Driving in British Columbia requires continuous adaptation to new road infrastructure, and perhaps no intersection causes as much confusion as the roundabout. Designed to improve traffic flow and reduce the severity of collisions, these circular intersections are now common across the Lower Mainland, from Chilliwack to Squamish.
While roundabouts may look intimidating, especially to new drivers, the single-lane variety is surprisingly straightforward once you understand the basic rules. An important distinction to make is that a modern roundabout is a controlled intersection, identified by yield signs upon entry whereas the older, residential traffic circle, is often an uncontrolled intersection where drivers must yield to the right, creating uncertainty.
In a one-lane roundabout, mastering three core steps - yielding, correct signalling, and scanning - is key to being a responsible driver, as well as successfully completing the ICBC road test.
The Golden Rule of Entry: Slow Down and Yield
The entire concept of the roundabout is based on continuous, low-speed flow. When approaching a single-lane roundabout, your priority is to slow down and prepare to give way.
Slowing Down and Preparing
Begin reducing your speed well before you reach the intersection, ensuring you slow to a speed that allows you to safely negotiate the circular curve. This gives you time to observe the traffic already circulating and allows you to make a smooth, controlled entry. If the roundabout is clear, you don't need to stop; simply yield and proceed.
Yielding to Circulating Traffic
The paramount rule is simple: traffic already in the circle has the right of way. As you approach the yield line, look left and watch for any vehicle that is either already in the roundabout or is so close that they would need to brake if you entered. Only enter when there is a sufficient, safe gap in traffic that allows you to merge without forcing any circulating driver to slow down or change direction.
Signaling: Communicating to Others
Signaling properly in a roundabout is where many drivers get confused, but it’s an important step for communicating your intentions to waiting drivers and pedestrians. Your signaling procedure depends entirely on which exit you plan to take.
Turning Right (First Exit)
If you intend to take the first exit (a right turn), the procedure is direct:
Upon Approach: Activate your right turn signal as you approach the roundabout.
Inside the Circle: Maintain the right signal continuously.
Exiting: Maintain the right signal until you have safely exited the circle and cleared the crosswalk.
Going Straight Through, Turning Left, or Making a U-Turn
For any movement that requires you to drive past the first exit (straight through, turning left, or circling back for a U-turn), the procedure is simplified:
Upon Approach: Do not signal.
Inside the Circle: Drive around the circle without a signal.
Exiting: Just before the exit you intend to take, activate your right turn signal to clearly communicate your departure to waiting drivers and pedestrians. Turn signals are meant to alleviate confusion, not create confusion, so keep this in mind when making use of them!
The ICBC Road Test Perspective
ICBC examiners pay close attention to how drivers handle roundabouts because they check multiple driving skills simultaneously. Indeed, consistent observations and scanning are arguably the most closely watched skill during a BC road test. These intersections test your ability to maintain proper speed, correctly apply the yielding rule, perform a wide-range scan, and use signals accurately, all while under the pressure of traffic.
Examiners are not looking for perfection, but they are looking for predictability and safety. They want to see you take control of the maneuver early and execute it smoothly, all while observing traffic, cyclists and pedestrians. This means demonstrating continuous awareness at every stage.
Approach & Preparation: Scanning the intersection for traffic and vulnerable users, performing mirror and shoulder checks, and ensuring proper signalling is applied before entry (if turning right).
Circulation & Merging: Executing the merge and circulation at a controlled and steady speed, performing a shoulder check as you enter, and checking your rear-view mirror immediately after merging to monitor following traffic.
Exiting & Final Checks: Performing final observation checks (mirrors and shoulder checks) before exiting to confirm the path is clear of traffic, pedestrians, and cyclists ahead and to your right.
Common Test Pitfalls and Mistakes
While the rules are clear, many drivers still make these common mistakes that can lead to immediate penalty marks or, in some cases, a test failure.
