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Giving way at roundabouts

A roundabout is a central island in the middle of an intersection, where all vehicles must travel to the left of the island. Roundabouts can be small, large, single-laned or multi-laned. The number of roads that come into a roundabout can range from 3 to 5 or even more.

Single-laned roundabouts

When you come up to a roundabout that has only one lane in each direction:

  • slow down as you come up to the roundabout and be prepared to give way
  • give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter the roundabout.

A blue car is approaching a single-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. To the right of the blue car, a red car is approaching the roundabout. Neither car is indicating. The blue car must give way to the red car.

Multi-laned roundabouts

Most roundabouts that have more than one lane in each direction are marked with lanes and arrows. The lane markings and arrows will tell you which lane to use. Not all roundabouts are marked the same way, so take extra care – especially at the exits. If you need to cross into another lane to exit, give way to any vehicles in the lane that you want to enter.

When coming up to a multi-laned roundabout:

  • slow down as you come up to the roundabout and be prepared to give way
  • be in the correct lane for where you want to go
  • give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter the roundabout.

A blue car is approaching a multi-laned roundabout with four exits. On the blue car's right, a red car is approaching the roundabout to go straight through. The blue car is indicating left. The blue car must give way to the red car.

A blue car is approaching a multi-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. To the right of the blue car, a red car is approaching the roundabout to go straight through. The blue car is indicating left.

Signal use at roundabouts

If you're turning left at the first exit of a roundabout:

  •  signal left as you come up to the roundabout.

A blue car is approaching a single-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. The blue car is indicating to turn left.

Single-laned roundabout

A blue car is approaching a multi-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. The blue car is indicating to turn left and will continue in the same lane throughout.

 
If you're travelling more than halfway around a roundabout:

  • signal right as you come up to the roundabout
  • signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take.
A blue car is approaching a single-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. A black arrow shows the the blue car signals right until it is past the exit before the exit it is taking, then it signals left.

Single-laned roundabout

A blue car is approaching a multi-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. A black arrow shows the the blue car signals right until it is past the exit before the exit it is taking, then it signals left. The blue stays in the same lane

Multi-laned roundabout

 
If you're going straight through a roundabout:

  • don’t signal as you come up to the roundabout
  • signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take. 
A blue car is approaching a single-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs. A black arrow shows the blue car does not indicate until it is past the exit before the exit it is taking, then it signals left. The blue car stays in the same
A blue car and a red car are approaching a multi-laned roundabout with four exits. Two black arrows show the cars don't indicate until they are past the exit before the exit they are taking, then they signal left. The cars stay in the same lane.

 
Look out for cyclists who may find it difficult to maintain a turn signal on a roundabout and are exempt from this requirement.

Roundabout signs

Some of the signs you may see at a roundabout are shown below.

This sign tells you that you're coming up to a roundabout. You should be ready to give way.

This sign tells you to keep to the left of the traffic island as you come up to the roundabout. 

 These signs tell you that you must apply the roundabout give way rules.

This picture shows you where you can expect to see these signs at a roundabout.

A multi-laned roundabout with four exits, each with give way signs and yellow roundabout signs on the right corner of each road and blue keep left arrows in the centre of each road.

Important!

At roundabouts, look out for vehicles that:

  • may have to change lanes to exit
  • may not be able to stay in their lane because they're:
    • large, such as buses
    • travelling too fast.
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