'Confusing' roundabout road rule surprises drivers
A road-rule question about two cars using a roundabout has led to fury and frustration online.
WA Transport shared a graphic of a blue car using a roundabout with a red car waiting to enter it on Facebook.
It’s a two-lane roundabout with the blue car using the inside lane. The red car intends to use the outside one.
“The red car wants to travel straight through the roundabout,” the department wrote.
“The blue car has already entered the roundabout. Should the red car give way to the blue car?”
Some people suggested the answer was both cars can go at the same time.
This answer is wrong.
Others had the answer correct but the reasoning for it wrong.
“My understanding is the blue car has right of way because their lane splits into two. Therefore they can choose either lane,” one woman wrote.
“There may be a left turn they need to take immediately after exiting the roundabout.”
The correct answer is the red car has to wait because according to the law vehicles waiting to enter a roundabout have to give way to vehicles already using it.
It’s irrelevant if both vehicles intend to use the same lane or different lanes.
Debate rages about roundabout rule
Despite a majority of people getting the answer right, some complained about the roundabout’s design.
“Funny how these things cause such debate, and we wonder why things go wrong,” one man wrote.
“Poorly designed. And although there may be no legal ambiguity, it is likely to cause some confusion in the real world.”
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