![\"Let's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770463868_976_.jpeg\")
<\/p>\nPORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. \u2014 A Port St. Lucie resident is raising concerns about the city’s increasing reliance on roundabouts, questioning whether they’re the right solution for the growing community’s traffic needs.<\/p>\n
WATCH BELOW: ‘If we’re not going to get rid of them, then we do need to educate the people,’ Gerald Freeman tells WPTV<\/p>\n
Port St. Lucie resident says city’s growing roundabout network ineffective<\/p>\n
Gerald Freeman contacted WPTV after observing what he believes are safety issues with the circular intersections throughout the city.<\/p>\n
“Everybody’s in a hurry,” Freeman said. “Roundabouts just don’t work. They don’t work for this population.”<\/p>\n
Freeman’s primary concern centers on driver behavior at the intersections, particularly with yield signs.<\/p>\n
“The problem is that people are coming off on the yield sign on a roundabout and not yielding, and when they don’t yield, that’s a chance for an accident to happen,” Freeman said.<\/p>\n
The city currently operates around 30 roundabouts, with 12 more planned for construction. City officials said they use traffic studies to determine the best improvements for intersections, whether that’s a roundabout or traditional traffic light.<\/p>\n
“The roundabouts typically are safer. They improve efficiency of traffic flow,” said city spokesperson Samples.<\/p>\n
According to the Federal Highway Administration, roundabouts demonstrate significant safety improvements compared to traditional intersections. The data shows roundabouts have fewer crashes overall, with 90% fewer fatalities and 75% fewer injuries.<\/p>\n
From a traffic flow perspective, roundabouts can increase intersection capacity by 30% to 50%, reducing delays that typically occur with stop signs and traffic signals.<\/p>\n
Despite the statistical benefits, Freeman believes the solution lies in better driver education rather than continued roundabout construction.<\/p>\n
“The way to prevent a problem is to have a traffic light, that’s all and I don’t think these are going to work for the future,” Freeman said.<\/p>\n
However, he acknowledges that if the roundabouts remain, driver education becomes crucial.<\/p>\n
“If we’re not going to get rid of them, then we do need to educate the people,” Freeman said.<\/p>\n
Freeman reached out to WPTV specifically, because he believed media attention could help address the issue.<\/p>\n
“I noticed that when your station gets a hold of a problem, it’s usually somehow corrected,” Freeman said.<\/p>\n
As Port St. Lucie continues its rapid growth, the debate over traffic management solutions remains ongoing, with residents like Freeman advocating for alternatives they believe better serve the community’s needs.<\/p>\n
We want to be your voice and help you find solutions.<\/p>\n
While we hold our monthly Let’s Hear It meet-ups, we know many are not able to attend, but we still want to hear from you and start taking action to get you answers. You can e-mail us at LetsHearIt@wptv.com.<\/p>\n
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