How do you safely approach a roundabout?

Approaching a roundabout safely involves understanding the right-of-way rules associated with it. Yielding to traffic already in the roundabout is crucial because vehicles within the roundabout have the right to continue moving without interruption. This helps maintain a continuous flow of traffic and reduces the risk of collisions.

When you yield, you are allowing incoming traffic to pass before you enter the roundabout, which contributes to overall safety for all drivers and pedestrians involved. This practice is standard for roundabouts and is designed to facilitate smoother transitions into and out of the roundabout.

Other practices, such as speeding up to merge quickly, could lead to dangerous situations where a driver may not be able to safely navigate the roundabout. Turning on your blinker before entering could confuse other drivers, as signaling should typically occur when you're exiting the roundabout, to indicate your intended direction. Stopping completely may disrupt the traffic flow and can cause confusion for other drivers who expect you to yield, not halt. Thus, yielding to existing traffic is the safest and most effective way to approach a roundabout.