This paper examines the safety-related issues for pedestrians at modern roundabouts. For this purpose findings of research studies documented in the scientific literature and best practices have been examined trying to focus on roundabout installations by a pedestrians safety perspective. Whereas one of the main reasons for which roundabouts are built is related to safety benefits, roundabout design features and implications in road casualties have been commented first to evaluate the influence of roundabouts on pedestrian safety and then to identify design elements that have such a high potential for traffic safety. At last, measures and treatments that can be taken in the roundabouts design for addressing the needs of pedestrians are also presented by type, according to their effects on safety; this is proposed with the intention to recommend solutions to improve the sharing of road space between vehicles and non-motorized traffic and to assist planners and designers in doing safe roads for vulnerable users. (Author/publisher)
Abstract