Abstract
PURPOSES: Though the situation that the roundabouts are actively constructed, researches on the effect of the roundabouts focus mainly on the analysis of the expected effects of using only traffic simulation on the operation. Considering such problems, this study is conducted to analyze the effects of the various aspects based on field observation studies. METHODS: This study evaluated and analyzed the effects from the aspects of traffic operation, traffic safety, and traffic behavior by performing field observation studies with six roundabouts with/without signal controls on the pilot project areas for the roundabouts installed in 2010. RESULTS: Through the study results, it was found that the average travel time decreases by 14.7% and 2.4% on the signalized intersections and unsignalized intersections, respectively. The average travel speed increases by 9.7 and 5.8km/h on the roundabouts with/without signal lights. Regarding traffic safety, the speed deviation among individual vehicles decreases by approximately 18.4 to 32.7km/h, thus confirming the safety effects. As the decrease of the number of conflicts, it might be explained that car crashes and collision with pedestrians decreased by 62.2% and 66.7%. Also the result shows that the lowest point of speed in roundabouts appears near the yield line on the entry area on the roundabouts. When passing through the roundabouts, vehicles enter at a speed of 20-30km/h, which is the design speed of the circulatory lane and drive out the roundabout with a higher speed than the entry speed. CONCLUSIONS: When a roundabout is introduced at the intersections below certain traffic volume there are effects of traffic operation, traffic safety, and traffic behavior.
