Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers | May 28, 2025 | Car Accidents
If you have driven down Cleveland Street on your way out to Clearwater Beach, you know that there are several roundabouts along the way. Roundabouts are also present in other areas of town, and these types of intersections are popping up more frequently in other cities as well.
Roundabouts can help traffic flow smoothly and efficiently as long as everyone knows and follows the rules. Failure to understand the rights-of-way at these intersections can result in car accidents and traffic backups. Continue reading to learn more about Clearwater roundabouts and traffic laws.
What Is a Roundabout?
The modern roundabout first became popular in the United Kingdom in the 1960s. The design and concept quickly spread to other areas of Europe, and the first modern roundabouts were designed and deployed in the United States in the 1990s.
A roundabout is a special type of intersection shaped like a circle, unlike traditional angular intersections that use stop signs or traffic lights. Traditional intersections require traffic to flow in perpendicular directions, while traffic in a roundabout flows in a counterclockwise direction.
Who Has the Right-of-Way at a Roundabout?
Right-of-way rules at a roundabout are fairly straightforward. Motorists already in the roundabout have the right-of-way. Motorists who want to enter the roundabout must yield to vehicles already in the intersection. If you cannot safely enter the roundabout, you must stop and wait for a gap in the traffic before entering.
Once a vehicle is in the roundabout, the driver should slowly continue in a counterclockwise direction until they reach their exit. Vehicles should exit the roundabout at the appropriate spot to head in the direction they need to go, and they should always use their turn signal when leaving the roundabout.
Other Roundabout Driving Tips
There are some other roundabout rules you should know about.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation, you should:
- Reduce your speed to 10-15 mph as you approach the roundabout
- Stay aware of pedestrians and cyclists in the area
- Yield to pedestrians crossing the exit lane
- Never stop in the roundabout
- Never pass in the roundabout
Even though vehicles in the roundabout have the right-of-way, you should always proceed through the roundabout with caution. Keeping a close eye on your surroundings and practicing defensive driving techniques can help you avoid accidents, even when you have the right-of-way.
Benefits of Roundabouts
Roundabouts offer many benefits over traditional intersections. Those benefits include:
- Improved safety
- Fewer accidents, especially severe accidents
- Slower speeds
- Versatility (they can accommodate a variety of roadway designs)
Intersections are a common place for car accidents. Roundabouts help to slow down vehicles as they approach the intersection, thus decreasing the number of fatal and severe accidents that happen at those intersections.
Who Can Be Responsible for a Roundabout Accident?
Even though roundabouts may be safer than traditional intersections, accidents can still happen. Drivers who fail to yield the right-of-way are responsible for many accidents at these intersections.
Some common causes of roundabout accidents include:
- Failure to yield
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Failure to look before entering the roundabout
- Wet roads
- Driving under the influence
Victims of these accidents may be able to recover both economic damages and non-economic damages from the at-fault party.
Contact a Lawyer if You Have Been Injured in a Car Accident in a Roundabout
You may need the help of an experienced lawyer to establish liability after a roundabout accident. Your lawyer can help investigate your accident and advise you of your legal rights. Since your time to file a claim after an accident is limited, you should always get help as soon after your accident as possible.
Contact the Clearwater Car Accident Law Firm of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for Help Today
For more information, please contact the legal team of Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers for a free initial consultation with a car accident lawyer in Clearwater. We have convenient locations in Florida: St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor, Clearwater, New Port Richey, and Tampa.
We serve throughout Pinellas County, Hillsborough County, Pasco County, and its surrounding areas:
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Clearwater Office
1811 N. Belcher Road, Suite I-1
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Congress Ave Office
2360 Congress Avenue
Clearwater, FL 33763
(727) 591-5610
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Tampa Office
6601 Memorial Hwy Suite 202
Tampa, FL 33615
(813) 686-7588
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – New Port Richey Office
2515 Seven Springs Blvd.
New Port Richey, FL, 34655
(727) 815-8442
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – St. Petersburg Law Office
840 Beach Dr NE Suite 202
St. Petersburg, FL 33701
(727) 787-2500
Roman Austin Car Accident and Personal Injury Lawyers – Safety Harbor Law Office
202 9th Ave S Suite A-2
Safety Harbor, FL 34695
(727) 787-2500