Ympyräliittymän

Ympyräliittymän is a Finnish term that translates to "circular interface" or "roundabout junction" in English. It refers to a specific type of road intersection designed to improve traffic flow and safety. Unlike traditional intersections with traffic lights or stop signs, a ympyräliittymän utilizes a central island around which traffic circulates in a counter-clockwise direction in countries where driving is on the right side of the road. Vehicles entering the ympyräliittymän yield to traffic already within the circulating roadway.

The primary purpose of a ympyräliittymän is to reduce the number of conflict points where vehicles can collide. By eliminating left turns across oncoming traffic and simplifying the decision-making process for drivers, it generally leads to fewer and less severe accidents. Traffic is also often able to move more continuously, as drivers do not have to wait for a green light, which can help to alleviate congestion, especially during peak hours.

ympyräliittymät are characterized by their design, which forces vehicles to slow down before entering the junction. This inherent speed reduction contributes significantly to their safety benefits. They can vary in size and complexity, from small, single-lane roundabouts in residential areas to large, multi-lane junctions designed to handle high volumes of traffic in urban environments. The implementation of ympyräliittymät is a common traffic engineering practice aimed at optimizing road network performance and user safety.