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Colorado driving lesson · Lane Controls & Right-of-Way

Roundabouts

A 2-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
2 minutes
Course unit
Lane Controls & Right-of-Way
Checkpoint questions
4
Source pages
13

A roundabout is a circular intersection. Traffic moves to the right around a center island, and drivers entering yield to those already circulating. Colorado adds a special rule for large vehicles.

Roundabout
Roundabout lanes

Know the rule

Before entering, yield the right-of-way to trucks, buses, emergency vehicles and recreational vehicles (large vehicles) entering, exiting or driving in the roundabout.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

When two large vehicles enter, exit or drive in a roundabout at the same time, the one on the right yields to the one on the left.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

If no large trucks are present, yield to approaching traffic on the left.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

Don't stop completely unless existing traffic prevents you from merging.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

When entering or leaving, yield to pedestrians or bicyclists in any crosswalk and to traffic already inside the roundabout.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Steps through a roundabout:

  • Read signs and roadway markers as you approach
  • Check crosswalks and yield to pedestrians waiting to cross
  • Yield to traffic on the left (and to any large vehicle)
  • Drive to the right, watching directional signs and signals
  • Merge in when clear; signal when changing lanes and exiting
Handbook p. 13 ↗

Put it into practice

You reach a roundabout just as a city bus arrives in the lane beside you. Colorado law says to yield to the bus. Let it enter and move through, then merge in when your path is clear.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

In a roundabout, Colorado law specifically requires drivers to yield to which vehicles?
  1. Vehicles entering from your right
  2. Motorcycles and mopeds
  3. Trucks, buses, emergency vehicles and RVs
  4. Vehicles waiting to enter from any approach

Answer: Trucks, buses, emergency vehicles and RVs

Colorado law requires drivers to yield to a truck, bus, emergency vehicle or recreational vehicle entering, exiting or driving in a roundabout.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
As you approach a roundabout with no large vehicles present, who must you yield to?
  1. Traffic to your right only
  2. Only pedestrians, never vehicles
  3. Traffic already in it, from the left
  4. No one; you always have the right-of-way entering

Answer: Traffic already in it, from the left

Without large vehicles present, you must yield to traffic already circulating in the roundabout, approaching from your left.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
When two drivers of large vehicles (trucks, buses, emergency, or recreational vehicles) enter a roundabout at the same time, who must yield?
  1. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
  2. Whichever vehicle is smaller yields
  3. Neither yields; both proceed together
  4. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left

Answer: The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left

When two large vehicles enter, exit, or drive in a roundabout at the same time, the driver on the right must yield to the driver on the left.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
When entering a roundabout with no large vehicles present, you must yield to traffic approaching from your left.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

As you approach a roundabout, if no large trucks are present, you must yield to approaching traffic on the left.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
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