WHAT IS RCOC? INSTRUCTIONS The Commission for Oakland maintains Michigan’s largest county road system, 31001 Lahser Road · Beverly Hills · MI · 48025 FOR USING A with more than 2,700 miles of public (including CC more than 750 miles of gravel roads). Only the state BBOARDOARD OFOF RROADOAD system is larger. MODERN RCOC also maintains: OMMISSIONERSOMMISSIONERS u Approximately 116 , are different than traditional u RONALD J. FOWKES ROUNDABOUTS Approximately 1,500 signals, R J. F intersections and require some different u Approximately 150,000 traffic signs and driving techniques. Here are the steps to u More than 230 miles of . ANDREA LALONDE

follow as you navigate a roundabout: SAFETY FIRST NANCY QUARLES 1. Slow down as you approach the As a matter of policy, major road improvement roundabout — 15-25 miles per hour projects are conducted by the Road Commission Dennis G. Kolar, PE is usually about right for driving in the based on a safety ranking system. At RCOC “Safety Managing Director roundabout, depending on its size. First” is more than a motto. Gary Piotrowicz, PE, PTOE 2. Pick your . Look for the lane-use Deputy Managing Director signs as you approach the roundabout, RCOC:RCOC: County Highway Engineer choose your lane before entering the roundabout and stay in it until you exit 4Is separate from county general government RCOC MISSION SSTATEMENT and receives no direct revenue from property RCOC strives to provide the public the roundabout. taxes. with leadership in: 3. Yield. When approaching the roundabout, 4 · Safe and convenient roads always yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and Receives the majority of its funding from the state and federal fuel taxes and the state · Sound financial management vehicles in all (the yield sign will The of Maple and Drake roads in vehicle-registration fee. · Responsive and dependable service show you where to yield). West Bloomfield Township. · Respect for the environment 4 4. Look left. Vehicles in the roundabout Has congested roads due to the tremendous · Sensitivity to community concerns growth in the county in past decades. have the right of way. If there is no traffic in the roundabout, don’t stop. If traffic is HAVE A QUESTION FOR 4Receives no direct revenue from economic present, wait for an opening and then enter. AN INTERSECTION growth and development. THE ROAD COMMISSION? A

5. Give way to large vehicles. Allow large DESIGN THAT IS: 4Pays $3 million or more to pave a mile of CCALL,, WRITE OR VISIT:: vehicles the extra turning radius needed . DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICES 4 MPROVING SAFETY to navigate the roundabout. Never pass or I 2420 PONTIAC LAKE ROAD drive next to a large vehicle in the 4Pays $8 million or more to widen one mile WATERFORD, MI 48328 4ADDING CAPACITY roundabout. of road from two lanes to five. (877) 858-4804 (877) 858-4804 4 6. Emergency vehicles. If you seen an 4ENHANCING AESTHETICS 4Is located in a state that ranks in the bottom TDD: (248) 645-9923 emergency vehicle coming, exit the nine states in per capita state and local road OR, visit RCOC online at roundabout; don’t pull over in the funding -- and has for nearly 50 years. www.rcocweb.org roundabout. Updated 03/21 In part, that’s because roundabouts have fewer “conflict points” than signalized intersections -- ROUNDABOUTS these are the points at which vehicles can collide. The modern roundabout, a relatively new form of The diagrams below show the potential conflict circular intersection, is an alternative to traditional points for signalized intersections and roundabouts. signalized intersections. It was developed by traffic engineers in England, who, after a substantial amount of research, concluded that the roundabout is the safest, most efficient design for many intersections.

ROUNDABOUTS ARE NOT TRAFFIC CIRCLES Modern roundabouts are not the same as the tra- INCREASE ROAD CAPACITY 30-50% ditional traffic circles that were built around the • Continuous travel through the intersection, at a U.S. in the first two thirds of the 20th century. In reduced speed, actually gets you there sooner than fact, there are some significant differences: the stop and go of a traditional signalized intersection. • Roundabouts at the intersections of two-lane roads 4Traditional traffic circles: Traffic comes to a can allow the two-lane roads to carry additional complete stop then make a 90-degree turn into the capacity, in some cases nearly as many cars as a four- circle. lane road with signals. The roundabout at the intersection of Maple and Drake roads in West Bloomfield Township. 4Roundabouts: Traffic merges into the circle at a more gradual angle, so vehicles do not have to come ROUNDABOUTS OFFER POPULAR WITH DRIVERS to a full stop, but simply yield and merge into traffic. Numerous studies nationwide have demonstrated IMPROVED AESTHETICS 4 Roundabouts are generally smaller than traffic that drivers like roundabouts. That has been the case • Most people think roundabouts look nicer than circles, which reduces vehicle speed within the locally as well. signals. circle, thus reducing the likelihood of accidents. A 2010 survey conducted by West Bloomfield • Opinion surveys in Maryland, Colorado and Township reported that 66 percent of respondents Vermont found that 80-90% of area residents were in favor of constructing additional roundabouts liked their new roundabouts. in the future. • The central island can provide space for landscaping.

PEDESTRIAN CROSSINGS

A modern A traditional Crossing at a roundabout is generally easier for a pedestrian than at a traditional signalized intersec- roundabout traffic circle tion. This is because in a roundabout, the pedestrian ROUNDABOUTS IMPROVE SAFETY is only crossing one direction of traffic at a time. Studies* indicate intersections converted from Pedestrians should: traffic signals to roundabouts result in: • Use the appropriate pedestrian crossings. • 90% fewer traffic fatalities • Stay out of the center island. • 75% fewer injury crashes • Look for exiting or entering traffic. VIEW ROUNDABOUT VIDEO • Cross the exit or entrance lane to the “diverter” The crashes that do occur tend to be much less To view RCOC’s video “Getting to Know island which splits the entrance/exit lanes. serious and rarely fatal, because they are typically Roundabouts,” point your Web browser to • Then, continue across. These diverter islands low-speed sideswipes and rear-end collisions, rather www.rcocweb.org, click on “RCOC Videos” in provide safe havens where pedestrians can wait than the head-on, left-turn and high-speed broadside the “Helpful Links” section at the bottom of the for traffic to clear. collisions that occur at signalized intersections. homepage, and then select the “Getting to Know In some instances, the Road Commission has pro- *Source: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Roundabouts” link. “Status Report Vol. 40, No. 9.” vided pedestrian-crossing devices to aid all pedestrians.