Lesson 2 · Turns and crossings
Who has the right of way in a roundabout?
Short answer
Cars already in the roundabout. Yield to traffic coming from your left, then enter and go counterclockwise.
Watch it play out
How to do it
- Slow down and pick your lane before you arrive.
- Yield to people in the crosswalk and to cars already circling.
- Enter when there is a gap and go counterclockwise.
- Signal right before your exit. Do not stop or pass inside the circle.
Why the rule works this way
Giving priority to cars already circling keeps the roundabout from locking up. Everyone moves slowly in one direction, so crashes are rare and minor.
Common mistakes
- Stopping inside the roundabout to let someone in.
- Applying "yield to the right" here. In a roundabout, you yield to the left.
Questions people ask
What if an emergency vehicle comes?
Do not stop inside the roundabout. Exit first, then pull over.