What is the purpose of a roundabout?

The primary purpose of a roundabout is to facilitate continuous traffic flow and prevent collisions. Roundabouts are designed to keep vehicles moving smoothly through intersections without the need for traffic lights or stop signs. This design helps reduce the number of stops and starts, leading to less congestion and a more efficient flow of traffic. Additionally, because vehicles enter from different points and yield to traffic already in the roundabout, the layout naturally decreases the potential for high-speed crashes, making it generally safer than traditional intersections.

While eliminating traffic signals might be a secondary benefit of roundabouts, it is not their main focus. Furthermore, while providing local traffic with more efficient routes is an advantage, it does not encompass the primary purpose. Lastly, pedestrian safety is always a consideration in the design of roundabouts, but the key aspect remains the management of vehicular traffic flow and collision prevention.