Everything You Need to Know About Navigating a Roundabout
October 6th, 2020 by Fix Auto USA
You may dread the thought of driving your car through a roundabout. Fortunately, if you understand roundabout rules and regulations, you can safely navigate a traffic circle – and avoid roundabout collisions.
How to Drive in a Roundabout
To drive safely in a roundabout, you should learn as much as you can about the different types of traffic circles and how they work. There are two types of roundabouts: single- and multi-lane.
When you approach a single-lane roundabout, you will see a yellow sign that notifies you about the traffic circle. This sign will include a speed limit for the roundabout, and you should slow down as you get close to the traffic circle.
As you enter a single-lane roundabout, you should watch for pedestrians. You should also look to your left and yield to traffic that is already in the traffic circle.
When you see a gap in traffic, you can cautiously enter a single-lane roundabout. Once you reach your exit, you should activate your directional, watch for pedestrians, stay in your lane, and leave the roundabout.
Navigating a multi-lane roundabout is similar to driving in a single-lane traffic circle. When you approach a multi-lane roundabout, you will see two signs: a yellow “roundabout ahead” sign and a black-and-white “lane choice” sign. You’ll need to select a lane to use before you enter the roundabout.
In a multi-lane roundabout, you should travel in the right lane if you plan to go to the right. Or, if you intend to go left or make a U-turn, you should navigate in the left lane. You can travel straight through a multi-lane roundabout from the right or left lane.
When you enter a multi-lane roundabout, watch for pedestrians and yield to vehicles in the traffic circle. You should yield to cars in both lanes of traffic in the roundabout.
Once you find a gap in traffic, enter the multi-lane roundabout and travel to your exit. When you leave the traffic circle, use your directional, watch for pedestrians, stay in your lane, and exit safely.
Do You Need to Use Your Signal When You Enter a Roundabout?
If you are traveling in a multi-lane roundabout and want to switch lanes before you enter, you should use your directional accordingly. You won’t need to signal when you enter a single- or multi-lane roundabout, but you should utilize your directional to notify other drivers when you plan to exit.
How Many Times Can You Legally Go Around a Roundabout?
There is no legal limit to the number of times that you can travel around a roundabout. However, circling a roundabout more than twice may be considered careless driving.
You should always try to exit a roundabout correctly after you first enter it. If you initially miss your roundabout exit, you can circle around for second attempt.
Who Yields in a Roundabout?
Motorists must yield to roundabout traffic before they enter a single- or multi-lane traffic circle. In a single-lane roundabout, you should look to your left when you reach the dashed line and yield to drivers in the traffic circle. And in a multi-lane roundabout, you should yield to both lanes of traffic.
What Should I Do If I Am Involved in a Roundabout Collision?
If you are involved in a roundabout collision, try not to panic. At this time, you should pull your car to a safe spot on the side of the road and outside of the roundabout. You can then assess the damage to your car, call the police, and take the necessary steps to resolve the incident.
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This blog post was contributed by Fix Auto East Los Angeles, a leading industry expert and collision repair shop servicing east LA.
