Photo: Roundabouts (wikimedia.org) Author: Konstantin Shirokun
Europeans consider roundabouts to be the most rational type of intersection, in Ukraine it is one of the most problematic types of interchanges. How to drive through a “ring” without any problems?
Read about the basic rules for driving through intersections with traffic in a circle in the RBC-Ukraine article.
So, if you notice that you have no oncoming traffic and everyone around you is turning only right, and behind you there is a blue round sign with arrows in a circle, you have every reason to think that you have reached a roundabout. At the same time, this very circle does not necessarily have the shape of a circle with a flowerbed in the middle, but can look like a widening of the road or a large orderly square surrounded by a road along the perimeter.
In general, the Ukrainian traffic regulations in paragraph 16.12 also contain other signs of a roundabout, in particular, sign 1.19 “Approaching a roundabout” is installed at 50-300 meters and marking 1.13, similar to a row of small triangles at the entrance.
Important rules for driving in circles
– The most important thing to remember at a roundabout in Ukraine is that the right of way is for those who are already moving along it. This means that when you approach a roundabout, you will have to give way to cars that are already moving along it;
– There is no need to turn on the turn signals when entering a roundabout;
– Turn signals must be turned on when exiting a roundabout and when changing lanes on it;
– You can enter the roundabout from any lane;
– Once you enter, immediately start thinking about exiting the circle. The closer your exit is, the faster you need to take a convenient lane;
– If your exit is the first one, it is better to immediately take the far right position. Do not forget to turn on the turn signals when changing lanes and leaving the intersection;
– According to the traffic regulations, it is allowed to exit the roundabout from all lanes, but in reality, it is not easy to exercise this right. After all, in order to simply exit from the far left lane, you will often have to cross the two or three lanes to your right – and other cars usually drive on them. Therefore, it is better to approach the desired exit already in the right (first) lane;
How not to make a mistake at a roundabout intersection
In fact, intersections of this type can be very different. It's one thing when it's actually an intersection of two or three empty roads with a flowerbed in the middle – this scheme is popular in the European hinterland. And it's quite another thing when it comes to multi-lane roundabouts clogged with traffic, which are found in large Ukrainian cities. And there is a third option – a large square in the city center, with a park, a church and a playground in the middle, through which traffic is organized along its perimeter counterclockwise.
Therefore, the most important thing to do at a roundabout intersection is to understand that you are looking at a roundabout. And in a foreign city, this may not be easy, since the above-mentioned signs are not always installed according to standards. Therefore, in an unfamiliar region, each street intersection should be considered not only for the presence of transport, but also from the point of view of the traffic scheme on it.
In preparing this article, the Traffic Regulations and the Law of Ukraine on Road Traffic were used.
Let us recall that RBC-Ukraine recently reported why pedestrians are not always right.