Roundabouts and traffic circles

Explanation

A roundabout is a circular intersection. You enter and exit only by right turns and travel counterclockwise.

• As you approach, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and to traffic already in the roundabout. Incoming traffic always yields to circulating traffic.
• In a multi-lane roundabout, know which lane you need before you enter; signs and pavement markings guide you. Don’t change lanes inside.
• In a multi-lane roundabout, yield to large vehicles (buses, tractor-trailers) going through at the same time — slow down or stop if needed. If two large trucks are side by side, the one in the right lane yields to the one in the left lane.
• Never walk across the circulating lanes to the center island.

A traffic circle is different: it may have both clockwise and counterclockwise traffic, and its approaches may be controlled by stop signs instead of yield signs.

Example

You reach a two-lane roundabout. Lane control signs before the entrance show which lane leads to your exit. You choose that lane before the yield line, wait for a gap in circulating traffic, turn right to enter, go around counterclockwise, and turn right to exit.

Common mistake

Entering because “the car in the circle is still far away” without checking the crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians first, then to circulating traffic.

What the manual says

A roundabout is a circular intersection in which traffic enters or exits only through right turns and proceeds in a counterclockwise direction.

When approaching a roundabout, incoming traffic always yields to the circulating traffic.

If two large trucks are approaching or driving through a roundabout at the same time, the driver in the right lane must yield the right of way to the driver in the left lane.