One of Nanaimo's only double-lane roundabouts is along Rutherford Rd. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

29 per cent

Roundabouts reducing injuries, but driver comfort with multi-lane turns is still low

Feb 8, 2024 | 10:39 AM

NANAIMO — Despite becoming an increasingly preferred way of moving traffic through busy areas, driver comfort with roundabouts isn’t keeping pace.

A new study from ICBC showed 57 per cent of drivers feel comfortable moving through a single-lane roundabout while only 29 per cent feel assured in multi-lane roundabouts.

Karen Klein, road safety coordinator with ICBC, said despite apprehensions from some, the traffic devices are a clear win for the safety of drivers and pedestrians.

“Roundabouts are reducing the injuries in crashes by about 75 per cent…it’s because they reduce speed. When you think of a traditional intersection, you can have a consistent speed going through a green light but when you’re approaching a roundabout you have to slow down a little bit.”

She added roundabouts also all but eliminate head-on collisions, right-angle turns and left-turn crashes at intersections.

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The main confusion for drivers stems from who has the right of way, with around 15 per cent of drivers expressing a level of frustration on knowing when to enter a roundabout.

Klein said it all comes down to driver communication.

“If you approach a roundabout, you approach slowly, you’re waiting for your turn because there’s vehicles within that roundabout, making a signal your intention you’re going to make a right turn out of the roundabout allows that driver to know ‘ok, here’s my chance’.”

Klein added drivers are fully entitled to complete their turn in a roundabout even with the presence of an emergency vehicle behind them.

Vehicles should exit the roundabout and pull over at the first available opportunity to allow police, fire or ambulance to pass.

Pre-planning can avoid a lot of issues at multi-lane roundabouts with appropriate lane usage being key. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

All roundabouts require vehicles to yield to others already inside the roundabout, while proper lane usage is required in multi-lane situations.

Vehicles turning left in a roundabout should use the left lane, those turning right should be in the right lane while vehicles continuing straight can use either lane.

In Nanaimo, a roundabout was installed along Mary Ellen Dr. in a bid to deal with traffic flows in and out of Woodgrove Centre and the neighbouring strip mall.

Roundabouts do require considerable space to implement, which is why the option was not pursued amid changes at Bruce Ave. and Fifth St.

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