Editorial

ROUNDABOUTS OFFER SAFETY, BEAUTFICATION

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To the editor:

I am very disappointed by the daily tabulation of no votes from Web surfers in the semissourian.com weekly poll regarding the construction of future roundabouts. Roundabouts are one of the safest, most efficient, attractive and cost-effective methods of traffic control devices available today.

Roundabouts reduce the number of crashes over that of the traditional four-way-stop intersection. By their very design, they usually limit vehicle speeds to less than 25 mph. Logically, lower speeds give motorists more time behind the wheel to make good, safe driving decisions. However, if they make poor decisions in a roundabout, they have more time in which to correct the situation. And, when collisions do happen, they occur at low speeds, thereby limiting the amount of damage which may result.

Roundabouts are also the only traffic-control device that can be beautified. Fountains, trees, gardens, fencing, statues, decorative lighting and other ornamental features may be incorporated into the design to provide an attractive streetscape. This breaks up the seemingly endless sea of asphalt or concrete typically associated with four-way intersections.

All of these benefits accompany roundabouts, plus drivers usually do not have to stop. And, there are no waiting associated with signalized intersections which result in lost travel time for motorists.

I hope people in this area grow to embrace roundabouts and their mighty benefits.

RODNEY BOLLINGER

Jackson, Mo.