Roundabouts: Because Some Austintown Drivers Prefer Sitting at a Light Over Progress

Ah yes, the great American tradition of fighting progress. Few things trigger more unnecessary outrage than replacing a chaotic, inefficient intersection with a roundabout. And yet, here we are, watching people overreact at the proposed roundabout at 46 and New Road, as if modern traffic engineering is a personal attack.

Let’s start with the facts—though, let’s be honest, the loudest complainers won’t bother with them. Roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by 90%, injury crashes by 76%, and overall crashes by 35%, according to the Federal Highway Administration. Why? Because instead of people T-boning each other at high speeds or blowing through red lights while texting, roundabouts force drivers to slow down and pay attention. What a concept.

And about that supposed “confusion” roundabout opponents love to harp on—give me a break. A roundabout is literally one lane of traffic moving in a circle with a few exits. If you can’t figure that out, I’d hate to see you handle a four-way stop at rush hour.

Now, let’s talk about 46 and New Road. Between 2016 and 2022, this intersection saw 45 crashes, including 19 injuries and one fatality. The predominant types were rear-end crashes (49%), left-turn crashes (18%), and sideswipe crashes (11%). The issues? Poor visibility, driver misjudgment, and traffic signals disrupting flow. With over 18,000 vehicles passing daily, it’s a congested mess of bottlenecks and erratic drivers. A roundabout will smooth traffic, eliminate pointless idling, and benefit commuters and businesses. But sure, let’s listen to people who “don’t like change” instead of traffic experts.

And for those grumbling about construction—news flash: road work is temporary, but a safer intersection is forever. Yes, there will be inconvenience. But the alternative is keeping an outdated, inefficient intersection indefinitely. If we resisted every necessary construction project, we’d still be navigating dirt roads by horse and buggy.

For those still whining about how “annoying” roundabouts are, let’s put it in perspective: Would you rather waste gas sitting at a light, or just keep moving? If you choose the former, congratulations—you’re the reason we can’t have nice things.

At the end of the day, the 46 and New Road roundabout makes sense. It’s safer, more efficient, and will save time, money, and maybe even a few brain cells for the rest of us.

So, Austintown, let’s embrace this roundabout like rational adults—because fighting progress with no facts, no data and no research is getting really old.