UPD Driver’s Guide For Oneida Square Roundabout

Utica, NY (WIBX) - With the completion of the Roundabout in the Arts District of Utica nearing, officials are reminding motorists to exercise caution as they familiarize themselves with the new traffic structure. Utica police released a list of safety tips to help drivers properly maneuver through the intersection.

Motorists should watch signs, remain alert, and use the follow as guidance:

• Approach the roundabout, look ahead to see any pedestrians or bicyclists that might be entering the intersection and yield to them;
• Yield to oncoming traffic at the yield line;
• When sufficient space and time to enter traffic occur, enter the roundabout;
• Use your right turn signal to let other drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians know that you are exiting the roundabout at the next exit;
• As you exit the roundabout, look ahead to see any pedestrians and bicyclists that might be entering the intersection and yield to them.

Pedestrians should also use caution at the roundabout intersection, and proceed as follows:

• Cross only at the designated crosswalks; NEVER cross to the center island.
• At the crosswalk location, wait for an acceptable gap in traffic before entering the crosswalk. As when crossing any other intersection, look for oncoming cars before entering the crosswalk.
• Do not assume that cars will stop to let you cross. Only enter the crosswalk when there are no cars coming or when you are certain that all of the oncoming traffic is yielding to you.
• Proceed to the splitter island. The splitter islands offer a safe refuge between the two different directions of traffic flow allowing you to concentrate on traffic coming from only one direction at a time.
• Again, wait for an acceptable gap in traffic before entering the crosswalk.
• Again, do not assume that cars will stop to let you cross. Only enter the crosswalk when there are no cars coming or when you are certain that all of the oncoming traffic is yielding to you.