Roundabouts

Roundabouts are newer traffic control measures that have proven to be effective at keeping traffic flowing.

In Barrhaven, we have several roundabouts with more on the way tto provide much-needed traffic relief.

How to use a roundabout effectively (as a driver)

⬇ Reduce your speed when approaching a roundabout (maintain the slow speed until you have exited the roundabout)

🚸 Watch for pedestrians and cyclists and be prepared to stop if necessary.

🚗Vehicles in the roundabout have the right of way.

2️⃣ For two-lane roundabouts, exits must be made from the proper lane (look at appropriate sinage at the roundabout). Changing lanes within the roundabout is not permitted.

• Turning left: enter through the leftmost lane

• Turning right: enter through rightmost lane

• Going straight: look at the signage, it will indicate whether one or both lanes can be entered to go straight

• Once you're in the roundabout, follow the pavement markings to guide you to your desired exit.

➡Use your right signal when exiting. This helps traffic flow and promotes safe driving.

Check out this cool guide by the City of Ottawa!

How to use a roundabout.

Download • 462KB

How to navigate a roundabout as a pedestrian

Pedestrian Crossovers are situated at most roundabouts, allowing pedestrians the right of way over vehicles. For more information on Pedestrian Crossovers, please refer to the city's Pedestrian Crossover page.

Roundabouts are often safer for pedestrians than intersections that use traffic signals. At a roundabout, a pedestrian only has to cross two sections of one-way traffic, which is moving at slow speeds. A pedestrian crossing at an intersection with signals must deal with vehicles turning right or left on green, and turning right on red. Some vehicles run the red light, which may result in injuries or fatalities for pedestrians.

At a roundabout:

• Look and listen for approaching traffic. Choose a safe time to cross from the curb ramp to the median opening.

• Walk on the sidewalk/path at all times.

• Never cross the circular roadway to the central island.

• Cross at the designated crosswalk.

• Look in the direction of the oncoming traffic and wait for an acceptable gap before entering the crosswalk.

• Proceed to the splitter island (median) and use as a refuge. Look in the direction of oncoming traffic and wait for an acceptable gap before crossing.

Key Features

• Central island: A raised area in the centre of a roundabout around which traffic circulates.

• Splitter island: A raised or painted area on an approach used to separate entering from exiting traffic, deflect and slow entering traffic, and provide storage space for pedestrians crossing the road in two stages.

• Circulatory roadway: A curved path used by vehicles to travel in a counter-clockwise direction around the central island.

• Truck apron: If required on smaller roundabouts to accommodate the wheel tracking of large vehicles, an apron is the mountable portion of the central island adjacent to the circulatory roadway.
  

• Yield line: Pavement marking used to mark the point of entry from an approach into the circulatory roadway; is generally marked along the inscribed circle. Entering vehicles must yield to any circulating traffic coming from the left before crossing this line into the circulatory roadway.
  

• Pedestrian crossings: Set back from the yield line and the splitter island to allow pedestrians, wheelchairs, strollers and bicycles to pass through.

Traffic flow

• Low speed on approach

• Approaching vehicles yield to traffic already in the roundabout

• Vehicles drive counter-clockwise and always to the right of the central island

• Low speed on exit

• Continuous movement of traffic

Signs

Exit locations in the roundabout

Roundabout ahead. Reduce speed to 30 km/h

Yield to traffic in the circle

Indicates direction to follow in the roundabout