A roundabout is a circular intersection where drivers travel counterclockwise around a center island. There are no traffic signals or stop signs in a roundabout. Drivers entering the roundabout must yield to the traffic inside the roundabout. The only way to exit the roundabout is to make a right-hand turn at your desired highway. In a roundabout, there is no stopping, only yielding.
How to Drive a Roundabout
- Slow down as you approach the roundabout.
- Watch for signs and pedestrians. Yield to people in the crosswalk.
- Look left and right before entering. Traffic in the roundabout comes from your left and has the right-of-way.
- Find a safe gap, then enter and travel counterclockwise.
- Keep moving and don’t stop inside the roundabout. Watch for your exit and check for people in the crosswalk as you leave.
Resources
Benefits
Roundabouts provide many benefits to travelers, including:
- Elimination of head-on and high-speed right-angle crashes
- Lower speeds
- Increased safety for all travelers
- Improved flow of traffic
- Increased traffic capacity
- Ability to accommodate vehicles and trucks of all sizes
- Lower cost: no signal equipment and less pavement
Results on North Dakota’s State Highway System
- 80% fewer fatalities
- 59% fewer severe crashes
- 36% fewer crashes overall
