The essence of roundabouts is to improve the safety of intersections. However, many pedestrians, motorists, cyclists find them mysterious. It’s important to note that there are two types of roundabouts, i.e., single-lane and multi-lane. Even more, it can be challenging to understand the underlying basics of using these roundabouts.
Read on to understand what you need to do when navigating through the roundabouts:
Single-lane roundabouts
Whenever you see a yellow sign featuring circular arrows and a speed limit, you’re approaching a single-lane roundabout. Most of them require drivers to approach at a speed of 15 to 20 mph.
Here’s what you must do to navigate when approaching a single-lane roundabout safely:
Reduce your speed and pay attention
When you see a single roundabout, the first thing you need to do is slow down and look to your left before approaching the roundabout. Always remember that the traffic on the roundabout has the right of way. That’s why it’s necessary to be careful when entering the roundabout. While you’re supposed to slow down, you should not bring your car to a complete stop. If there’s no traffic, you have the right to enter the roundabout without fully yielding. But it would help if you were on the lookout because there could be pedestrians wanting to use the crosswalk. Pedestrians always have the right of way.
Keep a low, steady speed.
It’s essential to maintain a low, steady speed when you’re on the roundabout. Ensure to indicate your turn signal to alert other drivers before you exit the roundabout. The only time you shouldn’t flip on your turn signal is when pedestrians are using the crosswalk or when an emergency vehicle is approaching the roundabout. If that’s the case, you must exit your destination and stop immediately to pave the way for the emergency vehicle. Note that you should never stop in the roundabout.
Multi-Lane Roundabouts
When you see a yellow ” Roundabout Ahead” sign and a black and white lane choice sign, it indicates that there’s an upcoming multi-lane roundabout. Drivers often have to choose the lane before entering the roundabout.
How to approach a multi-lane roundabout
Yielding to both lanes of traffic
In a multi-lane roundabout, drivers have to yield to two games of traffic. If you want to turn right, you must stay on the farthest right lane, let all approaching cars proceed then enter the roundabout.
Choose the perfect lane
The good thing about multi-lane roundabouts is they feature at least three exits. Do you want to make a left or U-turn? Always stay in the left lane. How about making a right turn? Staying in the right lane is a must. Whichever lane you choose, you can proceed straight.
Maintain your lane
Because of the three possible exits on a multi-lane roundabout, it may be tempting to pass other drivers because of their slow speeds or insufficient knowledge of the roundabout rules. You’re not allowed to do that. Besides, it would be best to be careful when driving next to semi-trucks and other oversized vehicles. They have a large turning radius which may lead to side-swapping.
Conclusion
Roundabouts are a critical aspect of intersections’ safety. Knowing how to approach single-lane and multi-lane roundabouts will help you to prevent dangerous situations. Scroll up to understand what you need to do when using roundabouts.
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