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Michigan driving lesson · Right-of-Way, Passing, and Turning

Roundabouts

A 3-minute lesson from the Michigan 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
3 minutes
Course unit
Right-of-Way, Passing, and Turning
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
49, 63

Roundabouts keep traffic moving in one direction around a center island. The key rule: traffic already circulating has the right of way, so you yield to the left as you enter.

Roundabout

A circular intersection where entering traffic yields to vehicles traveling counterclockwise around a central island.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Roundabout ahead
Roundabout Ahead warning sign

Know the rule

Vehicles entering from each leg must yield to traffic approaching from the left, including bicyclists and pedestrians. You exit by turning right onto the road you want.

Handbook p. 49 ↗

Approaching:

  • Use roadside signs and pavement markings to pick the correct lane before entering
  • Slow down and stay to the right of the center island
  • At the yield line, look to your left
  • Enter when a suitable gap appears and merge with the flow
  • Never turn left to enter a roundabout — it puts you in front of oncoming traffic
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Inside the roundabout:

  • Always stay to the right of the center island; vehicles in the roundabout have the right of way
  • Don't stop unless it's the only way to avoid a collision or other danger
  • Emergency vehicle coming? Don't stop — exit at the nearest exit, pull right and stop
  • Avoid changing lanes; get in the lane you need before entering
  • Don't pass or drive next to trucks and large vehicles — they may need more than one lane
  • Don't pass other vehicles, bicycles or mopeds
  • Watch for pedestrians when entering or exiting
Handbook p. 49 ↗

Exiting:

  • Keep a slow speed; if you miss your exit, go around again
  • Signal your exit
  • Don't accelerate until you're past the pedestrian crossing at the exit
Handbook p. 49 ↗
Roundabout with bicycle/pedestrian crossing
Figure 5.10: Dashed white lines mark the edge of the circular lane

Know the rule

Dashed white lines painted across a lane in a roundabout mark the edge of the circular lane — look for vehicles as you enter.

Handbook p. 63 ↗

Put it into practice

You're halfway around a roundabout when you hear a siren. Don't stop inside the circle. Leave at the nearest exit, pull over to the right and stop so the emergency vehicle can pass.

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, which direction do vehicles travel around the center island?
  1. Clockwise in the inner lane only
  2. Clockwise
  3. Either direction
  4. Counterclockwise

Answer: Counterclockwise

A roundabout is a circular intersection where entering traffic yields to vehicles traveling counterclockwise around the central island.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
When entering a roundabout, which vehicles must you yield to?
  1. Vehicles approaching from the right
  2. Vehicles approaching from the left
  3. The vehicle traveling fastest
  4. Only vehicles already exiting

Answer: Vehicles approaching from the left

Vehicles entering a roundabout must yield to traffic approaching from the left, including bicyclists and pedestrians.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Is it ever correct to make a left turn to enter a roundabout?
  1. Yes, at multi-lane roundabouts only
  2. No, that puts you against traffic
  3. Yes, when traffic is light
  4. Yes, if signs allow it

Answer: No, that puts you against traffic

You should never make a left turn to enter a roundabout, as it puts you in front of oncoming traffic.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
You hear an emergency vehicle approaching while inside a roundabout. What should you do?
  1. Continue circulating until it passes
  2. Stop immediately where you are
  3. Speed up to clear the roundabout
  4. Exit, then pull over and stop

Answer: Exit, then pull over and stop

If an emergency vehicle approaches while you're in a roundabout, exit at the nearest exit, pull over, and stop.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
Should you change lanes while traveling inside a roundabout?
  1. No, pick a lane before entering
  2. Yes, if using a turn signal first
  3. Only if there's no traffic
  4. Only in the outer lane

Answer: No, pick a lane before entering

Avoid changing lanes inside a roundabout — move into the lane you need before entering.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
When should you accelerate after exiting a roundabout?
  1. As soon as you see the exit sign
  2. Before you reach the exit
  3. Immediately upon exiting
  4. Only after the exit crosswalk

Answer: Only after the exit crosswalk

Don't accelerate until you are past the pedestrian crossing at the roundabout's exit.

Handbook p. 49 ↗
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