Thanks. Yesterday I faced a roundabout first time. I was following GPS. I got so confused I was supposed to turn left but went straight through 😂 thank God there was no traffic 😃 but now I understand from your video. Thanks again
Hi, I live in the UK and know all about R'abouts as I was a driving instructor for 16 years. I like the fact your getting some R'abouts in Ontario as I will be there in Aug 2019. Your explanation was excellent. The only difference in the UK is that at some R'abouts in the UK you can only go straight in the right lane (your left) depends on the junction (intersection). There are exceptions just like normal intersections and as you would know it's a matter of looking out for the arrows on the road or signs to do the correct thing.
They're VERY rare here in Ontario. You likely won't see one unless you're lucky or looking for one. I drove 4 hours from Toronto to Tobermory and never went through one. We need more WAY more. Toronto should get some to help with stop and go traffic here
Plenty I've seen that will force you to only make a right in the right lane (essentially a slip lane) but not any that force you to go straight through. Making a right in a roundabout lines up well with the concept of making a right on a red when there is no one coming. It's very seldom that our intersections disallow us from doing this I think it makes sense that our roundabouts rarely do as well. Do you have a lot of regular intersections with no right policies or maybe even one way roads? Just curious.
A great explanation that I will share. Ran across round abouts on last trip to the Ottawa region. Before retirement, was 24 years major city transit operator and many other years trucking. Had never come across one. Was a little confused about the rules. Again thanks for this.
I’ve nearly been nailed in these things 4 times in the last 12 months. For some reason people don’t understand that if your in that outside lane you cannot keep going around the round about cuz they cut people off trying to get out. It’s happened to often now I’m in the inside lane and I want to go straight through the roundabout and then the person next to me in that outside lane decides there just going to keep going around and try to take the third exit and we nearly crash into each other. Drives me nuts. I mean the arrows are Painted on the road telling people which exits they can take depending on what lane they are in. It happened today with my 4 year old in the car.
Roundabouts are so simple and beautiful. If only they kept the Rules the same: 1) DO NOT SIGNAL, unless you leave the Rbout 2) 2 lane Rbouts > you cannot take the 1st exit from the inside lane 3) both lanes can go straight 4) you do not switch lanes (therefor you don't ever need to worry about collisions)
I don’t even agree with the signalling to leave a roundabout. The lanes are very clear as to where people can exit depending on what lane they are in. I don’t need to see where they entered from I just need to see what lane they are in. On top of that I never put full faith into a persons turn signal. Lots of times people have those on and don’t actually exit. I was taught never to assume a person is actually going to follow through with it, wait and see where there car is going. I watch people entering to my left when I yield. If they arnt in the roundabout yet I just go as there is lots of time to enter before they make it to me. Regardless of what there signal light is indicating.
@@bradd188 well that is a whole nother problem isn't it? We can't trust eachothers signaling...still. ideally you signal ahead to leave, which allows the oncoming traffic to see what you want to do and flow into the circle. Roundabouts rely HEAVILY on good drivers making use of the mechanics properly. You are not supposed to ever have to stop which is why the speed limit in and into a roundabout is 30km/h.
If Waterloo Region is telling people to signal when entering a roundabout, they are going to get someone killed. The Ontario Drivers handbook clearly states we are to signal only when exciting a roundabout. The world knows you are entering a roundabout, so there's no need to signal because it is really obvious you are trying to enter the roundabout or you would not be there. After entering, the other drivers need to know if you are planning to continue driving around the circle or if you are exciting the circle. Signal only when exciting the roundabout. Those entering the roundabout will only get the clue that you are exciting because you have now turned on your signal. Let us reason this out. If a driver signals to enter a roundabout and leaves their signal on the entire time, this is mass confusion in a roundabout. Trucks do this all the time and no one really knows what they are doing. There's no room for guessing or making assumptions in a roundabout. You need order in a roundabout so that people can think fast when they are driving. Please do not signal when entering a roundabout!!! Waterloo Country please educate your staff and change your handbooks. I follow Ontario's driving laws not Waterloo's! How would a person coming from another city know that Waterloo has made up their own driving rules. We all must follow 'Ontario' driving laws.
