Fielder's Choice

I’m not a big fan of roundabouts.

And that’s nothing against the Mississippi Department of Transportation.

It’s more about a 60-year-old who learned to drive about 47 years ago on gravel roads in rural Alabama. Sometimes, I just have a hard time adjusting. I don’t enjoy interstates in big cities either, but I’ve learned how to maneuver them.

I recall the first time I encountered one a few years back in Oxford when everyone was just “getting used to them.” Pam was on the passenger side, and I think I almost made her jump. Since, she has taken it on herself to help guide me through them, and who could blame her?

The last few times I’ve been by myself, in Oxford, I really think I almost have those roundabouts mastered.

Last week’s top headline, on the front page of your South Reporter, read ­ “Holly Springs’ first roundabout coming.” It will be at the intersection of Highway 7 North and Eddie Lee Smith Drive, a very dangerous intersection to say the least.

Staff writer Sue Watson wrote the article. Two quotes from Turner said it all.

“MDOT’s Traffic Engineering Division and Safety & Rails Division collects crash history data throughout our network,” he said. “The crash data for this location indicated that it met the thresholds for Federal Safety Funds.

“Designers then looked at the intersection geometry, traffic counts, etc. and determined that a roundabout was a good fit and could substantially diminish the number and severity of crashes.”

There have certainly been too many deaths and too many injuries at the intersection in the northern portion of Holly Springs. Here’s hoping this is certainly the remedy.

The roundabout could be completed this summer.

When I read Sue’s story and called Mitch with some followup questions, he also talked about a roundabout plan for the intersection of Highway 7 North and U.S. 72. It is in the design phase, and of course, would be a lot more extensive since 72 is a busy four-lane.

I admitted to him that I was surprised a roundabout was in the works for 7 and 72. It’s hard for me to see it working. He emphasized it would be on a larger scale ­ a much different design and look.

The folks at MDOT are experts. They study these things. They have the information to back up their decisions. We depend on them for making our roadways better and safer.

The federal transportation folks back up the overall success of roundabouts, too.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts are proven safety countermeasures because they can substantially reduce crashes that result in serious injury or death. Roundabouts can improve safety, promote lower speeds and traffic calming, reduce conflict points, lead to improved operated performance and meet a wide range of traffic conditions because they are versatile in size, shape and design.

According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, studies of intersections in the United States converted from traffic signals or stop signs to roundabouts have found reductions in injury crashes of 72-80 percent and reductions in all crashes 35-47 percent.