Analytics Stories

CHAPTER 46Are Roundabouts a Good Idea?

Carmel, Indiana has the second-highest median income in Indiana (trailing Zionsville; see www.homesnacks.net/richest-places-in-indiana-126056/). The Carmel High School Girls Swim Team has won 34 consecutive state championships, the longest active string in any high school (boys or girls) sport. What we are interested in, however, is the fact that Carmel is the roundabout capital of the United States. Carmel has more than 125 roundabouts (see carmel.in.gov/department-services/engineering/roundabouts). In this chapter, we will explore the pros and cons of roundabouts versus traffic lights, two-way stops, and four-way stops. One of Carmel's roundabouts is shown in Figure 46.1.

On a lighter note, on October 13, 2015, Carmel resident Oran Sands set a World Record (verified by Recordsetter.com) by driving around a single roundabout for 3 hours and 34 minutes (www.roadandtrack.com/car-culture/news/a27318/64-year-old-hero-sets-world-record-for-driving-around-a-roundabout/).

Figure 46.1: A roundabout in Carmel, Indiana

What Is a Roundabout?

As Figure 46.1 illustrates, a roundabout is a circular intersection in which traffic travels in a counterclockwise direction around a center island. Usually there are four roads that allow drivers to enter and leave the roundabout. In theory, vehicles arriving at the entry roads should yield to those already ...