Roundabout to be redesigned for £650k after crashes

Running Horse Roundabout, near Maidstone, is being redesigned

A council is spending £650,000 to redesign a roundabout in Kent after a spate of crashes.

There have been 29 crashes at Running Horse Roundabout, near Maidstone, in just five years, according to Kent County Council.

The new layout uses block colour road markings to prevent drivers switching lanes on the roundabout.

Kent County Council said changing the layout to reduce injuries was “a key priority”.

Turbo roundabout

The clear road markings of the new design, called a turbo roundabout, encourages "better lane discipline", the council said.

This makes it easier for drivers to join the roundabout.

“By introducing this innovative design, we hope the number of incidents where people are hurt in collisions is reduced,” said a spokesperson for the council.

The roundabout connects the M20 and A229 and sees an "extremely high volume of traffic" each day, the spokesperson added.

The redesign will not affect current bicycle and pedestrian crossing positions.

Turbo roundabouts were first used in the Netherlands in 2000. There are now estimated to be 390 around the world.

Work on the Maidstone roundabout will take place for three weeks from 15 April, between 20:00 and 05:00 BST.