Is there any way you could add to this video and address the convoy of cars attached to each other travelling through the roundabout from your left not giving cars to the right the right of way to enter said roundabout now is it a rule to convoy behind the car in front of you with the ten other cars that are doing so or should you give the person to the right the right of way and stop? As I sit , here, stopped at a roundabout, watching 10 cars pass in front of me from the left whom are not all in the roundabout, but coming from the same direction the street to my left please address this and make it very clear that you don’t convoy through the roundabout with the ten other cars
People in the roundabout have right of way and you must yield for them. Therefore, the people in the roundabout must signal their intention so the people upstream yielding know they can safely enter. That is why you signal right only when you leave. It tells the people at the next entrance that you aren't going to T-bone them if they enter the roundabout. If the people waiting to enter do not see where you entered (sometimes the case with roundabouts with mounds in the middle or poor lines of sight) a left turn signal means absolutely nothing. It actually means less than nothing because depending on where you are the law may state that if you are making a U-turn or staying in the roundabout for more than a single lap in the inner lane you should keep your left signal on to signify this, not to signify you are making a left turn. IE. you keep it on and immediately switch to your right sign as you approach your intended exit. Also NEVER EVER EVER EVER SWITCH LANES IN A ROUNDABOUT!!! You will cause an accident! I have seen so many accidents in these roundabouts and they always come down to people changing lanes or signaling intention improperly. Roundabouts are fast moving systems and they require a high degree of communication and coordination to function properly.
Little late but yes you can as people outside the roundabout must yield for you and the only people who would cross your path in the roundabout would be to your left. The inner lane will never have anyone to the left and so you can stay in there as long as you like (though I wouldn't encourage abusing this just because you technically can). It's also worth noting that certain laws in certain areas may require you to keep your left turn signal on if you intend to make a U-turn or do more than one lap. In this case you would still be expected to signal right as you approach your intended exit. Generally speaking, plan your entrance accordingly so that you won't have to go round multiple times and always remember to signal right just before you exit the roundabout and you will be fine.
Hear, hear on the recommendation by the creator of this video to mandate signalling. Something that should be adopted in law in every North American jurisdiction (US and Canada) where roundabouts are sprouting is to enforce the British rule of "signal in, signal out". Upon entering the roundabout, use your left blinker an d keep it on until you reach the leg where you'll be exiting, when you signal right to those behind you that you're leaving. This Canadian learned the "signal in, signal out" when first driving a modern roundabout during a trip to the UK in the early 80s. Now that they're appearing in my area, I follow this rule, and have noticed that I'm not the only one. It's sensible as well as being courteous to fellow motorists. I fully endorse this videographer's suggestion on mandatory signalling.
I took my knowledge and driving test in 2020 and the instructor did say you need to signal when you get out/get in any parking spot. So I can just imagine about this.
I am sure it's get dangerous and illegal to signal left. unless for a car is right behind you, just before you enter, at round about with only 4 exits. if you on the round about, and I am yield for you and you signaling left I don't know where you going because I don't know where you entered. just signal right before you exit
is it a violation if i don't exit and keep going around cuz I missed the exit? are you allowed to U turn by going around the roundabout (4th exit)? are there 3 lane roundabouts in ontario? what to do in that case? are there roundabouts with more than 4 exits in ontario? which lane do i take? can you overtake in the roundabout? vehicle approaching already in the roundabout left lane, so i yield to let them pass before i enter in the right lane. but they're super slow or perhaps even stopped, do i have to match their speed or stop even though they're in the left lane i'm in the right lane? if not, what if i pass them in the right lane and it turns out they're trying to exit the roundabout (1st exit relative to me) and i'm going straight (my 2nd exit) leading to a potential collision. who has right of way?
