Roundabouts and Motor Vehicle Accidents in Doylestown

October 10, 2019

Have you heard the news? Roundabouts may soon be arriving in Doylestown. Specifically, the state’s Department of Transportation is developing plans to add roundabouts to Rt. 611, pending approval by Doylestown Township officials.

Reading about the proposed roundabouts got our staff wondering just how effective they are in reducing or preventing motor vehicle accidents. In the end, we concluded that, like many traffic solutions, they are only as effective as the motorists who navigate them.

According to the United States Department of Transportation, there are many benefits associated with roundabouts, such as:

  • About 35% fewer motor vehicle accidents occur when roundabouts are in place
  • About 75% fewer injuries occur when a crash does happen in a roundabout
  • An almost 100% reduction in motor vehicle accident deaths when crashes occur in a roundabout

As we mentioned above, roundabouts are only as good as the drivers who navigate them. Many Pennsylvania residents find roundabouts quite intimidating. To these people, driving willy-nilly around a big circle while other vehicles are coming in their direction feels dangerous. In these situations, motor vehicle accidents still have a great chance of happening.

What can you do to protect yourself while navigating a roundabout? First, taking steps to learn how to use a roundabout properly and legally can help you avoid a crash. However, when other motorists use these traffic routes improperly, you may still suffer injuries in an accident. Because you used the roundabout legally and the other driver did not, there’s a strong chance you are owed compensation for your suffering.

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