While each location has specific needs and opportunities, the modern roundabout in certain locations have been used to provide traffic-calming effects, and mark community gateways with enhanced aesthetic opportunities. 

Landscaping of the central island can enhance safety by making the intersection a focal point.

Roundabouts can also be used to help control excessive vehicle speeds (also known as Traffic Calming): Enforcement of vehicle speeds in residential streets is not cost effective using already stretched police forces. A series of roundabouts will provide effective speed control along residential streets by physically reducing all vehicle speeds.

Roundabouts can accommodate unique roadway alignments more easily than a traditional intersection.

One main advantage of modern roundabouts is their considerable geometric flexibility. This enables the efficient connection of difficult roadway alignments.

This geometric flexibility is possible due to the slow approach, entering and exit speeds inherent in properly designed modern roundabouts. Conventional signalized intersections do not have such geometric flexibility as higher vehicle speeds require larger centerline radii.