The City of Oviedo is beginning to use roundabouts as a new way to control traffic at intersections. The first one you’ll see is at the intersection of Franklin Street, Geneva Drive and Division Street.

What’s a roundabout? An alternative to the traditional (signalized) intersection, a roundabout is a circular intersection with a central island that is gaining popularity in the United States. Roundabouts increase safety, limit speed, encourage smooth traffic flow, and improve street appearance. We hope the information here will help you become familiar with roundabouts as you begin to see them in Oviedo.

You’re approaching a roundabout. Now what?

If you are...in a car or truck:
 

• Enter the roundabout in a counterclockwise motion (to the right). NEVER go left in the roundabout.
• Slow Down. Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk
• Look Left. When there’s a large enough gap in the traffic, enter the roundabout. You must yield to the traffic inside the roundabout.
• Travel counter-clockwise until you reach your exit. Turn on your right turn signal, and exit the roundabout.
• Yield to large vehicles in the roundabout - they need more time to maneuver.
• Watch out for bicycles. Do not try to pass them in the roundabout.

If you are....walking:
 

• Use designated walkways & crosswalks. You have the right of way, but keep an eye out for cars, trucks & bicycles.
• NEVER cross to the center island. There are no designated crosswalks to the island and attempting to cross to it could put you in grave danger of colliding with a vehicle

If you are. ...riding a bicycle:
You have two options: ride with traffic (following the guidelines for cars), or get off your bicycle and walk your bike at designated crosswalks (following the guidelines for pedestrians).

Roundabout tips
 

• Slow down as you approach the roundabout
• Vehicles (including bicycles) inside the roundabout and pedestrians always have the right of way.
• Before entering the roundabout, look left. Proceed when there’s an opening in traffic.
• §Don’t stop inside the roundabout. When you’re inside, you have the right of way.
   

Because the only movement allowed upon entry or exit from a roundabout is a right turn, the occurrence of crashes that result in injury is substantially reduced. Small-angle collisions, the type of collisions that can occur as a result of a right-hand turn, are typically less severe then other types of collisions. Roundabouts Save Lives!

Benefits of a roundabout:
 

Lives Saved:
 

• Up to a 90% reduction in fatalities
• 76% reduction in injury crashes
• 30-40% reduction in pedestrian crashes
• 75% fewer conflict points than 4-way intersections
• Slower vehicle speeds (under 30 mph):
• Drivers have more time to judge and react to other cars or pedestrians
• Advantageous to older and novice drivers
• Reduces the severity of crashes
• Keeps pedestrians safer

Efficient traffic flow:

• 30-50% increase in traffic capacity

Reduction in pollution and fuel use:
 

• Improved traffic flow for intersections that handle a high number of left turns
• Reduced need for storage lanes
• Money Saved:
• No signal equipment to install and repair
• Savings estimated at an average of $5,000 per year in electricity and maintenance costs
• Service life of a roundabout is 25 years (vs. the 10-year service life of signal equipment)
• Community Benefits:
• Traffic calming
• Aesthetic landscaping