traffic on roundabouts generally moves at less than 32 km/h, so in the event of a collision there is much less chance of serious injury. (Of course, accidents are also easier to avoid when vehicles are moving slowly, as cars can stop faster at slower speeds.) </p> <p>Also, roundabouts and roundabouts have the advantage over traditional intersections that all vehicles are traveling in the same direction. That means they’re much less likely to collide than someone running a red light. Cars on roundabouts are also much less likely to be involved in dangerous head-on collisions. </p> <p>Then there’s the issue of conflict points – spots at an intersection where two vehicles could collide. Traditional “T” junctions have a whopping 32 conflict points, while roundabouts only have eight. The advantages of the latter are obvious. </p> <p>Finally, we must not forget about the potential danger for pedestrians. It turns out they’re safer on roundabouts too. Instead of having to worry about crossing two opposing lanes, pedestrians at roundabouts only have to cross one flow of traffic at a time. It also helps that all vehicle traffic is moving in the same direction. </p> <p>Cities continue to build roundabouts for other reasons as well. Improved traffic flow reduces delays and emissions. In addition, roundabouts are less expensive to maintain because they do not require traffic lights. All in all, the roundabout is highly recommended.</p> <p><strong>RELATED: 5 back-to-school safety tips every driver should know</strong></p> </p></div> <p>#invented #roundabout</p> </div> <footer class=

 







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