How to drive in a roundabout

Drivers: Have you encountered a roundabout lately?

Over the past two decades, they’ve gone from “a few sprinkled around the United States” to more than 10,000, the Federal Highway Administration says.

They’re more common because they’ve been shown to reduce the risk of serious collisions. But if you don’t have much experience with them, they can take time to get used to – and may even be a bit intimidating.

No need to fear: We’ll tell you how to navigate them safely.

Ready to learn more?

The benefits

Roundabouts are designed with a curved path. This forces drivers to slow down on approach – which reduces the risk of a crash.

Likewise, their design helps avoid one of the deadliest scenarios drivers face on the road: making a left-hand turn at an intersection with oncoming traffic.

Another plus: Roundabouts’ shorter crosswalks limit the amount of time pedestrians and cyclists are exposed to traffic.

They can even help make communities healthier. That’s because they keep traffic moving “with limited to no idle time,” said Ryan Pietzsch, program technical consultant for driver safety at the National Safety Council. Less time idling means less fuel use and less pollution coming from cars and trucks.

As you approach a roundabout:

• Slow down, typically to 15 to 25 mph.
• Yield to all vehicles already in the roundabout, as well as any pedestrians or cyclists. Stay behind the painted line or crosswalk as you wait.
• Enter the roundabout when you see a safe gap in traffic flow.
• Give large trucks space. Many are allowed to use multiple lanes.
• Be patient with drivers ahead of you who are determining when it’s safe to enter.

Once you’re in the roundabout:

• Try to stay in the same lane until you exit. “If you’re turning right at the first exit out of the roundabout, you should start in the right lane in a multi-lane roundabout,” Pietzsch said. “Likewise, if you’re turning at the third exit of a roundabout, you should be in the left lane as you approach the roundabout.”
• Keep a safe following distance between your vehicle and the vehicle ahead of you.
• Don’t drive next to another vehicle or other road user. “A staggered approach in a multi-lane roundabout is safest and allows for you to have a way out of trouble should you encounter any along the way,” Pietzsch said.
• Use your turn signal when nearing your exit to signal to others what you’re going to do.

What if an emergency vehicle approaches?

“Drive through the roundabout and pull over like you would at any other intersection,” the Washington State Department of Transportation says. “Don’t stop in the roundabout.”

Finally, “Don’t assume or try to anticipate another road user exiting the roundabout before they cross your path,” Pietzsch said. “When in doubt, wait it out.”