Roundabouts and traffic circles — North Carolina Permit Test

In a traffic circle or roundabout all vehicles travel to the right around the circle, counterclockwise, and you leave it by making a right turn.

Everyone going the same way round means nobody meets head-on. The right turn out is the only way to leave without crossing anyone.

All vehicles in a traffic circle travel to the right around the circle in a counterclockwise direction until you come to the road or street where you want to turn.

Vehicles already in a traffic circle have the right of way; an entire traffic circle is one intersection.

A car in the circle has nowhere to go but round. The car entering can wait.

Vehicles already in the circle have the right of way.

In a multi-lane circle, be in the outside lane before you reach your exit, look and signal before turning or changing lanes, and never make a right turn from an inside lane.

A right turn from the inside lane cuts across the outside lane. The car there has no way to avoid you.

If there is more than one lane in the circle, be sure you are in the outside lane before you come to the place where you intend to exit the circle.

A modern roundabout is smaller than an old traffic circle and requires vehicles to travel at lower speeds, 15 to 20 mph, which makes it safer.

At that speed a mistake is a bump, not a crash. The tight curve is what forces the speed down.

In addition, the modern roundabout is much smaller than older traffic circles and requires vehicles to travel at lower speeds (15–20 mph), making them safer than traffic circles.

Drivers should use their turn signals when exiting a roundabout and yield to pedestrians using the crosswalk at the roundabout.

The driver waiting to enter is watching your signal to know when their gap comes. The crosswalk is just past your exit.

Drivers should use turn signals when exiting and yield to pedestrians using the crosswalk at the roundabout.

In a single-lane roundabout you go a quarter of the way around to turn right, halfway to go straight, three-quarters around to go left, and full circle to make a U-turn.

There is no left turn in a roundabout. You keep going round until the road you want is on your right.

You go: • A quarter of the way around to turn right at the next street • Halfway around to continue straight • Three-quarters around before exiting to the right, instead of making a traditional left turn • Full circle to make a U-turn

In a multi-lane roundabout, choose your lane from the signs and markings before entering: typically the right lane to exit right, the left lane to go straight, turn left or U-turn, and do not change lanes while inside.

Changing lanes inside the circle crosses the path of a car you cannot see. The choice has to be made at the entrance.

You stay in the left lane to go straight through the roundabout or make a left turn or U-turn.

Never enter a roundabout while an emergency vehicle with lights and siren is passing through; if you are already inside, exit first and then pull over to let it pass.

A car stopped inside the circle blocks the emergency vehicle’s path. Leaving the circle clears it.

If drivers are already in the roundabout, exit first, then pull over to let the emergency vehicle pass.

As you approach a roundabout you will see a yellow roundabout-ahead sign, telling you to slow down.

A roundabout is entered at low speed and into a gap. The sign is the cue to start slowing before the circle is in view.

As you approach it, you’ll see a yellow roundabout ahead sign, indicating you should slow down.

Give large trucks and buses extra room in a roundabout, because they may need to straddle the lane and use the concrete truck apron, and do not pass a bicyclist inside a roundabout.

A long truck cannot stay in one lane around a tight circle. The apron and the extra room are built for it.

Remember to give larger trucks and buses extra room as they may need to straddle the lane.

In which direction do vehicles travel around a roundabout?

Counterclockwise, to the right around the circle. Everyone going the same way round means nobody meets head-on. The right turn out is the only way to leave without crossing anyone. North Carolina Driver Handbook, p.58: “All vehicles in a traffic circle travel to the right around the circle in a counterclockwise direction until you come to the road or street where you want to turn.”