What is a roundabout designed to do?

A roundabout is designed primarily to facilitate the flow of traffic with minimal delays while enhancing safety for all road users. The circular design allows vehicles to move continuously around the central island, which helps to maintain a steady flow of traffic compared to traditional intersections that rely on traffic signals or stop signs. This continuous movement reduces the potential for severe collisions, as vehicles are primarily merging rather than intersecting at right angles, which is where many accidents occur.

Additionally, roundabouts encourage lower-speed maneuvers, which not only improve safety but also reduce the likelihood of serious injuries when accidents do happen. By minimizing stopping and starting, they decrease congestion and improve efficiency, allowing traffic to flow smoother during peak hours.

The other options, while they touch on various aspects of traffic management, do not accurately characterize the primary functions and benefits of roundabouts. For instance, while roundabouts can sometimes result in fewer lanes, this is not the main design intent. Likewise, they do not aim to increase speed limits—rather, they promote lower speeds for enhanced safety. Lastly, while roundabouts can reduce the need for traffic signals at certain intersections, they do not entirely eliminate the requirement for signals in all situations.