Citation

Park L, Pierce D. Transp. Res. Rec. 2013; 2388: 10-13.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Transportation Research Board, National Research Council, National Academy of Sciences USA, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.3141/2388-02

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Roundabouts increasingly are used as alternatives for signalized and stop-controlled intersections in the United States, where nearly 200 new roundabouts are constructed every year. Proponents often cite numerous safety improvements, including reduced overall crash rates at converted intersections, as justification to increase roundabout development. However, the growing use of roundabouts may inhibit the safe and efficient movement of large trucks because of roundabout design elements that conflict with truck operations. In collaboration with Kansas State University, researchers from the American Transportation Research Institute conducted an online survey of motor carriers to explore features that may hinder roundabout use by large trucks. The survey collected industry observations regarding the challenges experienced by commercial truck drivers in negotiating roundabouts. Those observations are synthesized, and the anecdotal experiences that may allow researchers and roadway designers to identify and categorize unknown roundabout design issues and possible solutions are documented. It is hoped that the research results can be used as the first conversation in a productive dialogue between transportation planners and the trucking industry on the issue of roundabout design for large truck use.

Language: en