The five most important rules in the traffic circle
Despite their prevalence, traffic circles still cause confusion today. Autosprint lists five rules that even experienced drivers don't always know.
1. give way to the left not only at the traffic circle
You may only enter the traffic circle if no other car has to slow down as a result. This also applies if the other car is approaching the traffic circle from the left. Unfortunately, the law is ambiguous here; it refers to right of way «in the circle from the left». The crux of the matter is that this refers to the entire traffic area - and that includes the access roads. By way of comparison: even at the right-before-left junction, the car from the right already has right of way before it reaches the junction. Therefore, the same applies there as at the traffic circle: you may only drive if others are not obstructed.
2. speeding through is explicitly prohibited
So is point 1 a license to drive traffic circles at high speed? Not at all: on traffic circles, the requirement for mutual consideration applies even more than usual, otherwise the traffic circle will not work. That is why it is mandatory to reduce your speed significantly before the traffic circle.
3. flashing right is mandatory, flashing left is optional
If you only put on your right blinker when turning into the exit, you are actually too late. Ideally, the right blinker should be set from the height of the previous exit - because only then will it help others. Unlike turning right to exit the traffic circle, it is not compulsory, but very sensible and permitted to set the right blinker before the traffic circle if you leave it at the first exit. Often unknown: Turning left in a traffic circle is unusual, but permitted. It can make sense, for example, if you are turning or taking a later exit than most at busy traffic circles. But: Then turn right again to exit.
4th fun lap and inner ring taboo
If it is necessary for traffic reasons, you may do an extra lap - for example, if you have missed the exit or want to make room for an emergency vehicle. However, extra laps as a joke are not permitted. Stopping at traffic circles for no reason is also not permitted. And if there is a traffic jam, please wait at the entrance so as not to bring the flow of traffic to a standstill: The inner «ring» (usually a line plus cobblestones) of the central island of the traffic circle may only be used by vehicles which, due to their size, would otherwise not be able to get around the traffic circle.
5. bicycles may remain in the center
Overtaking bicycles on traffic circles is permitted, but tricky. This is why bicycles can legally choose to ride in the middle of the lane instead of on the edge to prevent overtaking.
