PASCO COUNTY, Fla. — They have been popular in Europe for decades.
But Americans don’t just have trouble navigating roundabouts in the movies like that scene in National Lampoon's European Vacation where the Griswolds are stuck in a London roundabout for hours — some find them hard to get used to.
Annie Rocks lives in a new Pasco County subdivision that is using roundabouts instead of traditional intersections.
She’s also a Realtor with The Rocks Team/Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Properties Group.
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She says more and more neighborhoods are going in a circular direction.
“As a military spouse and someone that’s lived all over the world. I’ve seen traffic circles in all sorts of settings."
The Florida Department of Transportation says studies show roundabouts cut traffic deaths down by 90%.
That’s why we are seeing them pop up at heavy traffic areas on both sides of the bay.
So Rocks says it makes sense that housing developers are bringing them to neighborhoods too. Although some smaller subdivisions with less traffic are sticking with traditional intersections.
“I think if you are in a heavily populated area with a lot of traffic it can be more confusing," Rocks said. "But in these smaller residential neighborhoods, I don’t think it’s an issue.”
When it comes to rules of the roundabouts, remember cars in the circle have the right of way. Once it’s clear, then drivers can enter.
Just make sure you know which exit lets you out where you want to go.
“I don’t think they are a problem if you know how to slow down and use them correctly.”
Information on roundabouts from the city of Tampa can be found here.
