Drivers

If you are a driver, follow these best practices to stay safe when using roundabouts. Make sure that you slow down when approaching the roundabout and keep to the right of the splitter island. Enter the roundabout only when there is enough space for your vehicle to fit into the flow of traffic.

When entering the roundabout:

• Slow down
• Be aware of your surroundings and watch for pedestrians and cyclists
• Always travel in a counter clockwise direction

Remember that vehicles already in a roundabout have the right of way.

When in the roundabout:

• Do not pass other vehicles or cyclists in the roundabout
• Maintain low speeds
• Give other vehicles plenty of space
• Beware of experienced cyclists who follow the same general rules as any other vehicle
• The truck apron around the center island is for large trucks when turning

When existing the roundabout:

• Always signal before existing
• Beware of any pedestrians and cyclists who may be crossing the road

Pedestrians

If you are a pedestrian, follow these best practices to stay safe when using roundabouts:

• Cross only at designated crosswalks
• Choose a safe time to cross and remember that vehicles always have the right of way while in the roundabout
• Never cross to the central island of the roundabout
• Step on the splitter island when crossing so you can safely cross one lane at a time

Bicycles

If you are a bicyclist, follow these best practices to stay safe when using roundabouts.

If you are an experienced bicyclist:

• Travel through the roundabout using the same general rules as any other vehicle
• Merge into traffic before entering the roundabout
• Once inside the roundabout, ride in the middle of the lane so cars don't pass you

If you are a less-experienced bicyclist:

• Walk your bicycle on the sidewalk and dismount at the ramp
• Continue on the sidewalks and follow the same rules as pedestrians

Emergency vehicles

If you are a driver, pedestrian or bicyclist, know how to act when an emergency vehicles approach a roundabout:

• If you have not entered the roundabout, pull over to let the emergency vehicle pass
• If you are already inside the roundabout, do not stop but rather continue to your exit and then pull over to allow the emergency vehicle pass

Reduced speeds

Roundabouts help to reduce speed by:

• Encouraging drivers and bicyclists to slow down when approaching the roundabout
• Causing drivers to yield to circulating traffic

Fewer collisions

Roundabouts help to eliminate collisions by:

• Simplifying the decision-making so drivers only need to look in one direction for on-coming traffic
• Reducing the number of conflict points because traffic only moves in one direction
• Eliminating the most severe head-on and left-turn crashes at traditional intersections
• Reducing the severity of accidents due to lower speed

Improved pedestrian safety

Roundabouts help to improve pedestrian safety by:

• Slowing vehicles when they enter and exit the roundabout
• Making it easier for pedestrians to check for vehicles
• Providing a shorter crossing distance

Less air and noise pollution

Roundabouts help to reduce air and noise pollution by:

• Decreasing fuel consumption because vehicles entering a roundabout must yield at entry
• Reducing idling and stopping which decreases vehicle emissions from releasing into the air
• Reducing noise pollution because of slow moving traffic that isn't stopping and starting

Lower costs

Roundabouts help to lower life cycle costs by eliminating operation and maintenance costs associated with traffic signals.

Reduced delays

Roundabouts help to reduce delays by allowing vehicles to yield rather than stop.