What is the safest way to navigate a roundabout?

Yielding to traffic already in the roundabout is the safest and recommended way to navigate these circular intersections. This approach ensures that you allow vehicles already in the roundabout the right of way, which helps maintain a smooth flow of traffic and minimizes the risk of collisions. Roundabouts are designed to promote safety by reducing the potential for high-speed T-bone crashes that can occur at traditional intersections. By yielding, you also give yourself the opportunity to assess any pedestrians and cyclists who may be crossing at the entrances and exits of the roundabout, further enhancing safety for everyone involved.

The practice of yielding is particularly important in maintaining the expected flow of traffic, as it allows you to merge smoothly into the roundabout when there's a safe gap. This method is key to reducing confusion and ensuring that all drivers understand their responsibilities when approaching and navigating the roundabout.

Other approaches, such as entering without yielding, could lead to accidents as you might cut off vehicles already traveling in the roundabout. Solely following signs without understanding the right-of-way rules may not account for other vehicles' movements, and always turning right does not relate directly to the safe navigation of roundabouts, which may require you to make various turns based on your intended direction of exit.