Roundabout rules UK
Traffic on a roundabout has priority. You must give way to vehicles coming from your right before entering - that is the core rule, and it applies to every roundabout in the UK, from a painted mini-circle to a multi-lane gyratory. Everything else builds from that single principle.
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Who has priority at a roundabout?
Vehicles already circulating on the roundabout have priority over vehicles waiting to enter. The Highway Code (Rule 185) is clear: give way to traffic approaching from your right. When you reach the give-way line, wait for a safe gap before moving onto the roundabout.
Traffic lights at some roundabouts override this rule - when lights are present, follow them regardless of what traffic is doing to your right. Where there are no lights, the give-way-to-the-right principle always applies.
Arriving with your speed already reduced gives you time to assess the gap. Approaching too fast means you may either have to brake sharply at the line or misjudge a safe entry.
How to approach a roundabout
Use mirrors, signal, and position early - well before the give-way line. If you are turning right, signal right on approach and move into the right-hand lane where two lanes exist. For straight ahead or left turns, use the left lane unless road markings direct otherwise.
As you approach, look right and begin reading the flow of traffic. The ideal approach finds a usable gap while you are still moving, so you can join without stopping. If no gap exists, stop at the give-way line and wait.
Once a safe gap appears, join smoothly and signal left as you reach the exit before the one you need. This signals to waiting drivers that you are leaving.
Which lane should you use?
When roundabout markings show lane arrows, follow them - they are specific to that junction and override the general guidance. When no arrows are painted, use this as the default:
- Turning left or going straight ahead: approach in the left lane
- Turning right or making a U-turn: approach in the right lane
Lane discipline throughout the roundabout matters. Stay in your chosen lane, check mirrors before moving across to reach your exit, and signal left before you leave.
How spiral roundabout markings work
Spiral lane markings divide the roundabout into dedicated paths for each exit, using arrows painted on the approach roads and across the roundabout surface. Each path spirals outward to its exit without crossing another vehicle's path.
On a spiral roundabout, choose your lane before you join based on the painted arrows. Once on the roundabout, your lane guides you to the correct exit without needing to merge across other lanes.
The most common mistake on spiral roundabouts is entering the wrong lane and then trying to cut across to reach the correct exit. If you miss your lane on approach, it is safer to go around again than to cut across painted boundaries mid-roundabout.
Mini roundabout rules
Mini roundabouts - the small white circles or raised plastic domes at junctions - follow the same priority rule: give way to traffic on your right. The physical difference is that you must drive around the centre marking, not across it or through it.
Rules specific to mini roundabouts:
- All vehicles must go around the central island, including motorcycles and cyclists
- Large vehicles may have to drive over a raised dome due to their size - give them room
- At double or triple mini roundabouts, treat each circle separately and give way at each one in turn
- Unmarked junctions can look like roundabouts but are not - look for the painted circle or dome before applying roundabout rules
How to exit a roundabout
Signal left as you pass the exit before the one you intend to use. This gives waiting drivers enough notice that you are about to leave, allowing them to start entering more safely.
If you are in the right-hand lane and your exit requires you to move into the left lane, check your left mirror for vehicles alongside before moving. Do not assume the lane is clear because no one was there when you last looked.
Two common mistakes: signalling too early (which misleads drivers waiting to enter) and not signalling at all on exit (which leaves everyone guessing). A clear, timely exit signal is part of the driving test assessment.
Roundabouts on the driving test
Examiners assess roundabout technique on the practical driving test. They look for correct lane positioning on approach, appropriate speed reduction, giving way correctly at the give-way line, and a clear exit signal.
A hesitant but safe entry is preferred over a confident but rushed one. Examiners understand that roundabouts can be busy and that waiting for a safe gap may take several seconds. They are looking for poor judgement, not caution.
The most common test faults at roundabouts are failing to give way, choosing the wrong lane, and forgetting the exit signal.
Practising roundabouts as a learner
Roundabouts test several skills at once: speed control, steering, and checking right simultaneously. The most effective approach is to start on quieter roundabouts at off-peak times and build to busier multi-lane ones as confidence grows.
If you are practising in a family member's or friend's car rather than a driving school vehicle, learner driver insurance covers you on that car under your own name, keeping the accompanying driver's policy and no claims record separate.
For anyone borrowing a car to practise between lessons, temporary car insurance provides comprehensive cover on a vehicle you do not own, for exactly the time you need.
Frequently asked questions
Who has right of way at a roundabout in the UK?
Vehicles already on the roundabout have right of way. You give way to traffic approaching from your right before entering. This applies at every UK roundabout regardless of size. If traffic lights are present, they override the normal priority order.
Can you stay in the left lane to go straight ahead at a roundabout?
Yes. Going straight ahead is treated the same as turning left for lane choice: approach in the left lane. Always follow any painted lane arrows on the approach road - they take precedence over the general guidance and are specific to that roundabout.
Do you have to go around a mini roundabout?
Yes. You must drive around the central white circle or raised dome, not across it. Large vehicles sometimes mount the island due to their physical size. At double or triple mini roundabouts, treat each circle separately and give way at each one in sequence.
When should you signal when leaving a roundabout?
Signal left as you pass the exit before the one you intend to use. This gives enough notice to drivers waiting to enter. Do not signal too early or you will mislead other road users into thinking you are leaving at the previous exit.
Can a learner driver use a roundabout?
Yes. Learner drivers can use roundabouts as long as they are accompanied by a qualified driver aged 21 or over with at least three years' driving experience. Motorways are the only roads learners cannot use unless accompanied by an approved driving instructor in a dual-control car.
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