Rules of the road: Experts give tips on navigating Beaufort County's traffic circles

While drivers have had about four years to get used to the traffic circle at the intersection of Bluffton Road and Bluffton Park, there are still plenty of fender benders there.

A recent analysis by the South Carolina Department of Transportation found that there are have been about 21 crashes a year at the circle since 2013. Prior to that, drivers were crashing there at a rate of about 40 a year, according to DOT safety program engineer Joey Riddle.

The circle was built in late 2010. [Click or tap here for a live camera of the Bluffton Parkway traffic circle]

While there are typically more accidents at traffic circles than at traditional intersections with signals, experts say the trade off is fewer injuries and fatalities.

"Across the board, the success of roundabouts has been reducing severe crashes -- the types of crashes that hurt people and kill people," Federal Highway Administration program manager Jeff Shaw said Tuesday.

Since 2010 there have 16 injuries at the Bluffton circle but no fatal accidents, according to South Carolina Department of Public Safety statistics.

But while accidents in traffic circles may be less severe than the head-on collisions at traditional intersections, Shaw said "there can be a learning curve" for drivers.

Here are some tips to make that curve less difficult:

1. Slow down

"Roundabouts are designed to slow traffic, so one of the most important things a driver can do is take it slow," said Shaw.

2. Wait your turn

"There's always the conflict between people going through (a traffic circle) crossing paths with people entering," Riddle said. "Entering at the right time can really reduce accidents."

Keep in mind that cars already inside the traffic circle have the right of way, so drivers waiting to enter must yield.

3. Pick a lane and stick with it

"We don't want people changing lanes in the roundabouts," Shaw said. "Once somebody enters the roundabout, you should not have to change lanes to get where you want to go."

The rule of thumb for multi-lane traffic circles: Enter in the right lane if you want to turn right or continue straight. The left lane should be used to continue straight or turn left.

Bluffton Traffic Circle collision data

Related Content:

• Angry drivers seek change to Bluffton Parkway traffic circle , Oct. 31, 2015

This story was originally published August 25, 2015 at 4:07 PM with the headline "Rules of the road: Experts give tips on navigating Beaufort County's traffic circles."