First, in most cases you are allowed to make a U-turn in a round about. Depending on the laws of the specific area of Canada you are in you may need to keep you left turn signal on if you intend to U-turn or do more than one lap. Generally speaking what you can do in each lane should be pretty obvious based on the signs and arrows on the road. I would advise you use these to plan your entrance so you avoid missing your exit! There are three and maybe even more lane roundabouts. In a three lane usually the inner most lane will be able to only go straight through or take a left. The middle will only be able to go straight through and the outermost can go straight through or make a right. This isn't too different from the entrance to a regular three lane intersection. If you look at this set up from the top and follow the flow of traffic you'll see that as long as all drivers follow the rules of their lane and they do not change lanes while in the roundabout no one will ever cross the path of another driver in that way. If a round about has a non conventional set up, again, the signs and arrows will be your friends pay close attention to them when and if (they are pretty rare) you come across one of these! Overtaking will kind of depend. generally you can overtake in a round about but It's not really advised as other drivers are usually expecting a sort of consistency to speed vehicles travel through the roundabout. If you try to overtake a large transport truck with a trailer in a roundabout it's especially dangerous. You can find your self getting nudged from the side by the trailer as it attempts to follow straight through the roundabout instead of making an ark like the truck pulling it. Often these trucks will signal or otherwise make it clear if they require additional room in a roundabout (Usually they ride the diving line between lanes when entering the roundabout so that you can't pass, do not honk at them they are doing this to both protect you and ensure they can make their turn). If someone is in the left lane they could either go straight through or continue traveling around the round about. Usually they signal right when they are going to leave but it's usually not a good idea to assume that people will properly signal their intention in a roundabout (dumb I know). In that case you should be safe to take a right no matter what. If you want to go straight through I would suggest waiting until you are entirely sure they are staying in the roundabout before you proceed at a reasonable speed for the road you are on. If you happen to overtake them as a result of them going abnormally slow then so be it. As long as you are certain the way is clear and will remain clear for you to proceed you are almost always able to do so with roundabouts (assuming you are observing the other rules of course). That is essentially what those triangular signs at the entrances mean. They are yield signs telling you that you will need to decide to continue, slow, or even stop depending on the current conditions in the roundabout. Finally, though I know this is a lot to think about, do your thinking about it off the road and make sure you understand them well so you can use them with out overthinking it!
If you are side by side INSIDE THE ROUNDABOUT and you are in the inner lane, if the right hand car wants to go straight, and you want to exit, you then SIGNAL RIGHT, WAIT FOR THE OUTER LANE TO CLEAR, AND THEN GO? I almost collided with a car a couple years ago because I was in the outer lane going STRAIGHT, and the inner lane car took the first right exit. We were side by side and he didn't wait for me to pass, but turned into the exit immediately. I was paying attention, so I had to turn right as well, because I didn't know what to do. So whate should I have done? Should I have yielded to the inner lane car to turn right? Or was it his job to yield to me going straight?
To me the fact that there is no direct signaling required for the purpose of the roundabout negates the whole purpose of a controlled intersection where in the parties can't be held liable for infractions for safety, insurance, or law, all of which are stipulations imposed upon every driver. It doesn't make sense that the rest of the roadways have these stipulations but when you enter into a round-a-bout its like a wormhole. Not trying to be a dick and I understand the points you made at the beginning. It's just incredibly bizarre from a logic stand point. Also, do you really trust other people to be honest in this scenario?
When you approach a roundabout, there is only ONE way to go, so there is no need to indicate a turn. When inside the roundabout, you signal your exit. If you want to take the third exit, turn on your right indicator just when you've passed the second exit. That way all the drivers waiting to enter know what you're doing. That's logical. How the video explained signalling made no sense at all. You would never indicate left in a roundabout because the left signal means nothing if you don't know where the car entered the roundabout.
round about's are the most dangerous thing put into the roads in canada there ha been more accidents in my area. from maybe 10 crashes a year to over 300 a year now since they put those round about in. and the make you waste fuel by slowing down then speeding up again. so you have to stop at a pump sooner. I've noticed my once 2 hr drive is now 45 minutes longer because i have to slow down for round about's in the middle of no where!!!!!! main reason is we never had them before now they are adding more danger by distraction by have to take your eyes of the road to read a bunch of signs that are posted at the round about's. and I've seen more road rage @ round about's. and 6 deaths so far from the round about near me!!! But I never seen the deaths in the news from this one round about.
1000$ driving school didn't provide half of the info I found here. Awesome work man.
I want to love roundabouts but I have only been driving for 2 years and the make me so scared. I appreciate the Canada/Ontario specific video.
