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© Tatyana Tereshchenko, Candidate of Chemical Sciences (PhD), Senior Research Officer, ORCID: 0000-0001-7584-9031, e-mail: chemistry@nidi.org.ua (“NIDI” SE) ROUNDABOUTS: THE EXPERIENCE IN THE USA AND EUROPE DOI: 10.33868/0365-8392-2026-1-286-33-41 Abstract. The roundabout has been considered the prominent concept for the motor roads at-grade intersections equally important for urban streets network in built-up areas and for transnational roads network. A roundabout differs from other types of at-grade circular intersections for two basic points: the geometry of the roundabout ele ments itself is the measure of traffic organization independent from many external factors; the priority shall be given to circulating vehicles. The roundabout appears to be an element of the “Vision Zero” strategy for the road safety. This paper deals with the concept of a roundabout through its operational and designing principles in relation with the roundabout type and functions. The roundabout design and operation were analyzed in certain main directions: systematization of the roundabout elements and their operational principles, principles of the roundabout elements vertical and horizontal alignment, principles for the selection of the vehicle type to be assigned for the roundabout design, and principles for the pavement type selection. According to the results of main roundabout elements geome try analysis, the principles of roundabouts categorization were defined which allow designers to justify the rounda bout parameters to operational conditions and traffic flow characteristics. The vertical and horizontal alignment, peculiarly the alignment of road axes on approaches with the roundabout geometrical center shall be accepted as a perfect design toll for objects in restricted or congested areas. Conclusions from that brief research pointed out the necessity for elaborating, at the national level, standard provi sions fixing the concept of a roundabout through singling out the principles of the roundabout functional efficiency and design approaches including alignment, design vehicle selection and pavement design. Keywords: design vehicle, interchange, motor road, road pavement, roundabout. References 1. United Nations. (2016). European Agreement on Main Inter-National Traffic Arteries (AGR). Consolidated version ECE/TRANS/SC.1/2016/3/Rev.1. 43. Retrieved from: https://unece.org/DAM/trans/doc/2016/sc1/ECE-TRANS-SC1-2016-03-Rev1e.pdf 2. Tereshchenko, T. (2024). Interchange systems. Interchanges. Used terminology. Roads and bridges, Kyiv, 30, 398–406 [in Ukrainian] DOI: https://doi.org/10.36100/dorogimosti2024.30.398 3. TC. (2025). DSTU EN 13863-1:2024 (EN 13863-1:2003, IDT) Betonni pokryvy. Chastyna 1. Metod vyprobuvan z vyznachennia tovshchyny betonnoho pokryvu metodom obstezhennia (National Ukrainian Standard (DSTU EN 13863-1:2024 (EN 13863-1:2003, IDT)) Concrete pavements – Part 1: Test method for the determination of the thickness of a concrete pavement by survey method). Kyiv, 5 (Information and documentation) [in Ukrainian] 4. Hedges, C. J., Dekelbab, W., Hanna, A. N., Griswold, E., Barnes, N., DiAngelis, H. (2023). Guide for roundabouts. NCHRP research Report 1043. Transportation research Board, 426. Retrieved from: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/27069/guide-for-roundabouts 5. FGSV. (2006). Directives for the design of urban roads. English Version of «Richtlinien für die Anlage von Stadtstraßen», Edition 2006, Translation 2012. Forschungsgesellschaft für Straßen- und Verkehrswesen e.V., Köln, 131. Retrieved from: https://www.fgsv-verlag.de/pub/media/pdf/200_E_PDF.v.pdf 6. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration. (2023). Selection of pavement types for roundabout intersections. Tech Brief FHWA – HIF – 23 – 075. U.S. 2023. Retrieved June from: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/pavement/pubs/hif23075.pdf 7. Petru, J.; Krivda, V. (2021). An Analysis of Turbo Roundabouts from the Perspective of Sustainability of Road Transportation. Sustainability. 2021, 13, 2119. Retrieved from: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13042119 8. Rens, L. (2013). Concrete roundabouts. European Concrete Paving Association, 28. Retrieved from: https://www.eupave.eu/wp-content/uploads/eupave-concrete-roundabouts.pdf. ISSN 0365-8392 DOI: 10.33868/0365-8392-2026-1-286-33-41 Date of first receipt of the article: 30.12.2025 Date of acceptance for publication: 15.03.2026 Date of publication: 31.03.2026