To the editor:

The traffic-calming structures at 17th and Indiana and Illinois streets may actually increase the risk of accidents at those intersections because they do not slow some of the traffic flow through them. I live within two blocks of both “circles.” Slowing of traffic is achieved by causing the vehicles to first turn slightly to the left to enter the device and then turn to the left to move around the “circle.”

The one at 17th and Indiana is the most dangerous because even bicycles and mopeds can achieve 30 mph coming down off the “hill” and can drive through the intersection (no north or south stop sign) without slowing. I have seen smaller cars do the same because they can drive straight through the intersection without having to diverge from straight-line path. To remedy this fault, the corners need to be trimmed back and the radius of the “circle” needs to be increased to remove the straight line path through the intersection.

Ed Shaw,

Lawrence