Quick now, when approaching a traffic circle, who has right of way?
a) Me, because I got there first.
b) Trucks, because they are big.
c) The vehicle entering the circle from the right.
d) The vehicle entering the circle from the left.
e) Whoever is on the main artery and is going straight through the circle.
f) Yield in every direction possible.
Confused? If so, you are not alone.
For some reason, when the City of Whitehorse adopted traffic circles, it neglected to provide the necessary direction that we see in traffic circles in England, where the modern circle was standardized. The last time I was there, the signs said “Yield to the right.” This simple phrase immediately turns your head in the correct direction. Here, of course, such a sign would read “Yield to the left.”
I will be asking the city to consider putting such signs in place. In the meantime, please slow down, yield to the left and watch for pedestrians. Let’s all get to our destinations in one piece.
Rachel Grantham
Whitehorse