Introduction
Roundabouts are circular intersections designed to improve traffic flow and reduce collisions. Instead of traffic signals or stop signs, vehicles move continuously around a central island, yielding to traffic already in the roundabout. Utah drivers increasingly encounter roundabouts on both city streets and highways.
How Roundabouts Work
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Yield on Entry – Vehicles entering the roundabout must yield to traffic already circulating inside.
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Counterclockwise Flow – All vehicles move around the central island in a counterclockwise direction.
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Reduced Speeds – The curved design forces drivers to slow down, making roundabouts safer than traditional intersections.
Steps for Navigating a Roundabout
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Approach Slowly
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Reduce speed as you approach.
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Look for signs and pavement markings showing which lane you should be in.
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Yield to Traffic Inside
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Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout, coming from your left.
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Also, yield to pedestrians and cyclists at crosswalks.
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Enter When Clear
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When there’s a safe gap, enter smoothly without stopping unnecessarily.
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Stay in Your Lane
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Do not change lanes inside the roundabout.
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Follow the lane markings for your intended exit.
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Signal and Exit
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Use your right turn signal before exiting.
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Exit carefully, watching for pedestrians and cyclists.
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Multi-Lane Roundabouts
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Left Lane: For left turns or going straight.
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Right Lane: For right turns or going straight.
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Follow pavement arrows carefully—lane choice before entry is critical.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
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Failing to yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
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Entering too fast.
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Stopping inside the roundabout unnecessarily.
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Missing your exit and making sudden lane changes.
Why Utah Uses Roundabouts
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Fewer severe crashes compared to traditional intersections.
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Keeps traffic moving instead of stopping at signals.
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Handles high traffic volumes more efficiently.
✅ Takeaway: In a roundabout, yield to vehicles already inside, move counterclockwise, and signal when exiting. Stay in your lane and enter only when there’s a safe gap.