You may consider yourself a nervous driver. As a result, you want to take the time to understand your vehicle and plan your routes before you hit the road. Both actions may help you feel more comfortable behind the wheel and help you remain a safe driver. When planning your route, you may realize that you have to take roads you have never navigated before. This possibility may increase your anxiety, as you could encounter situations you typically do not, like high-traffic areas or roundabouts. If you have never used, or rarely used, a roundabout, you may feel panic at the idea of approaching one.
Here we discuss Florida’s rules for roundabouts and what to do if you’re injured in a roundabout accident.
Rules for Approaching a Roundabout in Florida
This type of roadway setup typically takes the place of a standard intersection with traffic lights or stop signs. Multiple roads still meet at a single point, but instead of going straight through a crossing or turning onto another road, you enter a flow of traffic moving in a circular direction. This may seem nerve-racking or even dangerous, but studies indicate that roundabouts are safer than standard intersections.
Going Around The Roundabout
As you enter the flow of traffic, remember that vehicles already in the roundabout have the right of way. Therefore, when you reach the end of the road that connects to the roundabout entrance, you need to yield to other traffic in the circle and enter only when it is safe to do so. In addition to yielding to traffic in the circle, you will also need to yield to any pedestrians as you enter or exit the roundabout.
Crosswalks at roundabout entrances are a common site for pedestrian accidents, so slow down and scan before you yield.
Once in the roundabout, keep your vehicle moving at a slow pace. Do not stop in the middle of a roundabout. As you travel around the circle, your exit will approach, and you will merge out of the circle and onto the exiting street. If you miss your exit, do not panic. You can simply complete the circle again and exit the next time you reach your desired exit road.
Navigating a Florida Roundabout Accident
Though roundabouts are considered more efficient and safer than other intersections, accidents could still take place. If another driver fails to yield or otherwise does not utilize a roundabout properly and causes an accident that leaves you injured, you may have reason to seek compensation for resulting damages. If both drivers made mistakes, Florida’s comparative negligence rule reduces each driver’s recovery by their share of fault.
