Roundabouts & Mini-Roundabouts

One rule resolves almost every roundabout: give way to your right. Add correct lane choice and signalling and roundabouts stop feeling like a free-for-all.

Provisional licenceUK-wide
⏱️ About 14 min

Roundabouts have a reputation for chaos, but underneath the multiple lanes and exits sits one rule that resolves almost every situation: traffic already on the roundabout, coming from your right, goes first. Learn that, add correct lane choice, and a roundabout stops feeling like a guessing game.

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The big idea: On a UK roundabout you give way to traffic approaching from your right, choosing your lane on approach based on which exit you want and signalling both on the way in and as you leave. Mini-roundabouts and multi-lane spiral roundabouts follow the same right-of-way rule, just with tighter geometry or more lanes to plan for.
🎯 By the end, you'll be able to
  • State the core roundabout rule: give way to traffic from the right
  • Choose the correct approach lane for a left, straight-ahead, or right/U-turn exit
  • Signal correctly on approach and when leaving a roundabout
  • Apply the same give-way rule to mini-roundabouts and spiral multi-lane roundabouts
📎 Helpful to know first

The one rule: give way to the right

Traffic on a UK roundabout moves clockwise, and unless signs or markings tell you otherwise, the rule is simple: give way to traffic already on the roundabout, approaching from your right. As you approach, look right first — if a vehicle is already on the roundabout and would reach your point before you, let it go. Once there's a safe gap, you can enter and start moving with the flow.

This warning triangle tells you a roundabout is coming up — start planning your lane and looking right before you reach it.
🔑 Look right, not left, on approach
Because priority comes from the right, the vehicles that matter most as you approach are the ones already circulating to your right — not traffic waiting to your left, which has to give way to you in exactly the same way you give way to the right. Get in the habit of checking right early and often as you close in on the give-way line.

Choosing your lane

Most roundabouts are marked with lane arrows on approach, and the general pattern for a simple roundabout with normal lane markings is:

  • Left lane — for exits to the left or straight ahead.
  • Right lane — for a right turn, or to continue almost all the way round (a U-turn).

Always follow the lane arrows actually painted on the road where they're present — they take priority over this general pattern, since some larger or unusually shaped roundabouts mark lanes differently.

Lane arrows painted before a roundabout tell you which lane serves which exits — check them before you commit to a lane, not after.

Signalling in and signalling out

Signal on approach the same way you would at any junction — left if you're taking the first exit, no signal (or a left signal held until the exit before yours) if you're going straight ahead, and right if you're turning right or looping almost all the way round. Whatever you signalled on the way in, remember to signal left as you approach your exit, so following traffic and anyone waiting to join knows you're about to leave.

✨ Signal your exit, not just your entry
A common mistake is signalling correctly on the way in and then forgetting to signal again before leaving. Indicate left just before your exit on every roundabout, however you entered — it's the clearest warning you can give to traffic waiting to join or already circulating behind you.

Mini-roundabouts

A mini-roundabout is just a roundabout with a small painted (or slightly raised) circle instead of a full central island — the same give-way-to-the-right rule applies in full. Treat it exactly like a normal roundabout: look right, give way to circulating traffic, and signal in and out. The one geometry point worth knowing: you must keep to the left of the central marking and drive fully round it, even though it's small enough that cutting across can feel tempting — cutting across it is not allowed for cars.

The solid blue mini-roundabout sign marks a compact roundabout with a small painted central circle — the give-way-to-the-right rule still applies, and you must go round it, not over it.

Spiral and multi-lane roundabouts

Larger roundabouts on busy roads sometimes use spiral markings — several lanes that gradually guide you toward your exit as you travel round, rather than a simple left/right split. These can look intimidating the first time, but the underlying rule doesn't change: give way to the right on entry, follow the lane markings actually painted on the roundabout (which will often move you from an inner lane toward an outer one as you approach your exit), and signal left before you leave.

Check your understanding

1. As you approach a roundabout, who normally has priority?
Unless signs or markings say otherwise, give way to traffic already circulating on the roundabout, coming from your right.
2. On a simple roundabout with standard lane markings, which lane should you normally use to turn right?
The right-hand lane on approach is normally used for a right turn (or continuing almost all the way round), while the left lane serves left turns and straight ahead — always follow painted lane arrows where they're present.
3. What does this sign mark?
A mini-roundabout uses the same give-way-to-the-right rule as a full-sized roundabout; you must drive around the central marking rather than across it.
4. What should you do just before leaving any roundabout?
Signal left just before your exit on every roundabout, whatever signal you used on the way in, so other traffic knows you're about to leave.
🔎 Related lessons
Next: Lanes, One-Way Streets & Box Junctions Junctions & Giving Way Mirrors, Signals & the MSM Routine
✅ Key takeaways
  • Give way to traffic already on the roundabout, approaching from your right, unless signs or markings say otherwise.
  • Choose your lane before you arrive: left lane for left/straight-ahead exits, right lane for a right turn or near-full loop, following painted arrows where present.
  • Signal on approach and, just as importantly, signal left again before you leave.
  • Mini-roundabouts and spiral multi-lane roundabouts use the same give-way-to-the-right rule — just with a smaller island or more lanes to plan for.
➡️ Roundabouts manage priority between roads; the next lesson covers the rules for staying in your lane once you're on a single road — including the yellow box junctions that trip up even experienced drivers.

Frequently asked questions

Who has right of way on a UK roundabout?
Traffic already on the roundabout, approaching from your right, normally has priority. You give way to it and join only when there's a safe gap, unless signs or road markings say otherwise.
Which lane should I use on a roundabout?
As a general rule, use the left lane for exits to the left or straight ahead, and the right lane for a right turn or to go almost all the way round — but always follow painted lane arrows where they're marked, since some roundabouts differ.
Do mini-roundabouts follow the same rules as normal roundabouts?
Yes — the same give-way-to-the-right rule applies. The only difference is the small painted (or slightly raised) central circle, which you must drive around rather than across.
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Independent educational content — not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the DVSA, DVLA, or any government body. This is study material, not legal advice; always confirm current rules in the official Highway Code.