Blue Ash Police Officers give out "tickets" for roundabout education

RAB graphic - courtesy Hilliard, OH
(graphic courtesy: City of Hilliard, OH)
(January 6, 2020 - Blue Ash)

If you get a “ticket” when you drive through the newly opened roundabout on Glendale-Milford Road in front of Summit Park in Blue Ash, it may not be an official traffic ticket and fine. Motorists who commit minor infractions may receive an educational “ticket” instead. (See ticket here.)

This outreach campaign is an effort to help motorists who may be unfamiliar with roundabouts and highlights three main #RoundaboutRules for multi-lane roundabouts:

  1. Check the signs and choose your correct lane. 
  2. Yield to BOTH lanes in the roundabout. 
  3. Yield to pedestrians at crosswalks.

“Roundabouts can make some drivers nervous, but following the three simple rules will allow drivers to navigate the roundabout with ease and confidence,” said Blue Ash Public Works Director Gordon Perry.

Officers understand that drivers may make mistakes.

“As long as there isn’t a true accident, we’ll be issuing these educational “tickets” for the first couple of weeks. We’ll hand them to motorists while explaining what they did wrong and how they can improve their skills,” said Lt. Roger Pohlman.

Click here to watch Fox 19's story about the educational "ticket" campaign.

The City of Blue Ash roundabout education efforts have also included a golf cart course, a matchbox course, an open house, online resources, and social media campaigns.

“We want all of our residents and visitors to be educated so they can get around on the roundabouts safely and easily,” said Perry.

The roundabout in front of Summit Park was constructed by developer Al. Neyer as part of the Neighborhoods at Summit Park mixed-use development project.

In 2021, construction will begin on roundabouts at Plainfield Road and Hunt Road, Plainfield Road and Peppermill Lane, and at the entrance to the Kroger on Hunt Road. 

The City of Blue Ash modeled the “ticket” campaign on a similar measure conducted in the City of Hilliard.