A roundabout looks busy, but it runs on one simple idea: traffic already on the roundabout has priority, and that traffic comes at you from your right. Sort out your speed, lane and signal before you arrive, and the rest is just watching for a safe gap.
The trick is to do your thinking on the approach, not at the give-way line. By the time your bonnet reaches the entry you should already know which exit you want, which lane you're in and what your indicators are doing. That turns a stressful scramble into a series of small, unhurried decisions.
This guide walks through a standard roundabout step by step, then covers mini-roundabouts and the vulnerable road users who don't always behave the way you'd expect. Get the pattern into your muscle memory once and every roundabout after that feels the same.
Study time
38 min
Level
Foundation
Confidence
+10%
Practice
49 Qs
What you'll be able to do
- Understand who has priority at junctions — and why right of way is something you're given, never something you take.
- Understand which lane to pick on a roundabout, and a simple clock trick that takes the guesswork out of every exit.
- Understand when it's safe to change lane or overtake — and the one junction you must never block.
The facts that matter
- Give way to traffic coming from your immediate right — the vehicles already on the roundabout.
- You don't have to stop if it's clear: give way means yield, so keep rolling when there's a safe gap.
- First exits or straight ahead: left lane, and either signal left or no signal on approach.
- Exits past 12 o'clock (to the right or full turn): right lane and a right signal on approach.
- Whatever your exit, signal left after you pass the exit BEFORE the one you want.
Make it stick
Memory anchors
Look right, that's who owns it
Priority always comes from your right on a UK roundabout. Glance right first, judge the gap, and go when it's clear.
Clock face for lanes
Picture the roundabout as a clock. Exits before 12 lean left lane; exits after 12 lean right lane; dead ahead usually stays left.
Signal left one exit early
As you pass the exit just before yours, flick the left indicator on. It tells everyone you're peeling off next.
Stay sharp
The mistakes everyone makes
Stopping when the way is clear
Give way isn't a stop sign. Braking to a halt at an empty roundabout frustrates traffic behind and wastes a good gap. Keep the car creeping and go when it's safe.
Forgetting the left signal on exit
Plenty of drivers pick the right lane correctly for a far exit, then leave without signalling left. Others can't read your plan, so signal left as you approach the exit before yours.
Sitting in the wrong lane
Choosing the lane at the last second leads to cutting across someone. Decide your lane on the approach based on your exit, and stay in it all the way round.
Out on the road
What this looks like in real life
The three-quarter turn
You want the last exit, almost back where you came from. Approach in the right lane, signal right, follow the curve round, then switch to a left signal once you've passed the exit before yours and ease out.
The cyclist who stays left
A cyclist going all the way round often hugs the left edge rather than moving to the right lane. Don't assume they're taking the first exit — hold back, give them room, and check before you cross their path to leave.
Go deeper
Lessons on this topic
Know the signs
Signs worth knowing here
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
Do I always have to stop at a roundabout?
No. You only give way, which means yield to traffic from the right. If there's a safe gap you can drive straight on without stopping — keep your speed gentle so you can react.
Which lane do I use for going straight ahead?
Usually the left lane unless road markings or signs tell you otherwise. Some busy roundabouts allow either lane for straight ahead, so always check the painted arrows on approach.
How do mini-roundabouts differ?
The rules are the same: give way to the right and signal for your exit. They're just smaller, so everything happens faster and there's less room. Treat the central white circle as a real roundabout and don't drive over it if you can avoid it.
When exactly do I signal left to leave?
As you pass the exit immediately before the one you want. That gives following and waiting drivers time to read your intention before you actually turn off.
Why do horse riders and cyclists sometimes stay in the left lane?
It's safer for them to keep to the outside edge even when going all the way round, rather than weaving across lanes. Expect it, give them plenty of space, and never squeeze past to reach an exit.
Turn using a roundabout into marks
Reading builds understanding — practice makes it stick. Pick up where this guide leaves off, free.
Revision checklist
0/5Tick each point once you can explain it without looking.