Modern Roundabouts increase safety, reduce delays at intersections, reduce crashes, traffic delays, fuel consumption, air pollution, noise pollution, construction costs, and maintenance costs. Roundabouts enhance the beauty of intersections and effectively control speeds. – from Blue Zones, Revitalizing Main Street: The Vision and Implementation Plan, 2015.
Urban compact roundabouts are intended to be pedestrian friendly because their perpendicular approach legs require very low vehicle speeds to make a distinct right turn into and out of the circulatory roadway. The principal objective of this design is to enable pedestrians to have safe and effective use of the intersection. The geometric design includes 4 legs, single-lane entries, a non-mountable central island and usually a mountable apron surround to accommodate large vehicles. - from the Dept of Transportation, FHWA Publication; Roundabouts: An Informational Guide, June 2000.