Utah drivers may soon be able to navigate roundabouts without signaling, thanks to a new bill gaining traction in the state legislature. Representative Ariel Defay (R-Kaysville) is sponsoring House Bill 128, which seeks to remove the little-known requirement that drivers signal both when entering and exiting roundabouts. The law, buried in Utah Code Section 41-6a-804, has apparently caught many drivers off guard – including law enforcement.
The Unexpected Law
The current rule technically mandates signaling for any lane change or directional movement on roadways, which officials interpret to include roundabouts. This means that even if a driver is clearly circulating within a roundabout, they should signal before entering and again before exiting, regardless of their intended path.
Defay discovered the law after a friend was pulled over for non-compliance. “She came to me and said, ‘Is this really a law? I don’t even know if it’s true,’” she told KSL News. “It was true.” The lawmaker argues that the rule is counterintuitive, as roundabouts aren’t structured like traditional intersections where signals clearly indicate intent.
Why Signaling in Roundabouts Doesn’t Make Sense
The core issue is that roundabouts operate as continuous flow systems. Drivers enter in one direction and circulate until their exit. Signaling before entering offers little practical benefit, and signaling before exiting can be confusing given multiple exit options. As Defay explains, “There are many exits while you’re going in a circle… by the time you have signaled, you may be beyond one exit to another exit.”
The bill wouldn’t eliminate all signaling requirements inside roundabouts. Drivers in two-lane circles would still need to signal while changing lanes. However, the primary focus is on removing the confusing expectation to signal upon entry and exit.
Public and Law Enforcement Response
Early reactions suggest strong public support for the change. Defay expects “a very enthusiastic ‘Yes’” from the general population. The bill had its first hearing before the House Transportation Committee on Friday, and lawmakers appear open to streamlining the rule.
The potential response from law enforcement is less clear. The rule’s obscurity suggests it hasn’t been a high-priority enforcement point, but changes could shift focus. For now, Utah drivers may soon have one less traffic regulation to worry about when navigating circular intersections.
This change highlights a growing trend of reevaluating traffic laws for practicality and clarity. Obscure rules that serve little purpose are increasingly being questioned by lawmakers, and streamlining these regulations could reduce confusion for drivers while ensuring road safety.