The Rolling Yield: Failing to slow down sufficiently on approach or forcing entry into the circle. If the traffic within the roundabout is heavy, you must stop at the yield line. A slow roll when a gap is clearly insufficient will be marked.
Inadequate Scanning: Failure to check for pedestrians and cyclists both at the entry crosswalk and the exit crosswalk, or failing to glance quickly at your left shoulder just before entry to ensure the circulating vehicle is still on your left.
Incorrect Speed (Too Fast or Too Slow): Taking the roundabout too quickly can lead to poor vehicle positioning or loss of control, and it indicates a failure to heed the advisory speed limit. Conversely, driving unnecessarily slowly can impede the flow of traffic and cause congestion, which defeats the purpose of the roundabout and can frustrate drivers following you.
Sharing The Road
A responsible driver always prioritizes vulnerable road users, and roundabouts introduce a few specific considerations for pedestrians and cyclists.
Pedestrians
Pedestrian crosswalks are typically located a few metres away from the physical roundabout circle—they are rarely located right against the centre island. This distance is intentionally designed to allow entering traffic to focus on yielding to the circulating vehicles first.
You are required to yield to pedestrians at these marked crosswalks before entering and upon exiting the roundabout. When exiting, watch carefully for anyone stepping off the curb or already in the crosswalk, as your focus may have just been on clearing the circular traffic.
Cyclists
Cyclists have two options when navigating a single-lane roundabout: they can use the multi-use path as a pedestrian, or they can ride as a vehicle. If a cyclist chooses to use the path, they are expected to dismount and walk their bicycle to be treated as a pedestrian when crossing.
If a cyclist chooses to ride as a vehicle, they have the right to take the full lane inside the roundabout. It is always important to confirm that a fast-moving cyclist has not merged behind you unnoticed, especially during the entry and exit phases.
It is unsafe and prohibited to attempt to pass a cyclist inside the circle. Give them plenty of space, follow them through the roundabout, and only pass them once you have exited and reached a safe stretch of road.
Real-World Practice Zones in the Lower Mainland
Practicing these rules in real-world environments across the Lower Mainland is the best way to build confidence. Single-lane roundabouts vary slightly depending on their location and the volume of traffic they handle.
Langley Residential Roads: Many newer single-lane roundabouts are found on residential roads, such as on 206th Street in the Willoughby neighbourhood. The challenge here lies in approaching at appropriate speeds, as traffic often moves quickly on these corridors. Practising here helps refine your judgment on safely entering the circle when traffic is flowing.
Coquitlam Urban Residential: Coquitlam offers excellent examples near community hubs, such as the roundabout at Kingsway (near the Port Coquitlam Community Centre) and the one at Reeve Street and Welcher Avenue (near Gates Park). These are ideal practice spots because they are located in low-speed environments but have very high pedestrian and cyclist traffic, forcing you to focus on the essential rule of yielding to vulnerable users upon both entry and exit.
Chilliwack Suburbs: In areas like Sardis or Garrison Crossing, roundabouts manage traffic around commercial hubs. Excellent practice spots include the roundabouts at Tyson Road and Watson Road and Tyson Road and Keith Wilson Road. They are great for practising the "Go Straight Through" and "Turning Left" rules, as the multiple exits require accurate judgement and that crucial final exit signal.
The more familiar you become with these varied conditions, the easier it will be to execute the steps automatically, allowing you to focus on the changing environment around you.
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The single-lane roundabout is an efficient and safe intersection design, but it demands precision and proper communication from the driver. By focusing on the core principles - slowing down early, yielding absolutely to circulating traffic, and signalling just before you exit - you ensure both your safety and the smooth flow of traffic for everyone around you.
Confidence in driving comes from understanding the rules and practicing them until they become second nature. Keep these simple rules in mind, and you’ll navigate every circular intersection with ease.
You might also want to check out our related blogs, 4 Types of Intersections and How to Navigate Them and Roundabouts Rule! Safely Negotiating Roundabouts & Traffic Circles.