Rules for driving roundabouts

What is a roundabout?

Circular traffic occurs on sections of roads that are shaped like a ring. Cars drive along it counterclockwise, this rule is typical for most countries where right-hand drive is common. Traffic lights are rarely installed at such intersections; traffic laws on them are regulated mainly by markings and standard signs

What signs are installed?

The main sign (4.3), indicating the entry into a roundabout zone, is presented in the form of a circle.
The blue background has three white (semicircular) arrows along the edges. Other signs may also be installed:

• 2.4 “Give way” - indicates that the driver should give way to vehicles moving in a circle;
• 2.5 “Driving without stopping is prohibited” - when approaching the intersection area, a road user must stop, make sure that he can continue moving without violating the rules, and only then cross the border of the intersection.

In some cases, a “Main Road” sign is placed. It sets the priority for the movement of cars.

The participant driving on the main road must be let through by drivers driving on the secondary road.

New rules for driving roundabouts for 2021

Until 2021, the rules for entering the roundabout could vary from intersection to intersection, depending on the road signs installed: when entering the roundabout, you had to give way if there was a sign 2.4 and take advantage if there was a sign 2.1. To avoid confusion in the heads of drivers before the next unfamiliar intersection, in 2021 the entrance to the roundabout has been made uniform everywhere:

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated October 26, 2017 N 1300 introduced a new procedure for driving roundabouts according to traffic rules:
now at any roundabout the driver entering the roundabout is obliged to give way to all vehicles that are already moving along it .
Let us quote the clause of the traffic rules regulating entry into roundabouts in the new edition for 2021:

Traffic rules of the Russian Federation, clause 13.11(1). When entering an intersection where there is a roundabout and which is marked with sign 4.3, the driver of the vehicle is obliged to give way to vehicles moving along such an intersection.

Let us remind you what the requirement to “give way” means in the text of the Road Traffic Rules:

“Give way (do not interfere)” is a requirement that means that a road user must not start, resume or continue moving, or carry out any maneuver if this may force other road users who have priority over him to change direction. movement or speed.

How to choose a band?

Unlike regular intersections, the driver has the right to enter the roundabout from any lane. But at the same time, he is obliged to occupy a lane in the circle corresponding to the one in which he was before entering:

• if from the far right lane, then after entering you must be on the far right;
• if from the far left, then you should go to the far left.

No changes to other lanes are allowed and are a serious violation that can lead to an accident on the road.

If the number of lanes in the circle area does not correspond to the number of lanes before it, then the driver must move the car into the appropriate lane in advance.

After entering a roundabout intersection, you are allowed to change lanes into the desired lane. In this case, it is necessary to use a warning signal about the maneuver: using standard means (turn signals) or hand gestures (when moving, for example, on a motorcycle).

Driving in a circular area

To properly navigate the roundabout, you must follow the following rules:

• Access to the circle is allowed in any lane. At the same time, traffic on the ring should continue on the same side. Immediately taking another lane will result in a violation of the rules. The lane change must occur before the roundabout. Therefore, when entering an intersection from the left, you need to continue driving on the left side. If the number of road lines on a straight route is less than at an intersection, it is necessary to change lanes in advance.

  

• When turning right , you must drive in the outer lane on the right. When changing lanes, notify other drivers about this and make a maneuver, making sure that passing cars are ready to give way to you. If you need to take the first exit, you need to immediately indicate the maneuver with your turn signal as soon as you are on the roundabout.
• When the route continues straight , the maneuver depends on the number of lanes. If there are more than 2 directions for driving around the ring, you need to take the central lane.
• When making a left turn or turning in the opposite direction, you must enter from the left lane. Closer to the desired exit, move to the right side, after turning on your turn signals and giving way. The rule is relevant for multi-lane traffic. When there are 3 lanes, you will have to change lanes twice. Such a maneuver is performed with a high degree of caution, after a preliminary assessment of the situation. Used if there is no other travel regulation. If there are road markings and signs, you should follow their designations.
• Changing lanes on a circle is allowed with the obligatory inclusion of turn signals, giving way to cars in the same direction. According to traffic rules, when leaving the circle, the vehicle should not enter the direction of oncoming traffic.

