New roundabout opening brings eyes to safety

FAIRMONT - With the new roundabout opening on Prairie Avenue and East Blue Earth Avenue in Fairmont, eyes are on it and what it brings to Fairmont

Fairmont Chief of Police Mike Beletti remembers when the first roundabout opened at Downtown Plaza and East Blue Earth Avenue in the fall of 2020.

"When you bring something new or some change, that can affect people positively or negatively," he said. "I think a lot of views on the roundabout prior to it opening were negative, but once it opened, I think people got used to the ability to move around the intersection without a stoplight, and that really increased traffic flow and patterns."

After the roundabout was put in, Beletti said they have only seen a few incidents in that intersection.

"Over the past five years, we’ve had three crash reports at that intersection," he said. "They’ve all been, I would say, minor injury, if any injury. The nice thing about a roundabout is it takes away those conflict points where you’re looking at a head-on or T-bone style crash. It takes those out of the equation to more of a sideswipe type crash or a rear-ending."

In having this window for data to be collected, Beletti said it shows improved traffic flow and reduction of injury crashes at a previously stoplight-controlled intersection.

"The data we have supports that the roundabout is a safer option for the intersection where it was located, and I think the entire community really benefits from that. We’re not seeing injuries, we’re not seeing property damage due to crashes, and really with those two things, that also reduces insurance rates overall. When we’re seeing a reduction in crashes, that has a trickle effect."

On the other hand, the intersection at Prairie Avenue and East Blue Earth Avenue has seen 13 crashes in the same five year time period. A difference between the two is that Downtown Plaza has a one-way street, while both Prairie Avenue and East Blue Earth Avenue are two-way streets all the way.

"That’s just something for drivers to pay attention to, so they know the difference of both roundabouts," Beletti said. "The main points of safety with a roundabout are that you’re yielding to traffic that’s already in the roundabout. When you’re approaching the roundabout, there are very clear painted lines where you should stop behind."

In roundabouts, Beletti said drivers need to yield to traffic to their left.

"I think a lot of times people are used to yielding to traffic to the right," he said. "However, obviously in the roundabout it goes around in a counterclockwise fashion. You’re looking to your left not only for pedestrians, but you’re also looking for vehicles as well that are already in that roundabout."

One of the most common mistakes Beletti said occurs with roundabouts is people entering when they don't have the right of way.

"If they see a vehicle enter in front of them, they may think that the whole line of cars can go," he said. "That isn’t the case if somebody else from another direction enters and now they have the right of way. The most important point is to look to your left, yield to those vehicles that are in the roundabout to your left. A vehicle in front of you may very well make it in legally, but if there’s a line of cars behind that vehicle, they may not have that right away to enter because another vehicle has entered."

Additionally, Beletti said there have been some instances of Minnesota nice, where drivers who have the right of way wave in those who don't, like at four-way stop signs. This creates potential for danger as well, because not only is there possible miscommunication between drivers, but there can also be other drivers entering the roundabout.

Also, while the raised center of the roundabout can be driven over by semis if need be, such as when making left or 90-degree turns, they are not meant to be driven over by cars.

As this new roundabout gets more and more usage moving forward, when the road construction is completed, Beletti said he wants to see people entering in a safe manner.

"That has been a problem intersection over the years," he said. "I think what we’re looking forward to is just a safe motoring public, people getting where they need to be in a timely manner. If you’re always running late, or you’re getting to work or school or wherever you’re headed to right on time, maybe you should just take a few extra minutes, leave early. There’s no reason to rush and get into an unnecessary crash."

Further information will also be posted in the near future at facebook.com/fairmontminnpd/.