PennDOT departmental data shows that fatalities, injuries and crashes decreased statewide with roundabouts.

A Monday statement from PennDOT said that PennDOT “recently reviewed data for 19 roundabouts on state routes at intersections that were previously stop- or signal-controlled.”

Those 19 roundabouts are spread out over 16 locations in the Commonwealth.

“These roundabouts were selected based on having at least three years of crash data available before and after the roundabouts were built,” PennDOT said. “These 19 comprise all the roundabouts on state routes that met the selection parameters.”

The nearest traffic circle included in the data is the one located at the intersection of Rt. 97 and Rt. 19 in Waterford.

So what did the data show?

Fatalities were reduced from two to zero.

“Suspected serious injuries were reduced by 90 percent from 10 to 1,” the statement notes. “Suspected minor injuries were reduced by 79 percent from 24 to 5 (and) possible/unknown severity injuries were reduced by 81 percent from 70 to 13.”

The total number of crashes in the 2000-2018 data show the total number of crashes decreased by 34 percent from 138 to 91.

The one area where crashes increased was in the category of “property damage only,” which rose from 69 to 76.

“We are glad to promote the use of roundabouts throughout the commonwealth,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “The facts speak for themselves. Roundabouts save lives and reduce crash severity over standard stop or signal controlled intersections.”

The statement says that 29 other roundabouts in addition to the 19 reviewed have been built and that 40 more – including on in Warren – are in design.

“Roundabouts are frequently installed to address intersections with safety issues but may also be installed to improve traffic flow as well as other reasons such as traffic calming, and to facilitate pedestrian mobility,” PennDOT said, calling roundabouts a “standard practice within the transportation community.”