Video: Driving through roundabouts

Travel details

The ring area is almost always a main road, so drivers traveling along it have higher priority than incoming cars.

Right turn

A right turn should be made in the following sequence:

1. Make sure that the maneuver will not disturb other motorists.
2. Reduce speed.
3. Turn on the right turn signal or warn other drivers about your actions using a gesture: left arm bent at the elbow.
4. Carry out a rebuild.

Go straight

If there are three or more lanes in a roundabout area, it is recommended to move along one of the middle ones.
In other cases (if there are only 2 lanes on the road), the choice of lane should be chosen based on the plan for further actions. It is important not to interfere with other motorists. Including those who plan to enter the intersection area.

Left turn

If there is a two-lane road, the maneuver is carried out from the left lane. Be sure to use warning signals.

If there are three lanes, then you should be especially careful when changing lanes.

Non-standard situations

Driving through roundabouts can cause certain difficulties if special markings are applied to the roadway or additional road signs are installed.

If there are markings like 1.16.1 - 1.16.3 or decorative elements (elevations, flower beds), the driver will not be able to drive along the entire diameter of the circle in the rightmost lane (which is usually recommended). Therefore, in this situation, you should take the second lane from the right edge.

Sometimes additional signs (or special markings) indicate the directions in which the driver has the right to travel:

1. signs 5.15.1, 5.15.2;
2. marking 1.18.

You should definitely follow them.

What signs are placed along with this sign?

Typically, designations 2.4 and 2.5 are installed with this sign. These signs indicate that the motorist will need to stop and give priority to others in the roundabout.

This section of the road requires maximum attention and concentration from the driver, as many problems and difficulties arise there, such as changing lanes, turning on turn signals and correct exit and entry. It is always worth assessing what is happening on the road, remembering all the rules and trying to avoid an emergency situation.

Exiting a roundabout

You should leave the roundabout only from the far right lane. When driving on 2 or 3 and other lanes, the following sequence of actions is recommended:

• Make sure in advance that the subsequent maneuver will not interfere with other drivers.
• Turn on the right turn signal or make a gesture to inform other drivers about the intended maneuver.
• Reducing your speed slightly, change lanes.
• If necessary, repeat steps 1-3.
• Having taken the far right lane, exit the intersection.

It is important to monitor the presence of uncontrolled pedestrian crossings and allow people to pass if necessary.

Fine for wrong way

Traffic regulations establish the following sanctions for violation of the rules:

• Driving (exiting or entering) on ​​a red traffic light - the primary punishment is a fine of 1 thousand rubles, for a repeated violation - 5 thousand, and can also deprive the right to drive a vehicle for up to 6 months.
• If a motorist does not allow a car that has higher priority on the road to pass , a fine of 1 thousand rubles will be issued.
• If you ignore the rule about the need to warn other road users about the upcoming maneuver (changing lanes, turning), the driver will be punished with a fine of 500 rubles.
• Driving in the oncoming lane is a serious violation; the violator may be deprived of his driving license for a long period. Traffic police officers also have the right to impose fines.
• Violation of parking rules - if the car is left closer than 5 meters from the intersection of roads, the violator can get off with a warning or a fine (500 rubles).

The traffic police explained why cars crash

What does every driver face every day, regardless of driving experience, car make, weather conditions, etc.? With intersections.

According to the Russian Traffic Regulations, an intersection is an intersection of roads at the same level, limited by imaginary lines that connect the opposite beginnings of the curvatures of the roadways.

As for the boundaries of the intersection, few motorists seriously think about where they are.

Why does a driver need to know the boundaries of an intersection?

First of all, this is necessary in order to understand which points of the traffic rules need to be applied for safe passage both for yourself and for others.

If driving through controlled intersections is not a big problem for drivers, then when driving through uncontrolled intersections, certain problems can often arise.

