Campbell River’s new roundabout is now up and running, but the City doesn’t want you going in circles figuring out how to use it.
With the Highway 19A construction project moving forward, and the roundabout at Highway 19A and Rockland Road now complete, the City is sharing some safety tips.
Roundabouts are another way of assigning right-of-way at intersections, and the City says they’ve proven safer than traffic lights with reductions in both the frequency and severity of collisions.
The City notes some of the other benefits to installing roundabouts, like improvement in safety for all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists and drivers.
It says roundabouts also reduce traffic noise and vehicle emissions when compared to traditional signalized intersections.
Drivers don’t have to stop before entering a roundabout unless there is another car or pedestrian in their way, so traffic flows slowly and continuously, in the same direction, and all exits are right turns.
For safe use, the City wants you to keep some important roundabout tips in mind when it comes to approaching, yielding, entering and exiting:
- When your car approaches a roundabout, slow down and watch for pedestrians. If there are any pedestrians at the crosswalk, wait for them to cross.
- Wait for a safe gap in traffic already in the circle before you enter the circle.
- Traffic inside the roundabout has the right-of-way and vehicles entering the roundabout must yield. That means that when you are in the roundabout, do NOT stop to let other vehicles enter.
- Follow the traffic signs and road markings, and signal before choosing your exit.
- As you exit, watch for pedestrians. If there are any pedestrians at the crosswalk, wait for them to cross.
- Roundabouts are always designed to ensure emergency vehicles can safely pass through.
For more information, visit the City’s website.
