Rotaries and roundabouts — Massachusetts Permit Test

Traffic travels counter-clockwise in a rotary, and you must always yield to vehicles already in it and to pedestrians.

Everything in the circle has the right-of-way over everything entering it. That is what keeps the rotary moving at all.

Always yield the right-of-way to vehicles already in the rotary (unless told differently by signs or police officers) and to pedestrians.

There are yield signs at the entrance to a rotary, and a central island that forces traffic to travel around it.

The island is why you cannot cut across, and the yield sign is why you do not have to stop unless traffic is coming.

There are yield signs at the entrance to a rotary.

Big rotaries are designed to handle traffic traveling at up to 40 miles per hour.

Forty is faster than most drivers expect of a rotary, which is why a slow entry backs up the traffic behind.

Big rotaries are designed to handle traffic traveling at up to 40 miles per hour.

In a single-lane rotary you must enter from the right lane of the road you are coming from and exit onto the right lane of the road you are taking.

One lane in and one lane out. Nothing about a single-lane rotary needs a lane change.

If the rotary has a single lane, you must enter from the right lane of the road you are coming from.

In a multiple-lane rotary, look for signs to choose your lane. Where there are no signs, enter from the right lane for a quarter-turn or to continue straight ahead, stay in that lane, and exit onto the right lane.

Signs come first; this is the rule for when there are none. Changing lanes inside a rotary is where the crashes happen.

For a quarter-turn, or to continue straight ahead, enter the rotary from the right lane. Stay in that lane, and exit onto the right lane.

For a three-quarter-turn or a U-turn in a multiple-lane rotary, enter from the left lane, travel through the middle or inner lane, and exit onto the right lane.

The long way round is done from the inside. Coming out means crossing to the right lane when it is clear.

For a three-quarter-turn, or a U-turn, enter the rotary from the left lane.

Use your right turn signal when you are ready to exit a rotary.

The exit is the one moment other drivers need to know your intention. Signaling on entry tells them nothing useful.

Travel through the rotary and, when you are ready to exit, use your right turn signal.

If you miss your exit in a rotary, go around again when it is safe rather than stopping in the rotary.

Stopping inside a circle of moving traffic is the worst thing you can do in one. Another lap costs seconds.

If it is safe to do so, go around again and position your vehicle to properly and safely exit the rotary. Do not stop in the rotary.

Roundabouts are smaller than rotaries and their size requires vehicles to reduce speed to 25 miles per hour or less.

The tighter circle does the slowing for you. It is also what makes them safe for bicyclists.

Roundabouts are used on busy streets and their small size requires vehicles to reduce speed to 25 miles per hour or less.

Who has the right-of-way at a rotary?

Vehicles already in the rotary, and pedestrians. Everything in the circle has the right-of-way over everything entering it. That is what keeps the rotary moving at all. Massachusetts Driver's Manual, p.101: “Always yield the right-of-way to vehicles already in the rotary (unless told differently by signs or police officers) and to pedestrians.”