Lekki Phase I Roundabout, also known as “First Roundabout”, was successfully reopened for vehicular use on 31st March 2010. After early observation of road users’ adaptation to the new infrastructure, LCC wishes to provide road users with key information that should help improve their driving experience when using the totally rebuilt and reconfigured First Roundabout. First Roundabout now contains a number of new features, including dedicated lanes for left-turning traffic coming from Victoria Island, and wishing to enter Lekki Phase I Estate.

Please be advised that the temporary intersection of the Maroko Foreshore Road (bypass) onto Lekki-Epe Expressway will soon be closed. As previously announced, this intersection was temporarily provided for VIbound traffic coming out of Lekki Phase I Estate, while First Roundabout was undergoing reconstruction.

Roundabouts of this design are acknowledged by Traffic Engineering experts worldwide to be safer, freer flowing, and more environmentally friendly (lower emissions) than crossroads or 4-way stop intersections. Road users, however, must learn the Rules of the Road, e.g., the “look left yield left rule”, and how to properly drive through roundabouts, in order to ensure a safer and better driving experience for themselves and other road users.

“Look left yield left rule”: when using a roundabout drivers should always “yield to the left”, i.e., to vehicles already in the roundabout and coming from your left. Vehicles in the roundabout have the right of way (priority of traffic flow).

It is also essential that drivers know the difference between the inside (or inner) lanes and the outside (or outer lanes), as this is critical to lane selection as well as to safe and efficient traffic flow through the roundabout:

• Inside (or inner) lanes: on the left side of the road/roundabout, and closest to the central reservation
• Outside (or outer) lanes: on the right side of the road/roundabout, and closest to the right side kerbs

The following are the “dos and don’ts” of how to use the new First Roundabout:

General Rules of Roundabout Driving

• Always observe the “look left yield left rule”
• Reduce your speed when entering a roundabout and choose the correct lane for the direction you wish to travel in
• Do not try to overtake (especially heavy vehicles) in the roundabout - someone in the inside lane may be exiting and will be crossing in front of you, if you are in the outside lane.
• Never stop in a roundabout to allow someone to enter, to set down or pick up passengers, to reverse, or for any other reason – this is dangerous and seriously interrupts traffic flow

Making Right Turns (e.g., Into Lekki Phase I Estate from Ajah Direction)

• This is the least complex and most straight forward turn in a roundabout
• Reduce your speed and approach the roundabout in the outer lane (right hand lane), indicating the direction in which you intend to go by using your right turn signal
• Observe the “look left yield left rule”, and allow traffic coming from the left to pass before you enter the roundabout
• Find a suitable gap in the traffic already flowing through the roundabout, and then safely enter
• Stay in the outer lane until you reach your desired exit, and then safely leave the roundabout at that point

Making Left Turns (e.g., Into Lekki Phase I Estate from VI Direction)

• The most challenging and sometimes most confusing turn in a roundabout
• Approach the roundabout using the inner lanes, i.e., on the left-hand side of the road entering the roundabout
• For traffic travelling eastbound towards Ajah, note the forced separation of the 2 inner lanes, which are dedicated for left turns into Lekki Phase I Estate – avoid these lanes if you wish to go straight to Ajah
• Observe the “look left yield left rule”, and use your left turn signal upon entering the roundabout so that other drivers will be aware of your intended direction
• Follow the inside lane around and after you have passed the last exit before the one you want to take, use your right turn signal and then exit the roundabout safely

Going Straight (e.g., From VI to Ajah Direction)

• Approach the roundabout from the outer lanes, i.e., on the right-hand side of the road entering the roundabout
• For traffic travelling eastbound towards Ajah, note the forced separation of the 2 inner lanes, which are dedicated for left-turns into Lekki Phase I Estate – it will be better and faster not to use these inner lanes
• Reduce your speed before you enter the roundabout, and observe the “look left yield left rule”. There is no need to use any turn signals. Proceed straight through the roundabout
• Caution! If you happen to be on the inside lanes as you emerge from the roundabout, be aware of any leading vehicles that are on the outside lane

Making U-turns

• Similar to left turns. Approach the roundabout using the inner lanes; observe the “look left yield left rule”
• Use your left turn signal upon entering the roundabout; follow the inside lane around until you reach the exit that you want to take; use your right signal and then exit the roundabout safely

Visit our website at www.lcc.com.ng or send an email to info@lcc.com.ng or call Toll-Free on CALL LCC (0800 22 555 22) to obtain further information or to let us have your feedback