Thanks. Yesterday I faced a roundabout first time. I was following GPS. I got so confused I was supposed to turn left but went straight through 😂 thank God there was no traffic 😃 but now I understand from your video. Thanks again
Get your GPS updated, it should tell you which exit to take well in advance,,,,
Hi, I live in the UK and know all about R'abouts as I was a driving instructor for 16 years. I like the fact your getting some R'abouts in Ontario as I will be there in Aug 2019. Your explanation was excellent. The only difference in the UK is that at some R'abouts in the UK you can only go straight in the right lane (your left) depends on the junction (intersection). There are exceptions just like normal intersections and as you would know it's a matter of looking out for the arrows on the road or signs to do the correct thing.
They're VERY rare here in Ontario. You likely won't see one unless you're lucky or looking for one. I drove 4 hours from Toronto to Tobermory and never went through one. We need more WAY more. Toronto should get some to help with stop and go traffic here
Plenty I've seen that will force you to only make a right in the right lane (essentially a slip lane) but not any that force you to go straight through. Making a right in a roundabout lines up well with the concept of making a right on a red when there is no one coming. It's very seldom that our intersections disallow us from doing this I think it makes sense that our roundabouts rarely do as well. Do you have a lot of regular intersections with no right policies or maybe even one way roads? Just curious.
@@RichardHartlhamilton is full of roundabouts
A great explanation that I will share. Ran across round abouts on last trip to the Ottawa region. Before retirement, was 24 years major city transit operator and many other years trucking. Had never come across one. Was a little confused about the rules. Again thanks for this.
I’ve nearly been nailed in these things 4 times in the last 12 months. For some reason people don’t understand that if your in that outside lane you cannot keep going around the round about cuz they cut people off trying to get out. It’s happened to often now I’m in the inside lane and I want to go straight through the roundabout and then the person next to me in that outside lane decides there just going to keep going around and try to take the third exit and we nearly crash into each other. Drives me nuts. I mean the arrows are Painted on the road telling people which exits they can take depending on what lane they are in. It happened today with my 4 year old in the car.
Roundabouts are so simple and beautiful. If only they kept the Rules the same:
1) DO NOT SIGNAL, unless you leave the Rbout
2) 2 lane Rbouts > you cannot take the 1st exit from the inside lane
3) both lanes can go straight
4) you do not switch lanes (therefor you don't ever need to worry about collisions)
I don’t even agree with the signalling to leave a roundabout. The lanes are very clear as to where people can exit depending on what lane they are in. I don’t need to see where they entered from I just need to see what lane they are in. On top of that I never put full faith into a persons turn signal. Lots of times people have those on and don’t actually exit. I was taught never to assume a person is actually going to follow through with it, wait and see where there car is going. I watch people entering to my left when I yield. If they arnt in the roundabout yet I just go as there is lots of time to enter before they make it to me. Regardless of what there signal light is indicating.
@@bradd188 well that is a whole nother problem isn't it? We can't trust eachothers signaling...still. ideally you signal ahead to leave, which allows the oncoming traffic to see what you want to do and flow into the circle. Roundabouts rely HEAVILY on good drivers making use of the mechanics properly. You are not supposed to ever have to stop which is why the speed limit in and into a roundabout is 30km/h.
Thank you. This video actually made sense.
Thanks for this! Super helpful
If Waterloo Region is telling people to signal when entering a roundabout, they are going to get someone killed. The Ontario Drivers handbook clearly states we are to signal only when exciting a roundabout. The world knows you are entering a roundabout, so there's no need to signal because it is really obvious you are trying to enter the roundabout or you would not be there.
After entering, the other drivers need to know if you are planning to continue driving around the circle or if you are exciting the circle. Signal only when exciting the roundabout. Those entering the roundabout will only get the clue that you are exciting because you have now turned on your signal.
Let us reason this out. If a driver signals to enter a roundabout and leaves their signal on the entire time, this is mass confusion in a roundabout. Trucks do this all the time and no one really knows what they are doing. There's no room for guessing or making assumptions in a roundabout. You need order in a roundabout so that people can think fast when they are driving. Please do not signal when entering a roundabout!!! Waterloo Country please educate your staff and change your handbooks. I follow Ontario's driving laws not Waterloo's! How would a person coming from another city know that Waterloo has made up their own driving rules. We all must follow 'Ontario' driving laws.
That was great. Thank you.
