Roundabouts are popping up everywhere. Some people, however, get anxious when they drive through them. Do you know how to drive safely through a roundabout? Today’s blog offers advice for navigating through them safely and with confidence.
Circular junctions have been around since the late 1700s; however, it wasn’t until the 1960s that engineers in the United Kingdom developed the modern roundabout. The United States began using modern roundabouts in the 1990s. For many municipalities, roundabouts are more economical and can turn dangerous intersections into safe ones.
Some of the benefits of roundabouts are:
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Improved safety by slowing down traffic;
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Increased traffic flow, reducing traffic congestion;
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Elimination of dangerous left turns; and
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Near elimination of serious t-bone and head-on crashes.
Here are some tips for navigating roundabouts.
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Yield to drivers already in the roundabout;
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Stay in your lane;
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Don't stop in the roundabout
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Avoid driving next to oversized vehicles
For more information on driving in single or multi-lane roundabouts, click here.
Do you have any suggestions or information you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you. Please share them in the box below.
Sources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roundabout
http://dot.wi.gov/safety/motorist/roaddesign/roundabouts/benefits.htm