The reason for creating this material was the evening traffic jams that we regularly observe near our editorial office — at the roundabout where the flows of Lesya Kurbas Avenue, Hnata Yury and Kartelishvili streets intersect on Kyiv's Borshchahivka.
That's when the idea came up: what if we analyzed in detail the passage through complex intersections and interchanges? This would allow drivers to navigate them more smoothly and, as a result, faster.
Therefore, we invite readers to send us problematic road sections, places with complex markings: address, photo or description — we will try to find the optimal driving trajectory in such places.
So, here is the first material from this series, in which we tried to cover the main options for navigating roundabouts.
Turning right
This is the simplest maneuver. Approaching the roundabout, turn on your right turn signal in advance and move to the far right lane. Next, you need to determine whether you are on the main or secondary road.
If you are on the main road, make sure they yield to you, and enter the intersection, immediately taking the far right lane on the circle. If you are approaching on a secondary road, first let traffic that is already moving through the intersection pass. After completing the maneuver, turn off the right turn signal.
Going straight
Going straight means driving along the semicircle. Before entering, turn on the left turn signal. If you have the right of way, wait until they let you pass, and enter the circle. Otherwise, let cars going around the circle pass, and only then enter.
The choice of lane depends on how many lanes there are in that direction.
At the intersection, continue driving in your lane with the left turn signal on until you approach the desired exit.
When you plan to leave the circle, immediately after passing the last exit on the right, turn on the right turn signal — this will warn other drivers of your intention to exit at the next branch. At the same time, change to the right lane if exiting to the right is prohibited from the current lane.
2 lanes. Here, the choice of a convenient lane depends on the specific interchange, the requirements of signs and markings, as well as the traffic situation.
3 lanes. In this case, it is best to stay in the middle lane.
If you take the left lane, you will have to make two extra lane changes that are completely unnecessary here (first you change lanes to enter that lane, then to exit the circle before the exit).
As for the right lane, remember: if a driver from the middle lane wants to leave the intersection at the nearest right turn, their trajectory will intersect with yours. In this situation, you will have the advantage, but such an environment will unnecessarily complicate traffic.
4 or more lanes. In this case, it is better to take one of the central lanes — make the decision based on the traffic situation.
Changing to the far right or far left lane to go straight makes no sense.
Turning left
Here you need to drive three-quarters of the circle, passing several exits (i.e., right turns).
Before entering the intersection, take a suitable lane and turn on the left turn signal (even though after entering the circle you will have to drive in the right direction for a while):
- if there is only one lane before the circle in this direction — stay in the far left position,
- if there are two or three lanes — change to the left lane,
- if there are four or more lanes before the circle — choose any of the two far left lanes.
Order of movement and lane changes
The order of passing the intersection is also determined by the number of lanes:
- If there is only one lane — drive with the left turn signal on until you pass all exits up to the desired one. Once they are behind you, turn on the right signal and leave the circle.
- If there are two lanes at the intersection, then start the maneuver from the left lane, and after the first or second exit (depending on the features of the interchange and the situation) change to the right lane, turning on the right turn signal in advance. After changing lanes, turn off the right turn signal so other drivers do not think you are going to exit at the next branch, and turn it on again after passing the second exit.