Is there any way you could add to this video and address the convoy of cars attached to each other travelling through the roundabout from your left not giving cars to the right the right of way to enter said roundabout now is it a rule to convoy behind the car in front of you with the ten other cars that are doing so or should you give the person to the right the right of way and stop? As I sit , here, stopped at a roundabout, watching 10 cars pass in front of me from the left whom are not all in the roundabout, but coming from the same direction the street to my left please address this and make it very clear that you don’t convoy through the roundabout with the ten other cars
People in the roundabout have right of way and you must yield for them. Therefore, the people in the roundabout must signal their intention so the people upstream yielding know they can safely enter. That is why you signal right only when you leave. It tells the people at the next entrance that you aren't going to T-bone them if they enter the roundabout. If the people waiting to enter do not see where you entered (sometimes the case with roundabouts with mounds in the middle or poor lines of sight) a left turn signal means absolutely nothing. It actually means less than nothing because depending on where you are the law may state that if you are making a U-turn or staying in the roundabout for more than a single lap in the inner lane you should keep your left signal on to signify this, not to signify you are making a left turn. IE. you keep it on and immediately switch to your right sign as you approach your intended exit.
Also NEVER EVER EVER EVER SWITCH LANES IN A ROUNDABOUT!!! You will cause an accident!
I have seen so many accidents in these roundabouts and they always come down to people changing lanes or signaling intention improperly. Roundabouts are fast moving systems and they require a high degree of communication and coordination to function properly.
Defenzivnim načinom vožnje možete značajno pridonijeti sigurnosti u prometu na našim cestama.
What if you miss your exit and need to go around again?
can you go round and round in the inner lane?? lol
Little late but yes you can as people outside the roundabout must yield for you and the only people who would cross your path in the roundabout would be to your left. The inner lane will never have anyone to the left and so you can stay in there as long as you like (though I wouldn't encourage abusing this just because you technically can). It's also worth noting that certain laws in certain areas may require you to keep your left turn signal on if you intend to make a U-turn or do more than one lap. In this case you would still be expected to signal right as you approach your intended exit.
Generally speaking, plan your entrance accordingly so that you won't have to go round multiple times and always remember to signal right just before you exit the roundabout and you will be fine.
Good vid, thanks!
Hey, thanks for watching! Glad you enjoyed it!!
Hear, hear on the recommendation by the creator of this video to mandate signalling. Something that should be adopted in law in every North American jurisdiction (US and Canada) where roundabouts are sprouting is to enforce the British rule of "signal in, signal out". Upon entering the roundabout, use your left blinker an d keep it on until you reach the leg where you'll be exiting, when you signal right to those behind you that you're leaving. This Canadian learned the "signal in, signal out" when first driving a modern roundabout during a trip to the UK in the early 80s. Now that they're appearing in my area, I follow this rule, and have noticed that I'm not the only one. It's sensible as well as being courteous to fellow motorists. I fully endorse this videographer's suggestion on mandatory signalling.
I took my knowledge and driving test in 2020 and the instructor did say you need to signal when you get out/get in any parking spot. So I can just imagine about this.
I am sure it's get dangerous and illegal to signal left. unless for a car is right behind you, just before you enter, at round about with only 4 exits. if you on the round about, and I am yield for you and you signaling left I don't know where you going because I don't know where you entered. just signal right before you exit
You do not have to indicate if you are going straight
is it a violation if i don't exit and keep going around cuz I missed the exit? are you allowed to U turn by going around the roundabout (4th exit)?
are there 3 lane roundabouts in ontario? what to do in that case?
are there roundabouts with more than 4 exits in ontario? which lane do i take?
can you overtake in the roundabout? vehicle approaching already in the roundabout left lane, so i yield to let them pass before i enter in the right lane. but they're super slow or perhaps even stopped, do i have to match their speed or stop even though they're in the left lane i'm in the right lane? if not, what if i pass them in the right lane and it turns out they're trying to exit the roundabout (1st exit relative to me) and i'm going straight (my 2nd exit) leading to a potential collision. who has right of way?
First, in most cases you are allowed to make a U-turn in a round about. Depending on the laws of the specific area of Canada you are in you may need to keep you left turn signal on if you intend to U-turn or do more than one lap. Generally speaking what you can do in each lane should be pretty obvious based on the signs and arrows on the road. I would advise you use these to plan your entrance so you avoid missing your exit!
