What should you do when you approach a roundabout?

When approaching a roundabout, it is crucial to yield to traffic that is already within the roundabout. This rule ensures a smooth flow of traffic and helps prevent collisions. Vehicles already circulating in the roundabout have the right of way, which means any driver entering must wait until it is safe to merge into the traffic.

This practice not only enhances safety but also minimizes unnecessary delays. By yielding, you allow those already in the roundabout to continue moving without interruption, which is the primary function of roundabouts—to keep traffic flowing.

While speeding up to enter quickly may seem like a way to assert your presence, it conflicts with the rules of right of way and can lead to dangerous situations. Stopping entirely for directions is typically unnecessary, as well-designed roundabouts have clear signage that indicates the correct path and rules. Lastly, while it is important to maintain the correct lane—generally the right lane for turns—it's not always the case that you should stay in the right lane, particularly if you intend to leave the roundabout at a different exit, which might require you to be in a different lane before entering the roundabout.