Roundabouts allow traffic to merge smoothly together and in doing so keep the overall traffic stream flowing smoothly. Trainers at Legacy Driving Academy help our students learn how to drive a roundabout. We help our students navigate through roundabouts and teach them how to safely manage their way into and out of all Roundabouts that they come across.

Approaching A Roundabout

As you approach a roundabout look well ahead for the advance warning sign. This will tell you the layout of the roundabout and show you which route direction you need to take, therefore, which lane to get into. Plan out the direction of travel to cause the most efficient path which causes the path of least resistance with other cars. This is how you drive a roundabout when you approach.

Priority At Roundabouts

Traffic that is already in the roundabout has priority, so you must yield the right-of-way to traffic approaching from your left. Doing so, will have you looking out for vehicles oncoming from your left.

You shouldn’t:

• Straddle lanes
• Change lanes at the last moment.

Once on the roundabout, build up and maintain a reasonable speed. Failing to do so, especially when you are in the left-hand lane, may result in other drivers passing on your nearside, who may then come to block your exit route.

Always check for vehicles to your right before leaving a roundabout. If the right-hand lane of the exit road is blocked or if there are vehicles in the lane to your nearside, you should leave in the right-hand lane.

Look Out For Vehicles

• Turning left without indicating
• Indicating left but going straight on
• Using the right-hand lane to go straight ahead
• Making a U-turn.

Turning Left

• Approach in the left-hand lane.
• Signal left as you approach.
• Stop at the Yield line and give priority to vehicles already on the roundabout when necessary.
• Once on the roundabout keep to the left.
• Continue to signal until you have left the roundabout.

Going Straight Ahead

• Approach in the left-hand lane.
• Do not signal.
• If necessary, stop at the Yield line and give priority to vehicles already on the roundabout.
• Once on the roundabout keep to the left.
• Check your mirrors, especially the left exterior.
• After passing the exit before the one you want signal right.

Turning Right

• Approach in the right-hand lane.
• Signal right as you approach.
• Only If necessary, stop and yield.
• Once on the roundabout keep to the right.
• Check your mirrors, especially the left.
• Signal left after passing the exit before the one you want.
• Check you left mirror for vehicles on your inside. When safe, steer to the exit. If a vehicle is blocking your exit path, keep your right signal on and continue around the roundabout until you again reach the exit you want.

Which Lane To Take

Sometimes the layout of a roundabout may make it difficult to judge which lane to take when approaching the roundabout. As a guide, imagine the roundabout as a clock face, with you approaching from the six o’clock position. Providing your exit road is past 12 o’clock and there are no other road markings to guide you, approach in the left-hand lane. Understanding the best lane to take will help any driver to Navigate Through Roundabouts easier.

When there are three lanes on the approach to the roundabout, use the:

• left to turn left
• middle lane to go straight ahead
• right lane to turn right.

Mini-Roundabouts

Approach these as a normal roundabout. Pass round the center markings, but remember there is less space,

• there is less time to signal to leave the roundabout
• larger vehicles may not be able to avoid driving over the roundabout road markings
• never enter the roundabout unless certain that other vehicles on it will be able to clear the route you intend to take.

At double mini-roundabouts and multiple roundabouts, follow the normal rules of priority and treat each roundabout separately.

At Legacy Driving Academy, teaching our students how to drive a roundabout safely will help them become better and more safe drivers on the road every day. If you need help learning how to drive a roundabout, checkout our Legacy Premier Driving School program in Phoenix, AZ.