There are three and maybe even more lane roundabouts. In a three lane usually the inner most lane will be able to only go straight through or take a left. The middle will only be able to go straight through and the outermost can go straight through or make a right. This isn't too different from the entrance to a regular three lane intersection. If you look at this set up from the top and follow the flow of traffic you'll see that as long as all drivers follow the rules of their lane and they do not change lanes while in the roundabout no one will ever cross the path of another driver in that way.
If a round about has a non conventional set up, again, the signs and arrows will be your friends pay close attention to them when and if (they are pretty rare) you come across one of these!
Overtaking will kind of depend. generally you can overtake in a round about but It's not really advised as other drivers are usually expecting a sort of consistency to speed vehicles travel through the roundabout. If you try to overtake a large transport truck with a trailer in a roundabout it's especially dangerous. You can find your self getting nudged from the side by the trailer as it attempts to follow straight through the roundabout instead of making an ark like the truck pulling it. Often these trucks will signal or otherwise make it clear if they require additional room in a roundabout (Usually they ride the diving line between lanes when entering the roundabout so that you can't pass, do not honk at them they are doing this to both protect you and ensure they can make their turn).
If someone is in the left lane they could either go straight through or continue traveling around the round about. Usually they signal right when they are going to leave but it's usually not a good idea to assume that people will properly signal their intention in a roundabout (dumb I know). In that case you should be safe to take a right no matter what. If you want to go straight through I would suggest waiting until you are entirely sure they are staying in the roundabout before you proceed at a reasonable speed for the road you are on. If you happen to overtake them as a result of them going abnormally slow then so be it. As long as you are certain the way is clear and will remain clear for you to proceed you are almost always able to do so with roundabouts (assuming you are observing the other rules of course). That is essentially what those triangular signs at the entrances mean. They are yield signs telling you that you will need to decide to continue, slow, or even stop depending on the current conditions in the roundabout.
Finally, though I know this is a lot to think about, do your thinking about it off the road and make sure you understand them well so you can use them with out overthinking it!
If you are side by side INSIDE THE ROUNDABOUT and you are in the inner lane, if the right hand car wants to go straight, and you want to exit, you then SIGNAL RIGHT, WAIT FOR THE OUTER LANE TO CLEAR, AND THEN GO? I almost collided with a car a couple years ago because I was in the outer lane going STRAIGHT, and the inner lane car took the first right exit. We were side by side and he didn't wait for me to pass, but turned into the exit immediately. I was paying attention, so I had to turn right as well, because I didn't know what to do. So whate should I have done? Should I have yielded to the inner lane car to turn right? Or was it his job to yield to me going straight?
To me the fact that there is no direct signaling required for the purpose of the roundabout negates the whole purpose of a controlled intersection where in the parties can't be held liable for infractions for safety, insurance, or law, all of which are stipulations imposed upon every driver. It doesn't make sense that the rest of the roadways have these stipulations but when you enter into a round-a-bout its like a wormhole. Not trying to be a dick and I understand the points you made at the beginning. It's just incredibly bizarre from a logic stand point. Also, do you really trust other people to be honest in this scenario?
When you approach a roundabout, there is only ONE way to go, so there is no need to indicate a turn. When inside the roundabout, you signal your exit. If you want to take the third exit, turn on your right indicator just when you've passed the second exit. That way all the drivers waiting to enter know what you're doing. That's logical. How the video explained signalling made no sense at all. You would never indicate left in a roundabout because the left signal means nothing if you don't know where the car entered the roundabout.
I train school bus drivers. We signal at entrance and exit.
Terrifying
round about's are the most dangerous thing put into the roads in canada there ha been more accidents in my area. from maybe 10 crashes a year to over 300 a year now since they put those round about in. and the make you waste fuel by slowing down then speeding up again. so you have to stop at a pump sooner. I've noticed my once 2 hr drive is now 45 minutes longer because i have to slow down for round about's in the middle of no where!!!!!! main reason is we never had them before now they are adding more danger by distraction by have to take your eyes of the road to read a bunch of signs that are posted at the round about's. and I've seen more road rage @ round about's. and 6 deaths so far from the round about near me!!! But I never seen the deaths in the news from this one round about.
Wow this must be the record of incorrect "facts" I've ever seen in a comment!
way too long-winded
These are stupid! Stop building these!!