TRAFFIC circles are sometimes a headache to most motorists.
There are still people who don’t know how to move in on a circle and accidents happen quickly. In the Alberton area motorists approach circles daily. The CHRONICLE thought that it would be a good thing to go over the use of roundabouts again.
In South Africa we often refer to roundabouts as “traffic circles”. According to Arrive Alive, a roundabout is a type of circular intersection that reduces potential conflicts between vehicles and improves the efficiency of the intersection.
The advantages of a roundabout are:
- Traffic calming
- Reduction of angle and head-on crashes
- Reduction of crash severity
- Improvement of intersection capacity
- Aesthetic improvements
Watch the video here:
Approaching a roundabout:
- On approaching a roundabout take notice and act on all the information available to you, including traffic signs, traffic lights and lane markings which direct you into the correct lane.
- If you take your time and make sure you are in the correct lane a good distance from the roundabout you can’t go far wrong.
- Slow down as you approach the intersection – You’re typically not required to stop.
- A roundabout is designed to be driven at low speed. Entering and travelling through a roundabout at higher speed is difficult and could be unsafe.
- You may have to stop when you reach the roundabout. When it’s clear, ease up off the clutch smoothly, don’t rush, keep using the mirrors, and above all, stay calm.
- As you enter the roundabout, traffic coming from your right has right of way.
- This means that traffic streaming into the roundabout from the entrance to your right will keep coming as long as no one is coming from their right. These cars may not even slow down as they enter the roundabout, because they have the right of way. You must stop and wait until there is a break in traffic.
- Watch out for other traffic in the roundabout. Once you are on the roundabout maintain a reasonable speed. Failing to do this, especially when you are in the right-hand lane, may result in other drivers passing on the nearside. Watch out for vehicles already on the roundabout; be aware they may not be signaling correctly or signaling at all.
- Always keep an eye on the vehicle in front as you’re about to emerge. Don’t assume the driver won’t have to stop while you’re still looking right. Many rear end collisions happen this way. Make sure the vehicle has actually moved away.
- Watch for pedestrians and bicycles. Keep in mind that buses or large trucks need extra room to make turns and might take up more than one lane in a traffic circle.
- Obey all traffic signs and road markings.
- Signal your intent to other drivers when entering, going around and exiting the circle.
- If you miss your turn, just go around again. Avoid swerving at the last minute.
To Turn Left (taking the first exit)
- signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
- keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signaling left to leave.
To go straight on (taking the second exit)
- select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout. If no marking on the road it is usually safest to keep to the left lane
- stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
- signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.
To Turn Right (taking the last exit or third exit )
- signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
- keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
- signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.
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