Roundabouts are causing quite the confusion in Parksville Qualicum Beach.
Oceanside RCMP Cpl. Jesse Foreman said he’s received several recent inquiries about the rules and regulations circling roundabouts.
“I’ve had quite a few calls from people concerned about others not knowing how to deal with them,” Foreman told The NEWS last week.
He said most of the calls come from motorists, not cyclists or pedestrians.
“We’ve had a few severe crashes at the (roundabout) in Qualicum Beach,” Foreman said. “People are often going in way too fast. In the past two years there’s been at least two memorable accidents.”
With the growing popularity of roundabouts, Foreman posted a news release from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure on proper roundabout etiquette.
“Approach: reduce your speed; watch for pedestrian and cyclists and be ready to stop.
Yield: always yield to traffic in the roundabout; wait for a safe gap in the traffic remembering that those in the roundabout have the right-of-way.
Enter: enter the roundabout to your right; continue counter-clockwise until you reach your exit.
Exit: use your right turn signal before exiting; watch for pedestrians and cyclists.”
Foreman noted drivers should never stop inside a roundabout unless traffic conditions require it and drivers should never pull over for emergency vehicles inside a roundabout, but before entering the roundabout or after exiting it.