Zipper's Driving School - Driving Tips

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ABOUT ROUNDABOUTS:

Roundabouts are used extensively in Australia, including here in the Northern Territory (especially at Palmerston!). The UK introduced them as early as 1956 and are the pioneers of the modern roundabout. America and Europe have since discovered their advantages, America's first modern roundabout was installed in 1995.
Roundabouts facilitate safe traffic flow with minimum disruption and have the advantage over traffic lights that they still operate during a power failure. As well as being proven crash-reducers they are also useful as traffic calming devices.
The two basic types in the NT are single-lane and two-lane. The number of "entry points" (or exits) can vary between two and five. The classic "2-lane, 4-entry point" roundabout is the one described below.
A particularly interesting design in response to a traffic problem in the UK is their "magic roundabout". Visit the Roundabout Variations page for this and some local variations from standard roundabout design.


HOW TO USE ROUNDABOUTS:

Roundabouts are easy to use but there are some basic rules that must be followed.

Approaching the Roundabout:
Slow down to allow you to observe traffic and give way if necessary, and to ensure you enter at a safe speed.
Signal your intention (see below), and don't forget to check your mirrors.
Observe signs and painted road-arrows to ensure you approach in the correct lane at 2-lane roundabouts (see "Which lane to use?" below).

Signalling up to the roundabout:
When approaching the roundabout, signal as if you were approaching a standard intersection i.e. signal left to turn left, signal right to turn right, and no signal is required if continuing ahead through the roundabout.

Giving Way:
Give way to vehicles on the right which are already in the roundabout - ensure you have a safe gap to avoid the risk of collision when entering.
Inside the roundabout, travel in a clockwise direction and do not stop unless there is an emergency.

Signalling before leaving the roundabout:
When inside the roundabout, signal left before taking an exit road.

Why give an exit signal?
It allows vehicles approaching the roundabout on your right to make an informed decision whether it is safe to enter or not - it helps keep the traffic flowing smoothly.
It is also of benefit to vehicles behind you if you are exiting a 2-lane roundabout from the inside lane.

And, of course, it is a requirement of the Australian Road Rules! Rule 118 states in part: "If practicable, a driver driving in a roundabout must give a left change of direction signal when leaving the roundabout."

Which lane to use?
When turning left, use the left lane on approach to the roundabout, inside the roundabout, and on the exit.
When turning right, use the right lane on approach to the roundabout, inside the roundabout, and on the exit.
Do NOT change lanes inside a roundabout!
An easy way to remember is:
  • Left lane in, left lane around, left lane out.
  • Right lane in, right lane around, right lane out.
"Continuing ahead": some 2-lane roundabouts allow traffic to continue ahead in either lane, others from only the left or only the right lane.
In all cases, observe and obey the arrows painted on the entry lanes at the roundabout. In some cases there may be signs similar to those shown in (2.) below.

Turning left or right Continuing ahead

Turning LEFT, turning RIGHT or CONTINUING AHEAD - which is which?

According to the Australian Road Rules:
  • If the exit road is less than halfway around the roundabout, enter the roundabout in the left lane.
    (Treat the manoeuvre as a left turn and signal left when approaching the roundabout)

  • If the exit road is more than halfway around the roundabout, enter the roundabout in the right lane.
    (Treat the manoeuvre as a right turn and signal right when approaching the roundabout)

  • If the exit road is straight across the other side of the roundabout, look for lane arrows or signs telling you which lanes are available. (There is no need to signal before entering but you should still give an exit signal before leaving).

  PEDESTRIANS and BICYCLES in roundabouts:

Pedestrian crossings are usually provided at roundabout entry points.

Please use these to cross, as walking in or across roundabouts is very hazardous.

Drivers using roundabouts should be on the alert for pedestrians - and cyclists too (see right).

If you must ride a bicycle in a roundabout, be very careful of other traffic, and always give way to vehicles which are exiting the roundabout.

Australian Road Rule 119: "the rider of a bicycle or animal who is riding in the far left marked lane of a roundabout with 2 or more marked lanes, or the far left line of traffic in a roundabout with 2 or more lines of traffic, must give way to any vehicle leaving the roundabout. Offence provision"

Roundabout SIGNAGE
This sign warns drivers that they are approaching a roundabout. This sign is used with 2-lane roundabouts, it indicates which lanes are available.
Some more signs used at 2-lane roundabouts (in this case, a T-intersection roundabout in Palmerston at the intersection of Chung Wah Tce and Lambrick Ave
See the Roundabout Variations page for more info).
Road trains are permitted to use some roundabouts in the N.T. (e.g. many industrial areas and including the large "Tom Brown roundabout" at Alice Springs).

Long vehicles need extra width to turn and it is common for trucks and buses to use both lanes inside a roundabout, do not drive alongside or overtake a long vehicle - stay ahead or behind with a good safety gap, but not alongside!
This regulatory sign is placed at the entrances and identifies the intersection as a roundabout.
   
This style of information sign helps you locate the exit you require, and has another use too. For example:
  • Exit 1 in the upper sign and exits 1 & 2 in the lower sign are less than than halfway around the roundabout - use the left lane and signal left before entering.
    (Note: if taking exit 2 in the lower sign, delay signalling left until you are passing exit 1. This will make it less likely that a vehicle entering from exit 1 will pull out in front of you).

  • Exit 3 in the upper sign and exits 3 & 4 in the lower sign are more than than halfway around the roundabout - use the right lane and signal right before entering.

  • Exit 2 in the upper sign is halfway around - choose the correct lane(s) by observing the white arrows on the entrance roads, or a sign if provided. There is no need to signal when approaching, but don't forget to signal left before exiting.

  • Always signal left before leaving the roundabout!
What does the "gap" in the circle mean?

These signs are read "on the run" by drivers approaching the roundabout.
The gap is an aid for the drivers to quickly identify their position in relation to the the diagram as they run their eyes round the circle - it does not mean that you can't drive past that point.

It is OK to do a U-turn or even to go round and round, so long as the roundabout rules are obeyed in regards to giving way, use of correct lane (the inside lane!) and signalling.

Don't stop inside a roundabout unless there is an emergency!
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