The traffic police of the Ivanovo region reminds drivers of the basic rules for driving through the intersection:

- always give way to pedestrians and cyclists crossing the road you are turning onto (at the moment, failure to comply with traffic regulations to give way to pedestrians and cyclists taking advantage is punishable by a fine of 1,500 to 2,500 rubles)

— do not enter an intersection if there is a traffic jam in front of it (violation of this rule will result in you blocking the road for cars on the left or right and the risk of accidents or conflict situations on the road will increase).

Intersections are divided into regulated and unregulated. A regulated intersection is equipped with a traffic light (also with additional sections), and at an unregulated intersection, roads are divided into main and secondary using priority signs.

Controlled intersections.

How to drive through a controlled intersection? Before you start driving at an intersection, take the correct lane. When turning left or turning on a green signal, you must give way to cars moving from the opposite direction straight or to the right.

If the traffic light has an additional section that lights up simultaneously with the red signal, then the traffic light only allows you to move in the direction of one turn. But in this situation, it is necessary to allow vehicles coming from another direction to pass.

If you entered an intersection when the traffic light signal allows you, you must move in the intended direction regardless of the traffic light signals at the exit from the intersection, however, if there are stop lines at the intersection in front of the traffic lights, the driver must be guided by the signals of each traffic light.

The most common violations at controlled intersections are driving through a prohibiting traffic light and violating the requirements of marking lines, namely driving through a stop line.

Crossroads of unequal roads

A driver driving on a secondary road must always give way to drivers driving on a main road.

If there is a roundabout intersection and in front of it there is a sign 4.3 “Roundabout” in combination with signs 2.4 “Give way” and 2.5 “Driving without stopping is prohibited”, then the driver of a car located at the intersection has priority over exiting vehicles means.

From January 1, 2021 to October 31, 2021, 35 facts of road accidents were registered in Ivanovo as a result of violation of rules when driving through roundabouts. There were no casualties, but 70 vehicles were damaged.

Intersections of equivalent roads.

Drivers of vehicles must deal with each other according to the “interference on the right” principle.

In other words, the Rules placed all responsibility for the safety of passage through the intersection on the driver who has “impediment on the right.”

The intersection of equal roads is the most democratic of all intersections. Here everyone has an equal right to travel.

In general, the topic of “Navigating intersections” is very exciting, and sometimes even frightening, especially for novice drivers.

There are no more important or less important requirements in the Rules. All requirements of the Rules are equally important. After all, we are talking about safety.

Natalya Peshkova, head of the traffic safety propaganda department of the Central Scientific Research and Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the State Traffic Safety Inspectorate of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs for the Ivanovo region:

— I would like to remind drivers that a large number of intersections are located near educational organizations, which increases the risk of traffic accidents, especially involving children.

The driver must keep in mind that a child may unexpectedly appear on the road, which requires additional attention from drivers on these sections of the road. Therefore, when approaching an intersection, it is necessary to take into account all of the above factors.

2013 © State government health care institution of the Ivanovo region “Territorial Center for Disaster Medicine of the Ivanovo Region”

Specific examples with comments

Example 1 . In this example, the driver of the red car should give way (point 1).

In this case, the intersection is considered equal, and the white car is approaching from the right side of the red car. That is, the “Interference on the right” rule applies.

At point N2 the situation is different: both vehicles are in a roundabout area, but the white vehicle leaves the circle and interferes with the red car, so it is the driver of the white vehicle who will have to let the second motorist pass.

Example 2 . The driver of a blue car violates the rules by leaving the intersection from the left lane.

In this situation, everything looks harmless: both cars are moving in parallel and performing a similar maneuver, so a collision will not occur.

But there may be another option.

The driver of the red car decided to continue driving around the ring, so the blue one is obliged to let him through in any case, because he is moving in a straight direction and does not change lanes. The situation is dangerous; if the offender (the owner of the blue vehicle) decides not to let the second car pass, then the likelihood of a collision is extremely high.