Roundabouts have been increasing in number in the Netherlands since the 1980s, and the number of roundabouts has more than doubled since 1998. The application of roundabouts in road design was particularly strong during the Sustainable Safety Start-up Programme, which started in 1997 and continued until 2002, when many intersections were reconstructed into roundabouts. In the literature, the effects of reconstructing intersections into roundabouts on the number of crashes on those locations have been documented in before and after studies and, although the reported effects vary, the overall reduction in crashes is significant. However, the question remains: did roundabouts contribute to the improvement of road safety in the Netherlands? This study evaluates the effects on road crash casualties and takes into consideration all crashes on all known roundabouts built in the Netherlands during the period of 1999 to 2005, not just a sample. Before and after crash and roundabout information is used and specific attention is paid to fatalities and (police reported) serious road injuries. A cross-section comparison of road junctions and roundabouts is also made.
Abstract