The Magic Roundabout

For some, the Magic Roundabout in Swindon, England, represents traffic mitigation at its finest – for others, the five-swirl roundabout is an absolute terror.

Most drivers in the United States have encountered a roundabout at some point. If you live in Caramel, Indiana, you have a much higher chance of using one, given that the City is home to over 150 roundabouts, the highest concentration in the county.

The Magic Roundabout in Swindon features five small roundabouts that run clockwise around a central roundabout. What seems like an impossibly complex intersection has actually proven to be very safe. Within its first 25 years of operation, the Magic Roundabout saw only 14 accidents and 100 minor fender-benders. That’s less than what would be anticipated for a roundabout of a similar size. It even has a bicycle lane, which separates cyclists from vehicles and further reduces risk.

After its implementation in 1972, Swindon’s Magic Roundabout gained so much favor that the nearby city of Hemel Hempstead installed a six-ring roundabout one year later in 1973. Since then, the design has been adapted, edited, and installed all across Britain.

Whether you’re a roundabout pro, or someone who’s just winging it, there’s no denying that the Magic Roundabout is something special. Not all drivers might feel that way at first, but eventually, they come around to it.