That Kimball hosts the only roundabout in Nebraska's panhandle sounds like a novelty to some. The state's Department of Roads, however, sees the circular intersection as a boon for safety--until drivers turn left instead of right."

Craig Lind, Highway District Engineer with the department, cannot confirm such reports. He has, however, had several incidents related to his office.

"We know it's new to the area--to Nebraska, pretty much," he said of the roundabout leading onto the new bypass just east of the town. "We're adding signs just to try to get people to understand."

Essentially, roundabouts replace static stop sign intersections with a constant righthand flow. Drivers approach the circle, check traffic, and ease in--turning right.They then proceed in a counter clockwise direction until reaching their exit, which again veers to the right.

The state favors such intersections for one clear reason: "it reduces right angle accidents," Lind explained.

The data is convincing. According to figures used by the Department of Roads, roundabouts reduce injury accidents by 75 percent and fatal ones by a whopping 90 percent. They have also been credited with cutting fuel consumption and emissions because vehicles spend less time idling.

"It's more efficient when you have low volume roads," Lind said. "You look, enter and drive around"--reiterating the point about counter clockwise motion.

The allegedly confusing Kimball roundabout resulted from a proposal back in 2005. The other option: a T intersection with three stop signs.

Roundabouts exist in Blair, Lincoln and Omaha, as well as in the neighboring state of Colorado.

"They're coming in lieu of the singleized intersection," Lind predicted.