Cities are increasingly using roundabouts instead of stop signs and traffic signals to manage traffic on local roads. Why? Today’s roundabouts have a number of advantages.

90% - Reduction in fatalities after a roundabout is installed at an intersection
76% - Reduction in injury collisions
35% - Reduction in all crashes
33% - Decline in carbon monoxide emissions because cars are not idling
46% - Decline in carbon dioxide emissions because cars are not idling
20% - Reduction in traffic delays when roundabouts replace stop signs and signals

Roundabouts move traffic through an intersection more quickly and with less congestion on approaching roads. Traffic is not required to stop – only yield – so the intersection can handle more traffic in the same amount of time.

Safety first

Because of how they're designed and the fact that roundabouts require cars to slow down, there are far fewer potential "collision points" in a roundabout.  When collisions do occur, injuries are far less severe than in a traditional intersection.

Tips for navigating roundabouts

• Slow down as you approach the intersection.
• Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists crossing the roadway.
• Watch for signs and pavement markings that guide you or prohibit certain movements.
• Enter the roundabout when there is a big enough gap in traffic.
• Drive in a counterclockwise direction. Do not stop or pass other vehicles.
• Use your turn signals when you exit the roundabout. 
• If you miss your exit, continue around until you return to your exit.

City policies

The City of Carlsbad's Mobility Element, a chapter in its General Plan, reflects a new way of thinking about how people get around carlsbad, from a car-centric approach to an approach focused on all modes of travel.

Based on the policies in the Mobility Element, which was approved in 2015, the city is redesigning its streets to better accommodate people who want to walk and bike while adding features that discourage speeding.