Roundabouts: a refresher course

A roundabout is a circular intersection joining two or more streets. The streets that connect to a roundabout feed traffic into a circulatory roadway that surrounds a central island. Traffic on the circulatory roadway flows in a counterclockwise direction. All turns and lane changes that drivers make when entering, while within, and when leaving a roundabout are right turns, which adds both to their ease, efficiency and safety.

Here are some tips, courtesy of Transport Quebec. As a driver approaches the entrance to a roundabout, he or she should slow down and, if possible, merge with traffic on the roundabout without stopping. A Yield Sign controls each entrance into a roundabout, because the drivers already in the roundabout have priority over the ones attempting to enter. While some drivers make the mistake of stopping, there is no need to stop completely if space is available within the roundabout. In fact, it’s one of the many benefits of roundabouts; allowing for constant fluidity. When a driver approaches his or her desired exit, they make the right turn needed to leave the roundabout.

Pedestrians should never attempt to cross a roundabout, other than in the areas specifically designated for them. In these crosswalks, pedestrians and cyclists always have the right of way and drivers must slow down and allow them to cross.

While much hoopla was made over the two roundabouts on the Island, the reality is they are much more efficient in keeping traffic in motion and reducing traffic congestion than some people originally thought. With an increasing Island population, as well as more people arriving soon to work on the Island, this is good news.

Also, despite initial fears that roundabouts would increase traffic accidents, that hasn’t been the case at all. On the contrary, safety studies of modern roundabouts have repeatedly highlighted the traffic safety benefits of roundabouts, in comparison to signalized intersections. The main reasons for this are roundabouts force drivers to reduce their speed and lower travel speeds typically mean that even when a collision occurs, damages and injuries are far less severe than in high-speed collisions. Islanders have repeatedly stated that they don’t want traffic lights to be installed here and roundabouts are an excellent way for their wishes to come true.

Roundabouts have existed in Europe and the United States for decades. France has over 15,000 traffic circles alone! Because in Quebec they are still fairly new, they seem to create some initial discomfort and hesitation in drivers. But if people simply follow the rules and choose to be courteous on the road (stopping for pedestrians, treating stop signs as orders and not mere suggestions, reducing their speed, etc.) we’ll all be a lot better off, on and off the Island.