Article updated 10-July-2022
Roundabouts are a little tricky when it comes to proper maneuvering, and sometimes we experience inappropriate or even rude behavior. More and more roundabouts get replaced by intersections with traffic lights, especially at locations with higher traffic density.
How to do it right
- Care for pedestrians, at roundabout with zebra-crossings
- Upon entering a roundabout, obey the yield signs!
- Wait patiently until you can enter the round about safely
- Be mindful and caring of other vehicles besides you
- Stay in the right lane, if you plan to use the 1st exit
- Use the left or center lane, if you plan to use the 2nd or further exit
- In passing exits you don’t use, gradually move to the right lane until your exit comes up
- Use your indicator, if you change lanes inside the roundabout
- Use your indicator, if you leave the roundabout
- Info-graphic courtesy of RTA explaining lane selection and use of indicator:
Watch out for this
- Watch out for pedestrians, at roundabout with zebra-crossings
- Don’t ‘cut-through’ roundabouts – stay in lane!
- Don’t swerve from one lane onto the other lane and back!
- Do not force your way into the roundabout, wait for your turn!
- Merge into the proper lane at time
- Watch out for other drivers who might not behave properly
Nice info,
illustration by video would be more impressing and thoughtful..
Nice info!
but there should be need to update also in driving books, all roundabout photos of UAE must be shown in books to educate students, because many two lane road merge into three lane roundabouts which cause cofusion.
The article makes me concerned about the perception of the safety of different junction types. Roundabouts are both theoretically and statistically by far safer than signallised intersections.
There are two problems with UAE roundabouts:
* faulty design in terms of approach geometry, grading, lane arrangements, lighting, etc.
* high-speed approaches – all roads are designed straight, wide and convienient to travel at high speeds.
Unfortunately authorities in UAE have no idea how a proper roundabout should be designed. I often hear that UAE road users are somewhat different compared to other countries. But this is as wrong as it can be – where else you have expats being 80% of the population?
There is a problem also how use of roundabouts is being tought in UAE (or at least in Abu Dhabi). The driving school tells you that it is not allowed to change lanes on a roundabout. This is not true and it is also not the safest idea.
What is important is that you select the entry lane correctly as shown on the image. However, it is perfectly acceptable and safe to change lanes one by one on the roundabout towards the nearside lane, but not the opposite. By changing the lanes to the right you will effectively reduce the number of conflicts, additionally you give a clear message to other drivers about your intention to exit the roundabout.
I am in agreement to Mr Raul’s comments. Here roundabouts are indeed bit complex with 2 lane inputs to 3 or 4 lane roundabouts and exit lane varies between 2 to 3 or 4. But however complex the roundabout is in UAE I have never come across any major accidents inside the roundabouts as most of the people do take atmost caution however there are some insane drivers who sometimes drive haphazardly .