‘Motorists do not know how to use traffic circles’
"Total disregard of traffic circle regulations is shocking"
“We have two traffic circles in our ward, one on McGrath Avenue and the other on the corner of Nassau Street and Trezona Avenue,” said René Benjamin, Ward 71 councillor.
She added that, during the past few weeks, she has been observing motorists using these traffic circles, and was shocked at their total lack of respect for the rules of the road. “It is shocking to watch how fast motorists approach the circle, with the majority of them not heeding the traffic rules. Every day I see how drivers cut in front of each other, with the only aim being to be the first one entering the circle. This behaviour causes near misses and drivers having to slam on their brakes to avoid a collision – all unnecessary behaviour,” she said.
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According to Regulation 301 of the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996 the correct way to use a traffic circle, is as follows:
“The driver of a vehicle on a public road shall, when he or she intends entering any portion of a public road which constitutes a junction of two or more public roads where vehicular traffic is required to move around a traffic island within such junction, yield the right of way to all vehicular traffic approaching from his or her right within such junction, unless his or her entry into such junction is controlled by an instruction given by a traffic officer or a direction conveyed by a road traffic sign requiring him or her to act differently.”
For motorists who are still not sure how to use a traffic circle, here is a video to watch:
Some tips on using a traffic circle:
• Roundabouts/ traffic circles can be confusing to some drivers, especially if they are not familiar with that particular route. Therefore, apply common sense, courtesy and caution.
• If you intend taking the first exit, indicate left on your approach to the roundabout.
• Before reaching the roundabout, slow down enough to be able to stop safely if necessary in order to yield to vehicles from your right.
• Before entering the roundabout, give way to traffic that is already in the circle and approaching from your right, and close enough to constitute a danger or potential danger.
• Move in a clockwise direction within the traffic circle.
• Once you’re in the circle, if there is a steady stream of vehicles behind you, and you can see that there is a vehicle waiting to enter the circle ahead of you, behave as you would when passing a freeway on-ramp: adjust your speed (i.e. slow down) to provide more safe space in front of you for the other driver to enter the roundabout safely. This is applying common sense and courtesy.
• Before changing lanes, check in the mirrors and applicable blind spot that it is safe to signal, and then check again that it is safe to move into the next lane, before doing so.
• To exit the circle at any exit after the first one, indicate to the left after you pass the road before the one at which you intend to exit the circle.
• Once you have indicated to leave the circle, you must leave at the very next exit.
René concluded by saying, “If motorists adhere to these rules, traffic will flow better and everyone will be able to get to their destinations safely.”
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