Title: Improving Access to Roundabouts and Channelized Turn Lanes for he Visually Impaired: An Update on NCHRP Project 3-78
Abstract: This paper describes how modern roundabouts have been shown to be associated with a reduction in the serious crashes when they are compared to comparable (often signalized) intersections with equivalent traffic volumes, turning movements, etc. Their benefits are not in question when it comes to improved vehicular safety and operations, but with respect to pedestrians, especially those with visual impairments, roundabout benefits are, at best, equivocal. For sighted pedestrians able to make effective gap judgments, roundabouts do not appear to be problematic. However, for those who are blind or who have serious visual impairments, the absence of visual cues and the continuous nature of the traffic flow can significantly increase the difficulty of the crossing task, resulting in increases in delay, and risk. The increase in risk is associated with an increased likelihood of the visually impaired pedestrian accepting a ‘risky’ gap. While in most places, it is the ‘rule of law’ for drivers to yield to pedestrians, observations generally indicate that the likelihood of drivers yielding to pedestrians is low. Drivers appear to be least likely to yield to pedestrians at the exit leg of roundabouts where blind and visually impaired pedestrians exhibit the greatest difficulty of crossing. Where drivers do yield to pedestrians, blind and visually impaired pedestrians are often unable to detect the presence of the yielding vehicle a problem which is anticipated to worsen with the introduction of ‘quiet’ vehicles. The US Access Board has questioned the ‘accessibility’ of modern roundabouts for visually impaired pedestrians.
Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 2
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