Caltrans has installed what they are calling a “Turbo Roundabout” near Gilroy, California. This first of its kind in the state was installed at what is a notoriously dangerous intersection and this has led to a poor safety record since opening. Caltrans built the three-lane roundabout at the intersection of highways 25 and 156 and the two-fold goal was to decrease collisions while maintaining traffic efficiency.
The turbo design was created in the Netherlands in the 1990s and has multiple lanes with raised dividers instead of painted lines like the roundabouts in use in Elk Grove and Sacramento. The raised panels are in place to funnel drivers to their desired exit safely. The Mercury News reports that based on crash data analysis from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) drivers are struggling to adapt to the new and unusual road design since it was completed in February of 2024. The area has actually “seen a significant spike in crashes” since opening averaging one crash every 2.5 days. The previous roadway averaged one crash every eight days.
The bright side is none of the crashes on the new turbo roundabout have led to what was described as a serious injury or death and the share of crashes where an injury was reported has also dropped. A Caltrans spokesperson told the media that reading too much into this analysis is “premature” because drivers are still adjusting to the new feature. “Historically, travelers do have a learning curve,” the spokesman went on to say. He added that an analysis should take into account other details from the incident reports, including what proportion of crashes can be attributed to “driver error,” like speeding, tailgating or distracted driving.
The safety of the roundabout, which sees an increase in commuters during peak hours, should continue to be tracked to allow travelers to become more accustomed to this new feature, before any drastic conclusions are made about it.” A CHP spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Caltrans released videos in English and Spanish explaining how to use the new roundabout, while signs and road markings help with navigation on site. But some drivers remain confused, based on social media posts and Mercury News interviews. One video posted on TikTok shows a driver going the wrong way in the roundabout, while a commuter reported that he’s seen people “catching air” driving over the lane dividers.
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