Brianne Herridge crosses a crosswalk and rounds a roundabout in Lake Country on her way to work or when she is going for a walk in the neighbourhood.

She said on numerous occasions, cars zoom past her when she鈥檚 waiting at the crosswalk and near collisions happen routinely at the roundabout.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a little frustrating,鈥� Herridge said, a Turtle Bay Pub and Starbucks employee.

The roundabouts this Lake Country resident uses are the ones located in The Lakes development, mainly at Oceola and Lake Hill.

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In his three years with the district detachment, RCMP Cpl. Doug Haftner said he has never personally attended a crash scene at a roundabout.

Haftner concluded that the correct way to use a roundabout is to yield to the car that is already in the roundabout.

If a motorist is carrying on past the first stop, they should activate their left-turn signal to note that they are not exiting, then flip to their right-turn signal when exiting.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not Motor Vehicle Act regulations that the use of the signal is regulated,鈥� Haftner said. 鈥淏ut it鈥檚 the most safe way to use the roundabout system.鈥�

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However, Lake Country resident Dean Fleming said, 鈥淪top and think people. You are never ever to trust a signaling driver. If you pull out in front of someone with their signal on and they hit you, it is your fault.

鈥淒on鈥檛 use your signal in a roundabout at all, ever. It鈥檚 unsafe.鈥�

Matthew Salmon, director of engineering and environmental services for Lake Country, said even the district has a bit of confusion over what the correct way to use a roundabout is.

The United Kingdom-born engineer is used to using his left signal for the third (or left) exit only, but here he noticed that it鈥檚 done differently.

鈥淭he fundamental principles don鈥檛 change,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou always have to drive with due care and good intentions.鈥�

One of those fundamental principles that he expressed garners plenty of complaints: look left before entering the roundabout and yield to cars that are already in the roundabout.

鈥淔rom my experience, people don鈥檛 do the look left thing,鈥� Salmon said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a conflict in information鈥�

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Roundabouts were developed throughout Lake Country because it curbs speeding by physically making a driver slowdown while turning and therefore, creates a safer driving environment.

The District of Lake Country website has posted a roundabout navigation video, to defuze confusion about proper signalling and usage.

You can find the by visiting the 鈥渞oads and sidewalks鈥� category, located under 鈥渓iving in our community鈥� tab.

ICBC stated that roundabouts improve traffic flow, reduce serious crashes, injuries and can even reduce greenhouse gas emissions; mainly when they are used properly.

鈥淲hen you鈥檙e leaving the roundabout, signal a right turn just before you exit,鈥� ICBC wrote on their website.

鈥淭hat lets drivers waiting to enter the roundabout and pedestrians waiting to cross know your intentions.鈥�

Drivers are to yield to pedestrians before crossing the exit lane but otherwise, are not to stop while inside the roundabout, according to ICBC.

Cyclists can ride either with traffic or in the bike lane.

For riders who are riding on the road, they are to merge with traffic before you enter the roundabout.

For those who are using the bike lane, enter the roundabout via the ramp that extends from the shoulder of the road.

鈥淚 hope we can all be safe and get through all this construction in one piece,鈥� Herridge said.

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