Kansas Roundabout Rules: Who Yields and How to Signal
How do you drive a roundabout in Kansas?
Slow down as you approach the roundabout, to about 15 to 20 mph at the entry. Yield to any traffic in the circle, and to pedestrians and bicyclists. Enter to the right, then steer left, because traffic goes counterclockwise around the center island. Stay in your lane, do not pass, and signal right to leave at your exit. The Kansas Driving Handbook gives these rules.
Where the Kansas roundabout rules come from
The Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (people say "Kansas DMV") publishes the Kansas Driving Handbook (Revised February 2022). Its section on roundabouts and traffic circles is the source of every rule in this guide, and the handbook uses "roundabout" and "traffic circle" for the same thing. Its general right-of-way rules for pedestrians and emergency vehicles are the source of those parts. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kansas Department of Revenue, Division of Vehicles (ksrevenue.gov) before you drive.
What a Kansas roundabout is and how traffic moves
A roundabout is a round intersection that lets traffic pass through safely, without necessarily stopping the flow of traffic. It is also called a traffic circle, and some areas of Kansas have them.
Cars move counterclockwise around a raised center island. The main rule is that entering traffic yields to circulating traffic. The cars already in the circle go first, and you wait for a gap before you go in.
How to drive through a roundabout, step by step
- 1Slow down on approach
A warning sign tells you that a roundabout or traffic circle is ahead. Slow down as you approach, and slow to about 15 to 20 mph at the entry, because you must negotiate a sharp curve.
- 2Pick your lane before you enter
If more than one lane goes in the same direction, know where you want to go and be in the proper lane before you enter.
- 3Yield to traffic in the circle
Yield to any traffic in the circle. Also yield to pedestrians and bicyclists in the traffic circle or roundabout. The Kansas practice question on entering a roundabout covers this rule.
- 4Enter to the right and steer left
Enter the circle to the right, but steer to the left, in a counterclockwise direction.
- 5Follow the signs and markings to your exit
Once in the roundabout, go to the exit you want and follow the traffic signs and pavement markings. Do not change lanes or pass any vehicle in the roundabout.
- 6Signal right for your exit
Be courteous and signal your intentions as you approach and drive through. Each roundabout signal is a right signal. The table below shows when to give it for a right turn, for straight through and for a left turn.
Who yields: cars that arrive together, pedestrians and bicyclists
If another vehicle arrives at the traffic circle at the same time as you, yield to it if it is on your right. This matches the handbook rule for an uncontrolled intersection, where you yield to vehicles in the intersection and to those coming from the right. The guide to Kansas four-way stop rules covers stops with signs.
Pedestrians and bicyclists in the circle also have the right-of-way. You must yield to pedestrians always, even if they cross where they should not.
How to signal in a Kansas roundabout
| Where you are going | When to signal | Which signal |
|---|---|---|
| Turning right | While you approach, and until you have exited the circle | Right |
| Going straight through | No signal while you approach. Signal before the exit you want to take. | Right |
| Turning left | Once you have traveled three quarters of the way around the circle, to take the exit | Right |
Large vehicles and emergency vehicles
- Trucks and buses. Do not drive alongside large vehicles, such as trucks and buses, in a traffic circle or roundabout. A handbook sign warns you to keep away from them.
- Emergency vehicles. Police cars, fire engines and ambulances have the right-of-way when they show a red light in front or sound a siren or bell. Immediately drive to the right and stop until they have passed, without blocking any intersection. Never follow them. This is the general right-of-way rule of the handbook.
Study the roundabout rules for the Kansas written test
The Kansas Driving Handbook says to read and study it to help you pass the written exam for a driver's license. The roundabout rules in this guide come from that handbook, so review the six steps and the signal table before your test. The Kansas written test guide explains how the test works and how to take it.
Key takeaways
- Traffic in a Kansas roundabout goes counterclockwise around a raised center island. Entering traffic yields to circulating traffic.
- Slow to about 15 to 20 mph at the entry and yield to any traffic in the circle, plus pedestrians and bicyclists.
- If a vehicle arrives at the same time as you and it is on your right, yield to it.
- Pick your lane before you enter. Do not change lanes, pass, or drive alongside trucks and buses in the circle. Signal right to leave at your exit.
- Next step: practice on the free Kansas Class C written practice test. Its questions are in English only.
Kansas roundabout questions
Do you have to signal in a roundabout in Kansas?
The Kansas Driving Handbook asks you to signal your intentions as you approach and drive through. Every roundabout signal is a right signal. To turn right, signal right from the approach until you exit. To go straight, give no signal on the approach and signal right before your exit. To turn left, signal right after you travel three quarters of the way around.
Who has the right-of-way in a Kansas roundabout?
Traffic already in the circle has the right-of-way, so you yield before you enter and wait for a gap. Pedestrians and bicyclists in the roundabout also go first. If another vehicle reaches the circle at the same time as you and it is on your right, let it go first.
Which way do you go around a roundabout?
Counterclockwise. Enter the circle to the right, then steer to the left so you travel around the raised center island with the other traffic. Stay in your lane and follow the signs and pavement markings to your exit. To turn left, you go three quarters of the way around before you exit.
How fast should you drive in a roundabout?
The Kansas Driving Handbook says to slow to about 15 to 20 mph, because the entry is a sharp curve. Start to slow down when you see the roundabout warning sign, so that you reach that speed before you yield and enter the circle.
Can you pass or change lanes inside a roundabout?
No. Do not change lanes or pass any vehicle in the roundabout. If more than one lane goes in your direction, decide on your exit and move into the proper lane before you enter. Also stay out of the space beside trucks and buses in the circle.
Is a traffic circle the same as a roundabout in Kansas?
Yes. The Kansas Driving Handbook uses both names for a circular intersection where traffic moves counterclockwise around a raised center island and entering traffic yields to circulating traffic. The same rules apply to both: slow down, yield, enter to the right, stay in your lane and signal right to exit.
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