The Edwardsville Intelligencer recently published a story regarding plans to turn the intersection where Route 162 and Keebler Road meet in Maryville into a roundabout to improve safety. This intersection’s current design is considered dangerous, having led to multiple car accidents, including a July 2015 wreck that claimed a young woman’s life.
These changes are in part due to the family of that young woman speaking out about the Route 162/Keebler Road intersection and calling for safety improvements. In response to the pleas for change, the Maryville Board of Trustees struck a deal with an engineering firm to redesign the intersection as a roundabout. However, whether this will help improve safety at the intersection remains to be seen. Ultimately, it comes down to one question: Are roundabouts safer?
Per the Intelligencer article, updating the intersection will cost around $1.5 million. The project will be funded by a combination of $900,000 from the federal government and $600,000 from the village of Maryville and Madison County. Officials believe that it will be money well spent, because a roundabout will be able to better handle the increased traffic that the intersection has been seeing in the last few years.
How Do I Safely Use a Roundabout?
If you are unfamiliar with using a roundabout or have just never felt comfortable using one, here are few safety tips for how to use a roundabout:
• If you’re waiting to enter the roundabout, yield to vehicles already in the roundabout.
• While in the roundabout, avoid changing lanes unless necessary.
• Never stop while in a roundabout unless other vehicles stop in your path or there’s another obstacle in your way.
• Keep your distance if you’re sharing a roundabout with an oversize vehicle.
Do you like using roundabouts or do you find them confusing and dangerous? Share this post on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ along with your opinion about this issue.
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