Thinks roundabouts will cause more wrecks

When I first heard about the proposed numerous roundabouts for Columbus, I expressed concern to our city engineer, Kevin Stafford, and my councilman, Charlie Box, that they would present problems for drivers in the Golden Triangle and west Alabama area but I was told that Europeans and some other places love them. Interestingly, a few weeks later an article in the Wall Street Journal with the title “Roundabout Wrecks Have Engineers Going in Circles” appeared. While there are generally less fatal accidents at roundabouts there are significantly more crashes. I quote, “The crash problem has been ‘a dirty little secret’ in the traffic field, now people are talking about it.” I personally gave councilman Box a copy of this article and brought one by for Mayor Smith’s in-box. But apparently roundabouts are coming. I think the only ones to benefit will be the auto body shops.

I think wrecks will have our city engineer “going in circles” as have the others where roundabouts are found.

William Ford M.D.

Columbus

The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.