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Yes, we need more roundabouts
The European-style traffic circles are a safer, rational alternative to intersections and stoplights.

Dick Sanders lives in Lansdale.

In these days of national and international distress, giving consideration to local issues seems downright pleasurable given their relative triviality. The local-issue hobby horse I'd like to ride is that of pleading for relief from increasing traffic congestion and the attendant frustration and even rage.

Stoplights force us to do what their name implies: stop. And it seems they force that action, or rather inaction, until a vehicle approaches from the other direction, giving the light yet another opportunity to stop something. And these tricolored monsters have become ubiquitous. But this is our unfortunate choice; it need not be so. Alternative traffic-control mechanisms would not only save time, frustration and money, but also be safer.

Anyone who has driven in Europe knows that traffic circles or roundabouts are a rational alternative to traditional intersections and stoplights. They need not be imposing, land-grabbing monsters; they're often simply markers in the center of an intersection introduced by the equivalent of "give way to the left" signs. Safety? Better than our "yield" signs since abrupt left turns are eliminated and they are more predictable than our "right turn on red" permissions. They're lauded for their traffic-calming impact.

Blessedly, some states are beginning to see the light. We've traversed newly constructed circles in North Carolina and Maryland. Seattle has installed more than 600 since 1973 and reports sharply reduced accident and injury rates. Maryland claims a 100 percent decrease in fatalities, a 60 percent decrease in the total crash rate, an 82 percent reduction in injuries, and a 27 percent drop in property-only accidents.

Even our commonwealth recently approved a two-lane parkway, featuring roundabouts, to ease congestion along Route 202 in Bucks and Montgomery Counties.

Where else to put them? My simple answer is: everywhere! Of course, that might not be possible. Here are some good places to start: at the lesser intersections along Morris Road, replacing the lights at such places as Brittany Farms and Cathhart Road, with the North Wales Road intersection to quickly follow. Bergey Road and Souderton Pike is a natural. Church Road at Wissahickon Avenue is a classic example of unnecessary traffic-light tyranny. The intersection of Allentown Road and Woodlawn Drive and of Orvilla and Koffel Roads, and the frequent bottleneck on Cowpath Road at Lansdale Avenue/Taylor Road would benefit. Seventh Street in Lansdale, at Cannon Avenue and at North Line Street, are other easy choices.

Given the congestion we have, rush-hour traffic might still overwhelm circles. In those rare cases, supplement the circles with traffic-light access control for those few hours and put the lights on caution the rest of the time.

Pennsylvania traffic engineers, get with it. Drivers, scream, plead, and insist on change before further gridlock sets in.