Do You Know How to Use a Roundabout in Mississauga?
Published October 16, 2018 at 10:46 am
Roundabouts are becoming an increasingly used modification to certain intersections. In Mississauga, for example, the most widely known roundabout is the one near Square One Drive at Duke of York Boulevard, as well as a lesser known one at Hazelton and Plantation Place by the Erin Mills Town Centre.
However, a primary issue with roundabouts is that Mississauga and Brampton residents may not know exactly how to navigate through one. Some people see a roundabout and are not sure what to. They can’t go straight, they can’t go left and they can only go right.
It’s not an unusual occurrence, as roundabouts are more common in European cities than North American ones. But the Peel Regional Police have some helpful tips on how to navigate through a roundabout, which they’ve recently posted on their website.
When you are approaching a roundabout:
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Slow down.
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Select the correct lane (each lane has a designated exit).
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Pay attention for pedestrians, cyclists and any traffic already driving through.
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Stop if the way is not clear.
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Enter when there is a safe gap in traffic.
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Drive in a counter-clockwise direction until you reach your exit.
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When exiting the roundabout use your right-turn signal.
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If you miss your exit, continue around the roundabout again and then exit.
As a driver, what you should NOT to do is pass or change lanes inside the roundabout or stop while you’re inside one, except to avoid a collision.
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When emergency vehicles are outside the roundabout, pull over to the right, if you can do so safely and let the emergency vehicle pass you before you enter. If an emergency vehicle is inside, drive around to your intended exit, leave the roundabout completely before you pull over to the right, then let the emergency vehicle pass you.
The police offer additional tips for those not operating a motor vehicle while using a roundabout, such as…
Pedestrians should:
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Wait for a gap in traffic.
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Cross only when it is safe.
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Never cross a roundabout by walking over the central island.
And for cyclists:
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Experienced cyclist can move through the roundabout the same way as a vehicle.
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New cyclists should get off their bicycles and cross the roundabout as pedestrians.
A helpful list from neighbouring Brampton shows the benefits of roundabouts, such as improving traffic flow by slowing it down, improving safety (because collisions inside a roundabout are reduced because of the decreased speed), more environmentally friendly (fewer stops as opposed to a regular intersection leads to less fuel consumption) and reduced costs, such as the lack of need to install traffic signals.
Would you like to see more roundabouts installed in Mississauga?
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