Comprehensive Investigation of Roundabout Safety Challenges in the Southeast United States: Findings and Recommendations from Kentucky’s Survey Analysis

Recognizing the relatively limited studies about roundabout perception in the Southeast of the United States, this study took the initiative and presented the results from a comprehensive survey, supported by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), identifying the main concerns and difficulties encountered by Kentucky residents when navigating roundabouts. Thorough questions were prepared that encompassed various aspects, such as drivers’ sociodemographic characteristics, general driving-related questions, roundabout-specific questions, crash-specific questions, and open-ended roundabout safety concerns and recommendations. A total of 6,688 in-state responses were gathered. In general, Kentuckians are in favor of roundabouts, where 51.6% of respondents either “liked” or “strongly liked” navigating roundabouts. The chi-square ( x 2 ) test of independence revealed that age, level of education, and years of driving experience were significantly correlated with the overall opinion of roundabouts. Interestingly, there existed a significant difference between the proportion of younger (16–55 years) and older (55+ years) age groups in relation to their preference for roundabouts in Kentucky, with the younger age group having a significantly higher proportion (53%) than did the older age group (49%). Furthermore, the younger age group consistently had a significantly higher proportion of correct answers for the roundabout knowledge tests than the older age group had. The lack of roundabout-related education (39.3% of the responses) was reported to be Kentuckians’ largest roundabout safety concern, followed by driver behavior (27.4%). In addition to KYTC, other states’ departments of transportation and other agencies could use the study results to improve public opinion about roundabouts and better plan for newer roundabout locations.