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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — As roundabouts become more common around the Buckeye State, the Ohio Department of Transportation is educating people on how to use the ring-shaped intersections and explaining how they differ from traffic circles.
ODOT recently highlighted how it gave an old traffic circle in the heart of the village of Somerset a modern makeover, converting it into a true roundabout. In a social media video, ODOT demonstrated the tricky traffic pattern drivers need to follow in a traffic circle. With pavement markings and signage, the transportation agency overhauled the intersection into a more streamlined roundabout in a few months, avoiding years of construction.
According to Chas Cosgrave, the public information officer for ODOT’s District 5, the terms “traffic circle” and “roundabout” are often used interchangeably, but they are different.
| Feature | Roundabout | Traffic Circle |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Control | Yield at entry | Often stop signs or signals |
| Speed | Low-speed (20–30 mph) | Higher-speed entries |
| Design | Curved approaches, splitter islands, truck aprons | Often lacks modern safety geometry |
| Conflict Points | 8 | Up to 32 (like traditional intersections) |
| Signage | Standardized yield signs and lane markings | May vary or be outdated |
| Safety | Proven crash reduction | Less consistent performance |
Cosgrave told NBC4 that roundabouts are engineered to reduce dangerous angle crashes, such as T-bones and left turns, by slowing vehicles and simplifying decision-making. Citing the Federal Highway Administration and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Cosgrave noted that replacing a two-way stop with a roundabout cuts serious crashes by nearly 90%, while converting to a signalized intersection reduces them by about 80%. Overall, roundabouts are credited with reducing total crashes by 44%.
“We get it, roundabouts can feel unfamiliar, especially in rural or suburban areas,” Cosgrave said. “That’s why we focus on helping drivers adjust in a few key ways.”
One method includes engaging and educating drivers through social media, weekly “Loop” video segments on its website, or community meetings. The other, explained Cosgrave, is to emphasize the simple design of the roundabout where clear signage and striping guide drivers to yield to the left, enter when there is a gap and exit at their destination.
Cosgrave said the perception of roundabouts is changing, pointing to an IIHS study that showed support for roundabouts jumped from 31% before construction to 70% after just one year of use.
“That kind of shift is incredibly encouraging,” Cosgrave said. “It shows that once people experience the benefits firsthand, they come around. It’s a win for safety, efficiency, and it makes us proud to be part of that change.”
Ohio’s older-style traffic circles, such as the one recently updated in Somerset, are being replaced with roundabouts as communities modernize intersections.
“These updates are often driven by the strong safety benefits roundabouts offer, including significant reductions in serious and fatal crashes,” Cosgrave said.
To learn more about roundabouts, Cosgrave suggested viewers visit ODOT’s Roundabouts page on its website. It offers a fact sheet, printable guides, an instructional video and an FAQ.
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