Systematic review of pedestrian safety at roundabouts

Abstract

Introduction: Roundabouts are increasingly being used to improve traffic flow and reduce conflict points compared to traditional intersections. While previous studies have generally shown that roundabouts reduce vehicle collisions and improve traffic conditions, their impact on pedestrian safety, particularly in urban areas with high pedestrian traffic, has not been adequately studied. Despite the potential of roundabouts to reduce the overall severity of collisions, recent studies also point to specific safety challenges for pedestrians, including the difficulties faced by slow-moving people, changes in pedestrian behavior when avoiding roundabouts, and problems with disabled pedestrians are faced with. This systematic review fills this gap by evaluating existing research on pedestrian safety at roundabouts and distinguishing it from other review studies. Additionally, this review focuses on examining roundabouts and their impacts on pedestrian safety, synthesizing the literature, and identifying key findings. Method: Four research questions were developed, covering pedestrian behavior, personal traits, traffic volume and speed, geometric and design elements, and pedestrian safety assessment techniques. The research questions and the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) method were used to choose and thoroughly examine 51 studies. In addition, it is intended to support the correct selection of measures to improve pedestrian safety at roundabouts and provide researchers with a reference for safety modeling. Practical Applications: Roundabouts with higher pedestrian safety standards can be planned with the help of this systematic review, which also helps to clarify the factors influencing pedestrian safety at roundabouts. When creating safe and sustainable transportation infrastructure, decision-makers and urban planners can use these findings as a guide.