Roundabout variations

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Roundabout variations

Site Map HOME » Driving Tips index » Roundabout basics » Roundabout variations (you are here) One or two lanes? Single lane entry into 2-lane roundabout 1-lane 2-lane combinations Tom Brown roundabout (Alice Springs) Daly Street & The Esplanade (Darwin city) Dripstone Road & Lakeside Drive (Casuarina) Chung Wah Terrace & Lambrick Avenue (Palmerston) The Magic Roundabout Swindon UK (this photo)
1 LANE or 2-LANES? Roundabouts in the Northern Territory are generally single or dual lane, however there are some examples in which could fit into either category. There are also examples where 2-lane roundabouts have one or more single-laned roads joining it. \| Go to Top of Page \|
1-LANE ENTRY into 2-LANE ROUNDABOUT You may encounter this type, although I know of one (near Bunning's in Palmerston) where Council has converted it into a single-lane roundabout by painting an island in the inner lane - less confusing! Turning LEFT: keep to the left. Turning RIGHT: use the right lane inside the roundabout. Continuing AHEAD: it's OK to use either lane - but watch out for overtaking traffic coming alongside you! \| Go to Top of Page \|
1-LANE 2-LANE combinations These can be used to intersect single-lane & 2-lane roads, one example is at the corner of Daly and Smith Streets in Darwin city.
Entering from a dual-laned road Approach the roundabout normally i.e. Left lane: to turn left or go straight ahead Right lane: to go straight ahead or turn right.	Entering from a single-laned road Inside the roundabout, merge into the left or right lane as required (as in the diagram above).
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TOM BROWN roundabout (Alice Springs) Alice Spring's "Tom Brown roundabout" near The Gap is the NT's largest roundabout, it has 5 entry points and is one of those roundabouts on which large road trains are allowed to operate - you should never drive alongside a truck or bus inside a roundabout (that's what the "DO NOT OVERTAKE TURNING VEHICLES" sign on the back of long vehicles is about), but be especially careful if it has more than one trailer. If a road train enters a roundabout before you, stay behind it!! Be careful that you don't give confusing signals. For example... You want to go to South Terrace. The large sign on the right shows that from this particular direction, South Terrace is a left-turn, but so is Gap Road. If you enter the roundabout signalling left you could entice someone coming out of Gap Road to pull out in front of you! So, how do you take the South Terrace exit and signal without causing confusion? Answer: enter the roundabout (in the left lane of course) but do not signal left until you are alongside the Gap Road entry point - then exit at South Terrace. \| Go to Page Top \|
DALY ST & the ESPLANADE (Darwin city) This roundabout has only two roads joining it, so is it OK to turn RIGHT from The Esplanade into Daly St using the LEFT-hand lane? Technically it should not cause problems, as long as you stay completely inside your lane (which learner drivers rarely do in this situation).

Entering from the Esplanade A test route used to turn into Daly St from the left-hand lane, but thankfully this part of the route has since been abandoned - some test candidates rightfully refused to turn using the left lane because there is no signage or lane arrows permitting it! (You must always use the right lane if doing a U-turn back into the Esplanade).	Entering from Daly St Use the left lane to turn left into the Esplanade. Can't get into the left lane in time? Simply use the right hand lane and do a complete "loop" as shown above.
If a sign was provided to give permission to turn right from the left lane, it might look something like this. But no such sign exists, nor are there lane arrows. You should not consider taking an exit on the right-side of the roundabout from the left lane, unless signage or lane arrows permit it.
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DRIPSTONE RD & LAKESIDE DRIVE (Casuarina) The roundabout at Dripstone Rd & Lakeside Drive can be awkward for drivers approaching Charles Darwin University from Casuarina Square, especially if the driver is new to the area. This roundabout could benefit from some lane usage signs (below). It could also benefit from adding more lane arrows at the Dripstone Rd entry point facing Charles Darwin University, as the 2 existing arrows can only be seen when very close to the roundabout.
From Dripstone Road, facing Charles Darwin University. There are lane arrows but these can't be seen until very close to the roundabout.	From Dripstone Road facing Charles Darwin University: Drivers leaving this roundabout to turn right into Ellengowan, don't have much time to change lanes for the next roundabout.
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CHUNG WAH TCE & LAMBRICK AVE (Palmerston) A feature of Palmerston is the number of roundabouts there. They have a pronounced "S curve" in their entry & exit roads - and are noted for the high speeds at which local drivers charge into them. (I presume the bends are a speed-limiting design feature. If so, it doesn't seem to be working. Not in Palmerston, anyway.) Below is the T-intersection roundabout at Chung Wah Terrace & Lambrick Avenue in Rosebery (photos taken in 2004 before landscaping completed). Note the useful lane usage signs - Palmerston Council at least, has thought beyond the classic "2-lane 4-exit" paradigm. \| Go to Page Top \|
The "MAGIC ROUNDABOUT" (Swindon UK) What do you do if you have 5 roads coming together in a major intersection in a heavy traffic area with a high crash rate? Swindon in the UK had such a problem intersection. Their solution is very novel - a clockwise roundabout at each of the 5 entry points of a large roundabout of up to 4 lanes, where traffic flows in an anti-clockwise direction. Visit Swindon's web site to see their " Magic Roundabout".
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