Today I am looking at roundabouts which are common here in Australia. They began appearing in Australia in the late 1960s, with the first official Australian roundabout reported to have been built in Canberra in 1969. They became more common in later decades as traffic planners used them to improve safety and keep vehicles moving through intersections.

They are designed to keep traffic moving safely through intersections. In NSW, the most important rule is that drivers entering a roundabout must slow down and give way to any vehicle already in the roundabout. You should only enter when there is a safe gap.

When approaching a roundabout, be prepared to stop. You must give way to all vehicles already in the roundabout, including vehicles coming from your right, from directly opposite, or from your left if they have already entered. Giving way means slowing down or stopping to avoid a collision.

If turning left you must indicate left before entering the roundabout, stay in the left lane unless signs or arrows say otherwise, and keep indicating until you exit.

When going straight ahead do not indicate on approach. When leaving the roundabout, indicate left if it is practical to do so.

If turning right or making a U-turn you must indicate right before entering, use the right lane unless signs or arrows allow another lane, keep indicating right while turning, then indicate left when exiting if practical.

On multi-lane roundabouts, always follow the arrows and signs on the road. Plan ahead so you are in the correct lane before entering. If the left lane is marked for left turns only, you must not use it to go straight. If the right lane is marked for right turns only, you must not use it to turn left or go straight.

You should avoid changing lanes inside a roundabout if possible. If you need to change lanes, you must indicate, check your blind spot and give way to any vehicle in the lane you are moving into. You may only change lanes where the line is broken. When exiting, signal left if practical and stop indicating once you have left the roundabout.

Simple safety tips

·       Slow down as you approach and look for signs, arrows and give way lines.

·       Enter only when there is a safe gap in traffic.

·       Watch for cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians near the roundabout.

·       Do not assume another driver’s signal is correct; wait until it is safe.

·       Keep your speed low and be ready for traffic to stop suddenly.