There Are Still Many Mistakes; Here Are the Priority Rules at Roundabouts

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – A roundabout is one of the most common types of road junctions found in urban areas. The function of a roundabout is to regulate the flow of vehicles so that traffic circulates around a central island before exiting onto the road to the intended route. In Indonesia, a famous example is Bundaran HI in Jakarta.

Generally, roundabouts are designed to improve traffic flow while enhancing driving safety. Because of their circular shape, vehicles are forced to slow down, reducing the potential for collisions compared with conventional intersections.

‘Roundabouts actually have rules. However, their implementation in Indonesia is still difficult,’ Jusri told Kompas.com on Friday (6 March 2026).

He explained that the main principle of driving in a roundabout is to give priority to vehicles already inside the circle or those coming from the right.

‘In theory, priority should be given to vehicles already inside the circle. Then vehicles coming from the right also have priority,’ Jusri said.

‘The opposite often happens. Vehicles already inside the circle can still be cut off,’ Jusri said.

In his view, this condition indicates that road traffic ethics still need to be improved.

‘The basic rules at the roundabout are actually clear, but the practice in Indonesia is still chaotic,’ Jusri said.

‘This relates to empathy and driving ethics that have not been formed well. Because essentially all of this must be built from the mindset,’ Jusri said.

He added that good driving awareness should become part of daily habits, not merely following the rules because one is obliged to.