Q: One of our commissioners is against roundabouts. Are there statistics on the safety of roundabouts?
—Tony V. Parrott, Fayetteville
A: Studies from the past 15 years have shown that roundabouts are safer than traditional intersections because "vehicles travel in the same direction and at low speeds — generally less than 20 mph in urban areas and less than 30-35 mph in rural areas," the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety/Highway Loss Data Institute states on its website (iihs.org).
Roundabouts can reduce high-speed right-angle, left-turn and head-on collisions accidents that occur at traditional intersections. Accidents with injuries were cut between 72 and 80 percent and the number of crashes was reduced 35 to 47 percent at roundabouts that had been converted from intersections with stop signs or traffic signals. A 2012 study found that accidents had been reduced by 62 percent and injury crashes by 85 percent at 19 intersections on roads with speed limits of 40 mph or higher that had been changed from stop signs to roundabouts.
Q: Can you find out the name of that fantastic French singer who sings on the current Cadillac TV commercials?
—Kathy Cadle, Marietta
A: Edith Piaf, a French singer who rose to fame in the 1930s, performs "Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien" ("No Regrets") in the Cadillac commercial that debuted during the Academy Awards. The song "sets an emotional atmosphere," Uwe Ellinghaus, Cadillac's chief marketing officer, told Forbes.com. "It's music that is big."
Piaf became a worldwide star and made appearances on “The Ed Sullivan Show” before she died from cancer in 1963. Marion Cotillard won the Oscar for Best Actress for portraying Piaf in 2007’s “La Vie en Rose.”
Andy Johnston wrote this column. Do you have a question about the news? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).
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