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Roundabouts in Scottsdale
History in Scottsdale
The City of Scottsdale began using circular intersections as an element of traffic calming projects in the mid 1980's. These designs were developed before generally accepted modern roundabout guidelines were published and have several shortcomings such as lack of splitter islands and central circles that were too small. However one exception to this was the multilane roundabout installed near the princess resort in about 1986. This roundabout is slightly larger than what we would construct today but has had a very low collision history averaging about one collision every two years.
Why is Scottsdale Using Roundabouts?
While many people in Scottsdale associate roundabouts with traffic calming, their real use and benefit is as a right of way control device in place of a traffic signal or multi-way stop. Studies in the United States have shown roundabouts to be significantly safer than traffic signals. In these studies roundabouts reduced collisions by approximately 30 to 50%, reduce injuries by around 60 to 70% and reduced fatalities between 80-90% when compared to traditional traffic signals. Roundabouts can also reduce delays, reduce fuel use, reduce emissions and reduce maintenance costs. For these and other reasons roundabouts continue to increase in popularity as drivers become more familiar with them.
Examples in Scottsdale
The most recent and best examples of roundabouts in Scottsdale are located at:
- Cactus Road between 100th and 108th streets
- 96th Street and Cholla
- 96th Street and Sweetwater
Navigating Roundabouts
Motorists
- Approach: Reduce your speed to the posted advisory speed. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk; THEY have the right-of-way.
- Enter: Yield to vehicles in the roundabout. Wait for a gap in traffic and merge into traffic in the roundabout to the right.
- Proceed: Continue through the roundabout until you reach your street.
- Avoid stopping in the roundabout.
- Exit: Signal, then exit the roundabout to your RIGHT. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.
Pedestrians
- Approach: At the designated pedestrian crosswalk, look LEFT.
- Cross: Cross to the raised or painted splitter (see legend) or refuge island.
- Look RIGHT. Finish crossing to the opposite sidewalk.
More Information
For more information on modern roundabouts check out the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety website at: www.iihs.org and the Federal Highway Administrations website at: www.fhwa.dot.gov
