Roundabout Accidents Surge: Study Highlights Safety Risks and Driving Tips

More than 43,000 accidents occurred at roundabouts in Spain over a five-year period, resulting in 309 deaths and 54,085 injuries, according to a study by the Automovilistas Europeos Asociados (AEA).

The AEA study, covering the years 2020 to 2024, found that the number of roundabout accidents increased by 21% over the period, rising from 7,097 incidents in 2020 to 8,588 in 2024.

On urban roads, the increase in roundabout accidents was significantly higher at 31.6%, growing from 4,686 to 6,168 incidents. On interurban roads, the increase was minimal at 0.3%, with accidents rising slightly from 2,411 to 2,420.

The proportion of accidents involving victims at all intersections (including roundabouts and other types) increased from 39.5% in 2020 to 43.7% in 2024, indicating a growing share of injury-related incidents occurring at intersections compared to other road locations.

Regarding accident severity, fatalities on roads increased by 12.5% and injuries by 3.7% over the five-year period. In urban areas, the number of injured persons rose sharply by 32.3%, while fatalities decreased by 20.6%.

Despite the rising accident numbers, the AEA maintains that roundabouts are appropriate for managing traffic flow changes due to the loss of priority they impose on all converging roads and their general effect of reducing mobility. However, the organization stresses that poorly designed or unsuitable roundabouts may contribute to increased accident rates.

The AEA recommends conducting external technical audits to evaluate whether the specific type of roundabout constructed at each location—such as mini-roundabouts, double roundabouts, split roundabouts, signalized roundabouts, or turbo roundabouts—is the most suitable for the road’s needs and traffic conditions.

For drivers, the AEA highlights that entering a roundabout is a critical moment, requiring clear visibility and proper positioning. It advises using the right lane when entering, if available and free. Once inside, drivers should stay in the outer lane unless overtaking or preparing to exit, in which case they may use the inner lane and move back to the outer lane before leaving.

These guidelines align with recommendations from Spain’s Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), which also advises using the inner lane for overtaking and returning to the outer lane when exiting the roundabout.