With the recent increase of vehicle accidents and the death of an e-biker, authorities have provided some significant directives concerning the proper methods of traveling within a roundabout.

“Basically, always drive to the right side of the island, stay in your lane, switch lanes only on a dotted line when safe to do so, with a proper signal,” Mesquite Police Department Captain Quinn Averett said while pointing out multiple resources on roundabouts and proper conduct for travel.

He said there are multiple government videos and YouTube videos that give tutorials on safe and general rules regarding roundabout driving. He noted that the Mesquite Police Department has not created or endorsed any, but there is still some good information out there.

He pointed out that in Nevada, roundabouts are treated as intersections by definition and in relation to the Nevada Revised Statutes (NRS). All drivers of a vehicle approaching an intersection shall yield the right-of-way to a vehicle that has entered the intersection. Electric bicycles are treated as vehicles and can use a traffic lane. Vehicles are mandated to use due care when approaching a slower-moving bicycle in a traffic lane. The rules for the vehicle when approaching a bicycle in the lane are defined in NRS 484B.270, which defines vehicles using due care and how to legally and safely pass the bicycle.

Kesley McFarland, Public Information Officer for the Nevada Department of Transportation, said roundabouts are designed to improve safety and traffic flow by reducing vehicle speeds and eliminating the potential for severe right-angle (T-bone) and head-on crashes that are more common at traditional traffic light intersections.

“Because all traffic moves in the same direction and enters and exits through right turns, collisions that do occur are typically at lower speeds and less severe,” she stated. “From a mobility standpoint, roundabouts also keep traffic moving efficiently by allowing continuous flow without the need for a full stop when the way is clear.”

She said that when approaching a roundabout, drivers should slow down, yield to vehicles already circulating from the left and yield to pedestrians or bicyclists in the crosswalk.

“Once in the roundabout, keep moving,” she stated. “Don’t stop for vehicles waiting to enter. Before exiting, signal your turn and remain alert for pedestrians in the crosswalks located just beyond the roundabout.”

She added the most important rule is to always yield to traffic already in the roundabout. That single action helps prevent most conflicts and keeps traffic flowing safely.

According to the Federal Highway Administration, research has shown roundabouts reduce crashes by about 75 percent compared to conventional intersections.