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Roundabout driving instructions

a two-laned roundabout

Approaching:

  • Slow down and watch for pedestrians on the approach to the yield line at the entrance of the roundabout. Stay in your lane.

Entering:

  • Visual checks: Do visual checks of all vehicles already in the roundabout and those waiting to enter (including cyclists).
  • Look left: Traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. When preparing to enter the roundabout, pay special attention to the vehicles to your left. Adjust your speed or stop at the yield sign if necessary.
  • Adequate gap: Watch for a safe opportunity to enter the roundabout. Enter when there is an adequate gap in the circulating traffic flow. Don't enter directly beside another vehicle already in the roundabout, as that vehicle may be exiting at the next exit.
  • Travel counter-clockwise: Once in the roundabout, always keep to the right of the central island and travel in a counter-clockwise direction.
  • Keep moving: Once you are in the roundabout, do not stop except to avoid a collision; you have the right-of-way over entering traffic.
  • Signal: Always signal lane changes.

Exiting:

  • Signal: Be sure to signal your exit and watch for pedestrians.
  • Maintain your lane: Stay to the left if you entered from the left lane, or stay to the right if you entered from the right lane.
  • Maintain your position: Maintain your position relative to other vehicles.
  • Signal intent to exit: Once you have passed the exit before the one you want, use your right-turn signal.
  • Left lane exit: If exiting from the left lane, watch out for vehicles on the right that continue to circulate around the roundabout.
  • Dealing with particular situations at a roundabout:

Consider large vehicles

Allow extra room alongside large vehicles (trucks and buses). Large vehicles may have to swing wide on the approach or within the roundabout. Give them plenty of room.

Pull over for emergency vehicles

If you are in the roundabout when an emergency vehicle access, take the exit, and intends to continue outside the transport island before pulling over. If you have not entered the roundabout, however, because of the right if possible and wait for the emergency vehicle passed.

Driving a large vehicle in a roundabout

A driver negotiating the roundabout in large vehicles (such as a truck or bus) may have used the full width of the roads, including aprons (a mountable center of the neighboring island of the driveway), if it has been determined. Before entering the roundabout, vehicles may need to take both paths. Give a lot of large vehicles space for maneuver.
 
 

What is an HOV Lane?

Illustration of HOV lane sign
The sign above is used to identify HOV lanes on provincial highways.

HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) lanes are designed to help move more people through congested areas. HOV lanes offer users a faster, more reliable commute, while also easing congestion in regular lanes - by moving more people in fewer vehicles.

HOV lanes on Highway 403 and 404 are the inside (leftmost) lane and are identified by signs and diamond symbols on the pavement. The HOV lane is separated from the other general traffic lanes by a striped buffer zone. Vehicles carrying at least two people may enter and exit the HOV lane only at designated points, clearly identifiable by wide and closely spaced white broken lines and diamond symbol pavement markings.

HOV Lane Rules

HOV lane rules are enforced like any other rule of the road.

The HOV lane is separated from the other general traffic lanes by a striped buffer zone. It is illegal and unsafe to cross the striped buffer pavement markings. HOV lanes are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Who can use HOV lanes?

HOV lanes on provincial highways are reserved for any of the following passenger vehicles carrying at least two people (often referred to as 2+):

  • Car
  • Commercial truck less than 6.5 metres long
  • Minivan
  • Motorcycle
  • Taxi or limousine
  • Bus

A bus of any type can use an HOV lane, even without passengers. This helps buses keep to their schedules and provide reliable, efficient service.

Emergency vehicles are permitted to use the HOV lanes at all times.

Which vehicles are NOT allowed to use HOV lanes?

  • A vehicle with only the driver
  • Motorcycles with only the driver
  • Commercial trucks greater than 6.5 metres in length or with a gross weight of more than 4,500 kg
  • Taxis or limousines without a fare

Who counts as a passenger?

For the purposes of HOV lane travel, adults and children occupying a seat are considered passengers. There are no restrictions on the age of a passenger in the HOV lane.


 

Advantages of High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes

Although our highway congested with cars, trucks and cars, they still can carry several thousand people - only to increase the number of passengers in both vehicles. Part of people drive with three or four empty seats, even during the most congested day. One solution is to encourage more commuters to join carpools and take transit than drive alone.

High possession of the vehicle paths are made specifically for the use of carpools and buses. On the slopes is intended to provide fast, reliable travel for HOV users at any time of the day - especially vrsnog travel during the period when other paths can be slow and congested.
 

Students Required Proof of Course Completion

  • Students wanting proof of course completion for possible insurance discounts and have been processed through on-line certification transactions need to obtain their Driver Licence History. This is done by request through the ministry.

  • The Driver Licence History (DLH) search can only be requested by the driver's licence holder, as it contains personal address information. The application must be signed by the applicant.

Should you have any further questions regarding the BDE Program, please contact the Ministry of Transportation BDE Contact Line at  (416) 235-5540   or via email at Driver.Education@ontario.ca.

As a BDE student, you have entered a consumer/contractual relationship with your BDE course provider/driving school. Should you have a complaint about a school not fulfilling its contractual obligations, please contact the Consumer Protection Branch, Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) at   416-326-8800.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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