When passing around a rotary traffic island, which direction should you drive?

When navigating a rotary traffic island, driving to the right of the island is essential for maintaining the flow of traffic and ensuring safety. Rotaries, also known as roundabouts, are designed to facilitate efficient vehicle movement by allowing cars to merge smoothly without stopping. In most regions, including Virginia, traffic in a rotary circulates in a counterclockwise direction. By choosing to drive on the right side, vehicles can safely yield to oncoming traffic within the rotary while also allowing others to merge in seamlessly.

This practice helps reduce the likelihood of collisions that could occur if drivers were to attempt passing to the left of the island or in both directions, which would create confusion and disarray. Driving in reverse is also not a feasible option since it impedes the flow of traffic and could lead to dangerous situations. Therefore, maintaining the expectation of right-side passage is crucial for safety and compliance with traffic regulations at rotary intersections.