Roundabouts
Hello everyone, and welcome to the end of summer. We at the Newburyport Police department hope that it was a safe and enjoyable one. This month I’d like to take a few moments to talk about the Rt.1 rotary and the new roundabout located here in our city.
Our main concern is safety. Rotaries and roundabouts are a good way of keeping our traffic flowing, but they can also be very dangerous if basic rules are not followed. In the case of the new roundabout nearing completion at the intersection of Merrimac St. and Spofford St., unfamiliarity with this change in the traffic pattern further enhances the possible danger. Clear signage at these locations is important, but your attention to driving your vehicle in a safe manner is the most important component. The rules of the road pertaining to rotaries and roundabouts must be followed to avoid needless collisions and possible injuries.
The rules concerning the Rt. 1 rotary and our new roundabout at the intersection of Merrimac Street and Spofford Street are very simple. The first is to keep your speed down. The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles clearly states your speed in a roundabout must not exceed 25 MPH. This is a maximum speed. If you have been through the new roundabout, common sense will tell you that 25 MPH is probably too fast. Keep your speed down and be aware that vehicles entering the roundabout should, but may not, yield to you when you are in the roundabout.
The Rt. 1 rotary is a two lane circle with a maximum posted speed of 25 MPH. The reason for this is that if you are travelling at a higher speed, it is very unlikely that you will be able to slow and yield for the traffic already in the rotary.
Which brings me to the most important rule applying to BOTH the rotary and traffic circle. YOU MUST YIELD TO TRAFFIC ALREADY IN THE ROTARY OR ROUNDABOUT BEFORE ENTERING!! How many times have you been cut off by another vehicle while you were in the rotary, or had vehicles blaring their horn at you because you failed to yield to them? It is frustrating and scary when this occurs. Please make the extra effort when approaching any rotary or roundabout and remember that you must yield before entering. If you have to stop before entering, then be prepared to do so. If any of you travel regularly on Rt. 1 through the rotary, you have probably seen a police cruiser monitoring the traffic. This area has been an area of frequent accidents and we are determined to enforce the rules of the road to reduce property damage and needless injuries. The new roundabout is of concern because of the new traffic pattern for most of us (myself included!). Please use the new roundabout with caution and obey the rules pertaining to it. The Newburyport Police Department will be monitoring the new traffic pattern closely to ensure that we are all safe while motoring through this area.
As always, be safe, and be good to each other. Please feel free to send any comments/questions to wsteeves@newburyportpolice.com.
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Videos produced by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) about modern roundabouts available on youtube: