Roundabouts have been around for years. They're a safe and efficient alternative to stop signs or traffic lights in intersections. However, they can also be difficult to navigate for people who haven't driven in them before.

There are dozens of YouTube videos explaining how to use roundabouts, and department of transportation websites have several pages explaining when to yield and when to drive. Even so, for many drivers in Wisconsin, roundabouts elicit fear and confusion, and car accidents feel inevitable when so many drivers are confused.

However, drivers who are uncomfortable in roundabouts may be forced to get over their fears. According to researchers, roundabouts provide "an efficient, safer alternative to traditional four-way intersections governed by stop signs or traffic signals," and they can help reduce the number of car accidents in intersections.

There are currently about 150 roundabouts in Wisconsin, and if all goes according to plan, there will be another 150 roundabouts installed by the end of 2015.

Many people dislike roundabouts because they think it is difficult to judge the gap between their cars and oncoming cars. However, because of the design of roundabouts, the risk of fatal car accidents decreases significantly for two main reasons.

First, drivers go through roundabouts slowly, so they have more time to react when other drivers do something unsafe. Second, right-angle crashes are one of the most severe types of crashes. One Wisconsin Traffic and Safety Operations researcher explained that the treat of right-angle crashes is non-existent with roundabouts. "Roundabouts take away this possibility because drivers are always making a right turn."

Finally, although the number of car accidents increased at some intersections after roundabouts were installed, the number of severe crashes decreased, and there have not been any fatal crashes. After getting accustomed to driving through roundabouts, motorists will likely appreciate the increased efficiency and decreased threat of serious of accidents.

Source: University of Wisconsin-News, "Roundabouts emerging as the ideal intersection between driver safety and efficiency," Renee Miller, Feb. 1, 2012