What must a US driver do when they approach a roundabout or circular roadway with one or more intersecting streets?

Answer 1

Roundabouts or circular roadways are often found in small historic towns and often near the heart of downtown. Often one primary road has automatic right of way with all streets emptying into the circle controlled by signs (stop or yield) or lights. If you must stop, try to do a quick assessment to figure out the traffic control in the circle.

The basic rules are:

• follow all posted signs whether on the pavement, above the road, or on side posts
• use your signals
• keep to the posted speed and no tail-gating (out-of-towners are all figuring out the correct lanes)
• enter right lane but merge left unless you will be exiting
• right lane is the exiting lane
• center lanes mean you're going around--pick carefully so you don't impede the flow of traffic (hint: you can always go around again until it is safe to merge right--eventually, you'll tick people off if you just keep going 'round and 'round)
• likewise, be patient with everyone else who might be just as lost with this driving surprise; let people merge; let people move to the lane they need to be in to exit
• Don't stop on the circle unless it allows for parking (very rare). For example, if the police pull you over, put on your turn signal, merge to the right, and take the first road from the right lane, and pull over on that street.
• After the first time you complete this, go get ice cream and ice down your white knuckles clenched to the steering wheel. The 2nd time is easier.