ROUNDABOUT – GUISACHAN, BURTCH AND BYRNS

Kelowna’s first roundabout has been installed at the newly aligned intersection of Guisachan, Burtch and Byrns Roads.

Easy to Navigate

Traffic inside the roundabout always has the right-of-way.
Yield to your left, be prepared to stop and wait for a gap in the traffic.
Always exit to the right.
Signal when leaving the roundabout to let incoming traffic know you are leaving.

Modern roundabouts can achieve a 50% reduction in injury accidents compared to intersections using stop signs or traffic signals. The most comprehensive survey of roundabout safety in the United States (Transportation Research Board, 1997) found that overall crashes were reduced by 37% and injury accidents by as much as 50% at intersections retrofitted with roundabouts.
Decision-making is simplified. A driver about to enter simply thinks: "Is there a vehicle already in the roundabout about to cross my path?" If no, the driver enters. If yes, the driver waits for a gap.
Vehicle speeds at roundabouts are much lower, generally less than 30 km/h. Lower speeds mean shorter braking distances and longer decision-making time. Therefore, even if someone makes a mistake a collision is easier to avoid.
The number of possible conflict points between vehicles decreases from 32, at a four-way intersection, to eight at a roundabout. By reducing the number of conflict points, roundabouts also reduce the number of collisions.
If a collision does occur the force of impact is much lower due to the lower speed and the low angle of impact. No one can "run the red" and cause a right angle collision. Nor can a left-turning driver make a mistake in selecting a gap in the approaching through traffic, with the resulting head-on or right angle crash.

	PEDESTRIANS Pedestrians should cross at the clearly-marked pedestrian crossings at each of the four approaches to the roundabout. Vehicles must yield to pedestrians but caution should be used when crossing.
	CYCLISTS Cyclists may use either the shared pedestrian/bicycle path or ride inside the roundabout. If opting for the path cyclists must slow down and watch for pedestrians; when approaching the crosswalk cyclists dismount and walk their bikes across. Cyclists choosing to ride with traffic must yield to vehicles already in the roundabout and stay centred in the traffic lane.
	ICBC Video

The average delay time for vehicles passing through the intersection can be cut in half.
Noise at the intersection is significantly reduced (far fewer starts from a dead stop).
Reduced air pollution.
Aesthetically more pleasing.