13- Roundabouts

Goal: Teach your teen how to enter and drive roundabouts safely.

Location: A road that leads to a one-lane roundabout. Move on to practice at two or more lane roundabouts when your teen is ready.

Roundabouts are becoming more common in the U.S. because they provide safer and more efficient traffic flow than standard intersections. Statistics show that roundabouts reduce fatal crashes by about 90%, reduce injury crashes by about 75%, and reduce overall crashes by about 35%, when compared to other types of intersection control.

Lesson one – five easy steps

This example shows the traffic movement patterns through a one-lane roundabout. The one-lane roundabout is known as one of the safest and most efficient intersections.

• Slow down: Speeds of 15 mph or less are generally adequate in the roundabout.
• Yield: Vehicles entering must always yield to cars already in the roundabout. Look to your left for entering traffic.
• Entering: Don’t stop once inside the roundabout. The vehicle in the roundabout has the right of way. Do not change lanes within the roundabout.
• Destination signs: Look for destination signs and exit in that direction.
• Exiting: Look to your right, check your side mirror and use your turn signal

Lesson two – yield to emergency vehicles

• If you have not entered the roundabout, pull over and allow emergency vehicles to pass.
• If you have entered the roundabout, continue to your exit, then pull over and allow emergency vehicles to pass.
• Avoid stopping in the roundabout.

Lesson three – two or more lane roundabouts

• As you approach, observe the signs and arrows to determine which lane to use before entering.
• Signs on the side of the road and white arrows on the road will show the correct
  lane to use.
• If you want to make a left turn, stay in the left lane or other lanes that are signed and marked as
  a left turn.
• To make a right turn, stay in the right lane or other lanes that are signed and marked as a right turn lane.
• If you want to go straight, observe the signs and arrows to see what lane is correct.