roadwise.Open study app

Ohio driving lesson · Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections

Roundabouts, lane position & changing lanes

A 3-minute lesson from the Ohio course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

Study this lesson in the app Back to the course
Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
21, 22

A roundabout keeps traffic moving counterclockwise around a center island. Entering traffic yields; once you're in, keep going. On regular roads, keep right and change lanes only after a real blind-spot check.

Roundabout (traffic circle)

A circular intersection where vehicles travel counterclockwise around a raised center island, and entering traffic yields to circulating traffic.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Using a roundabout:

  • Check signs for your travel direction as you approach — you can't change lanes inside
  • Slow down to enter
  • Enter counterclockwise
  • Yield to traffic already in the roundabout; look left and enter when the lane is clear
  • Once in, keep moving — don't stop or change lanes
  • Signal and take your exit
Handbook p. 21 ↗

Which exit to take

Which exit to take
ExitDirection
1st exitTurn right
2nd exitGo straight
3rd exitTurn left
4th exitU-turn
Handbook p. 21 ↗
Roundabout lane travel
Enter counterclockwise, yielding to circulating traffic

Drive on the right half of the road except when:

  • Overtaking and passing a vehicle going the same direction
  • The road has three or more marked lanes
  • The road is designed and posted for one-way traffic
  • A police officer or traffic control device directs otherwise
  • An obstruction forces you left of center — yield to oncoming traffic
Handbook p. 21 ↗

Know the rule

On a road with four or more lanes, drive in the right lane. Use the lane just right of center to pass and make left turns.

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Changing lanes safely:

  • Check mirrors and blind spots by looking over your shoulder in the direction you'll move
  • Find a gap, signal, and look again
  • Adjust speed and steer into the lane
  • Cancel your turn signal
Handbook p. 22 ↗

Blind spots

Areas around your vehicle that can't be seen in the rear-view or side-view mirrors.

Handbook p. 22 ↗

Put it into practice

You want to go straight through a four-exit roundabout. Yield to cars already circling, enter when clear, pass the first exit, and signal to leave at the second exit.

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.

Which direction do you travel around a roundabout?
  1. Clockwise
  2. Either direction is fine
  3. It depends on the exit you want
  4. Counterclockwise

Answer: Counterclockwise

Vehicles travel counterclockwise around a roundabout's raised center island.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Who has the right-of-way in a roundabout: entering or circulating traffic?
  1. Circulating traffic
  2. Entering traffic always has priority
  3. Whoever signals first
  4. Larger vehicles

Answer: Circulating traffic

Entering traffic must yield the right-of-way to traffic already circulating in the roundabout.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Which exit of a roundabout should you take to go straight through?
  1. The first exit
  2. The second exit
  3. The third exit
  4. The fourth exit

Answer: The second exit

Use the second exit to go straight through a roundabout.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
Which exit of a roundabout should you take to make a U-turn?
  1. The first exit
  2. The second exit
  3. The fourth exit
  4. The third exit

Answer: The fourth exit

The fourth exit of a roundabout is used to make a U-turn.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
On a road with four or more lanes, which lane should you generally drive in?
  1. The right lane
  2. The far-left lane
  3. Whichever lane has less traffic
  4. The center lane

Answer: The right lane

On roads with four or more lanes, drive in the right lane, using the lane just right of center to pass or turn left.

Handbook p. 21 ↗
What should you do before changing lanes, besides checking your mirrors?
  1. Flash your headlights
  2. Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot
  3. Speed up to create a gap
  4. Tap your horn

Answer: Look over your shoulder to check your blind spot

Before changing lanes, check mirrors and glance over your shoulder to check the blind spot before signaling and moving.

Handbook p. 22 ↗
Take the lesson checkpoint in the app

More in Basic Vehicle Control & Intersections

All Ohio lessons