The two golden rules of roundabouts
Aug 7, 2018, 5:46 AM | Updated: 7:04 am
With two new roundabouts going in on a popular commuter route in Snohomish County in August, it’s time to give drivers a refresher course. Grab your notebooks and pencils. It’s time for Roundabout 101.
I can feel your eyes rolling. I can hear you saying, “Come on, Chris, we know how to use roundabouts.” For those of you who think you have this nailed, great. This class is for all of the drivers who I routinely see making dangerous moves in roundabouts. I can count at least two times I have had to take evasive action to avoid significant crashes because of drivers who did not know what they were doing.
The most basic rule of the roundabout is this, “yield to traffic in the circle,” so says the Washington Department of Transportation video on roundabouts. “Don’t assume the traffic in the roundabout will stop for you,” the video continues.
This was near-accident number one for me. I was in the roundabout and preparing to exit when a driver blew through the yield and nearly took me out. Vehicles in the roundabout have the right-of-way.
Many roundabouts in our state consist of multiple lanes. This requires you to know, in advance, where you want to go. You cannot change lanes once you have entered. “You may force another driver to stop suddenly if you make a left turn from the right lane,” the video states. This was near-accident number two for me. I was in the inside lane of a two-lane roundabout when the driver to my right just veered into my lane and nearly took out my front end.
To recap the two golden rules of roundabouts: yield to traffic already in the roundabout and do not change lanes inside the roundabout.
I’ll wrap up Roundabout 101 with a situation that might cause more than a little panic. What happens if you’re approaching a roundabout or already in one when an emergency vehicle is rolling up behind you? It might be counter-intuitive to some to keep going. “Don’t stop in the roundabout, continue to your exit, then pull to the right to let them pass,” the video states.
Why is Washington now putting in so many roundabouts? They are cheaper than widening roads and putting-in turn lanes. They can also make intersections safer. This is the primary reason the state is adding two roundabouts on Highway 524 between Lynnwood and Bothell this month. They will be installed on either side of I-405. The state believes this will cut down on the accidents and the lengthy delays caused by left turning traffic.
