by The state of Utah may repeal a little-known rule that requires drivers to use turn signals at roundabouts. Even legislators were confused by this requirement. Proponents of the change argue that the rule is unclear and poorly aligned with the actual use of such intersections.
A Common Violation People Don’t Know About
If you’ve driven through a roundabout in Utah without using your turn signals, you’ve broken the law. Judging by local reports, many residents do this daily, not even suspecting they are in the wrong. Now, a lawmaker wants to fix this problem by repealing the law that requires signaling at roundabouts. She points out that this practice makes little practical sense.
Reconsidering Roundabout Rules
Currently, when drivers navigate a roundabout in Utah, they must signal upon entering and exiting, regardless of the choice they make. Representative Ariel Defay (Republican from Kaysville) introduced House Bill 128, a proposal that would eliminate this requirement. Judging by the reaction so far, she is not alone in thinking this rule makes little sense.
Defay tells KSL News that she only learned about the law’s existence after her friend was pulled over for failing to signal while navigating a roundabout. This moment prompted a deeper look into Utah’s traffic code.
She came to me and said, ‘Is this really a law? I don’t even know if that’s true.’ And I looked into it. It was true.
Technical Details and the Enforcement Problem
She discovered Utah Code Section 41-6a-804, which broadly requires drivers to signal before turning, changing lanes, or any other movement to the left or right on the roadway. Technically, this includes roundabouts.
The problem, in Defay’s view, is that roundabouts don’t behave like traditional intersections. Upon entry, there is only one direction of travel, making a signal functionally pointless. The situation with exiting isn’t much better, as drivers are already focused on yielding, watching traffic, and tracking which of several exits they are approaching.
Do Drivers Have Time to Signal?
There are many exits as you’re going around the circle. By the time you signal, you might have passed one exit to the next. It’s very confusing which exit you’re actually going to take.
Importantly, if her bill passes, it won’t rewrite the rules entirely. Drivers inside multi-lane roundabouts will still be required to signal while in them.
Reaction and the Bill’s Future
The bill had its first hearing in the House Transportation Committee on Friday, and Defay expects strong support from everyday drivers.
I don’t know how law enforcement will take it, but I think from the public it will be a very enthusiastic ‘Yes’ for this legislation.
How law enforcement will react remains to be seen. The rule’s unpopularity suggests it hasn’t been a cornerstone of traffic control.
Google Maps Photo
The issue of regulating traffic at modern intersection types, such as roundabouts, often outpaces legislation created for traditional junctions. The situation in Utah highlights the importance of continuously reviewing traffic rules to ensure they match real-world practice and promote safety, rather than creating unnecessary traps for drivers. The success of this initiative could set a precedent for other regions facing similar discrepancies between formal requirements and the logic of traffic flow.
