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New Hampshire driving lesson · Turning, Intersections, and Parking

Intersections and roundabouts

A 3-minute lesson from the New Hampshire 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
Turning, Intersections, and Parking
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
33, 34

Most crashes happen where paths cross. Don't count on others to obey signals or signs; be ready to avoid a collision yourself. Roundabouts add their own rules for choosing lanes and yielding.

Know the rule

Don't rely on other road users to obey traffic signals or signs; always be prepared to avoid a collision.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

After stopping, check for crossing traffic and bicyclists: look left, then right, then left again before entering.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

When the light turns green, don't immediately move into the intersection; make sure the path is clear and there's no crossing traffic.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

You need a gap big enough to get across the road, turn into your lane and get up to speed.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Know the rule

Don't pull out in front of a vehicle just because its turn signal is on; the driver may turn past you or may have forgotten to cancel it.

Handbook p. 33 ↗

Multi-lane roundabouts:

  • Lane choice: before entering, read exit and lane-use signs and pavement markings; pick your exit lane
  • Yield to traffic in both lanes of the roundabout; enter when there's a gap
  • Keep your lane position until you exit; avoid lane changes inside
  • Don't drive beside or pass other vehicles; trucks and trailers may straddle both lanes
Handbook p. 34 ↗
Roundabout
Multi-lane roundabout: choose your lane by your exit
Roundabout
Multi-lane roundabout: keep your lane until you exit

Know the rule

Don't enter a roundabout when emergency vehicles are approaching; pull over to the right. If you're already inside, never stop: exit, pull over to the right and let them pass.

Handbook p. 34 ↗

Put it into practice

You're halfway around a roundabout when you hear a siren. Keep going, leave at your exit, then pull to the right. Stopping inside the circle would block the emergency vehicle.

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.

What order should a driver look before entering an intersection, according to the manual?
  1. Left, then right, then left again
  2. Right, then left only
  3. Left only, since right-of-way handles the rest
  4. Straight ahead only

Answer: Left, then right, then left again

Drivers should look left, then right, and left again before entering an intersection.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
Why shouldn't a driver assume another vehicle with an active turn signal is definitely turning?
  1. Turn signals cancel automatically at intersections
  2. Signaling drivers must yield to everyone
  3. A signal only means the driver is slowing down
  4. The driver may have forgotten to cancel it from a prior turn

Answer: The driver may have forgotten to cancel it from a prior turn

A driver may have forgotten to turn off a signal from an earlier turn.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
In a multi-lane roundabout, who must a driver yield to before entering?
  1. No one, roundabouts always have the right-of-way to enter
  2. Only vehicles signaling to exit
  3. Traffic already in both lanes of the roundabout
  4. Only traffic in the outer lane

Answer: Traffic already in both lanes of the roundabout

Drivers must yield to traffic already circulating in both lanes.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
Inside a multi-lane roundabout, what should a driver avoid doing?
  1. Signaling before exiting
  2. Yielding to entering traffic
  3. Following posted lane-use signs
  4. Changing lanes or passing other vehicles

Answer: Changing lanes or passing other vehicles

Drivers should avoid lane changes and never pass while inside a roundabout.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
If an emergency vehicle approaches while a driver is inside a roundabout, what should the driver do?
  1. Stop immediately inside the roundabout
  2. Continue through, exit, then pull over to the right
  3. Move to the inside lane and stop
  4. Speed up to exit before the emergency vehicle arrives

Answer: Continue through, exit, then pull over to the right

Drivers should never stop inside a roundabout; instead, exit it and then pull over.

Handbook p. 34 ↗
At a traffic signal, what should a driver avoid doing the instant the light turns green?
  1. Immediately moving into the intersection without checking
  2. Checking mirrors before proceeding
  3. Signaling their next turn
  4. Looking for pedestrians

Answer: Immediately moving into the intersection without checking

Drivers should avoid immediately moving into the intersection and instead confirm the path is clear.

Handbook p. 33 ↗
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