Adelaide’s most complex roundabouts
Does the thought of driving through a complicated, multi-lane roundabout send shivers up your spine? Maybe you go out of your way to avoid them. You won’t need to with these tips on how to tackle some of the state’s most complex roundabouts.
Why roundabouts?
Did you know breaking the rules at a roundabout can lead to a hefty fine? In fact, going rogue on a roundabout can cost up to $476 (plus a $94 Victims of Crime Levy) and three demerit points. Before we get to the specific locations, here are a few guidelines for negotiating roundabouts.
- When entering a roundabout, slow down and prepare to give way to vehicles on or already entering the roundabout.
- When negotiating a double-laned roundabout, watch out for other vehicles in adjacent lanes and those entering or exiting the roundabout.
- When exiting the roundabout, indicate left.
- When negotiating a roundabout, watch for pedestrians and cyclists, as the intersection can be difficult for these road users to navigate.
Now, let’s look at five complex South Australian roundabouts in more detail.
1. Britannia roundabout
Casualty crashes 2017-2021: 36 (32 at the larger roundabout and four at the smaller)
Ah, Britannia. The mere word can turn the most experienced driver into a quivering bowl of jelly. Between 2017 and 2021 most incidents were right-angle crashes caused by vehicles heading onto the larger roundabout from the smaller roundabout. Britannia doesn’t need to be frightening, though. There are two roundabouts, so go slow and negotiate one at a time.
Navigating the roundabout
If you’re travelling towards the small roundabout after tackling the big one, look for drivers who are exiting at Wakefield Road from Dequetteville Terrace [1]. Although turning right here is less common because most drivers prefer to use Bartels Road, it poses a risk, and drivers must pay attention.
When heading away from the city, after navigating the small roundabout, be aware of vehicles on the big roundabout approaching from your right that are exiting at Fullarton Road (north) or turning right across lanes towards Kensington Road [2]. There’s a high number of right-angle and rear-end collisions involving vehicles approaching from this direction.
Watch for vehicles changing from the right to left lane wanting to exit at Wakefield Road (on approach to the smaller roundabout) and when leaving the larger roundabout at Kensington Road after approaching from the south [3].
2. Blackwood roundabout
Casualty crashes 2017-2021: 9
The Blackwood roundabout regularly features on RAA’s Riskiest Roads survey. The most common incidents at this intersection were right-angle crashes caused by vehicles entering the roundabout from Shepherds Hill Road.
Navigating the roundabout
Slow down as you approach the roundabout, especially when travelling on Coromandel Parade, where it’s easy to enter the intersection too fast [1]. Sideswipe collisions are common between traffic travelling south from Main Road towards Coromandel Parade in the outside lane, and cars travelling east from Shepherds Hill Road to Main Road in the inside lane [2]. At roundabouts like Blackwood, it’s important to indicate left when exiting to alert other road users of your intentions.
3. Glynburn Road and Greenhill Road roundabout
Casualty crashes: 2017-2021: 6
Often called the ‘Feathers’ roundabout, this combines double and single-laned entry and exit roads. This can make negotiating the roundabout a bit tricky. Another notable and uncommon feature of this intersection is that vehicles can turn right towards the city from the left lane of Glynburn Road. Between 2017 and 2021, one in five collisions on this roundabout involved heavy vehicles. The most common incidents were right-angle crashes caused by southbound vehicles entering the roundabout from Glynburn Road, and sideswipe crashes caused by eastbound vehicles coming from Greenhill Road.
Navigating the roundabout
Watch for vehicles changing lanes, as collisions are common between eastbound traffic in the right lane of Greenhill Road that is turning right onto Glynburn Road, and southbound traffic travelling straight [1]. The southern side of Glynburn Road is only one lane, so drivers turning right from Greenhill Road are required to change lanes to exit the roundabout.
Watch for buses and trucks when negotiating this roundabout and give them plenty of space to turn in front of you or change lanes [2]. The roundabout can be quite tight for heavy vehicles.
4. Heaslip Road, Womma Road and Northern Expressway roundabout
Casualty crashes 2017-2021: 5
The Northern Expressway sees high volumes of trucks and other large vehicles, which means you’re likely to encounter them at this intersection. Always give heavy vehicles room to turn and change lanes [1].
The most common incidents at this roundabout between 2017 and 2021 were sideswipe crashes caused by vehicles travelling south-west from the Northern Expressway.
Navigating the roundabout
Any vehicle changing lanes at a roundabout is a potential hazard, but it’s a necessity at some roundabouts. The Northern Expressway on-ramp from the roundabout has only one lane, whilst all approach roads have two lanes. This means you’ll need to change lanes in the roundabout if you’re turning right onto the Northern Expressway after travelling south on Heaslip Road [2].