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Roundabouts

Who gives way at a roundabout?

When approaching a roundabout you must give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.

Video of giving way at roundabouts

Watch the video to learn the rules about giving way at roundabouts.

Duration 00:01:03 |

Some people think you should give way to vehicles approaching from the right on a roundabout.

But, that's not the rule.

You must give way to any vehicles already on the roundabout before you enter.

So if a car already on a roundabout just happens to be on your right, you must give way to it. Here, car A must give way to car B.

And if a car already on a roundabout happens to be directly in front of you or on your left, you must give way to it too. So, once again, car A must give way to car B.

It doesn't matter if a car is on your left or on your right, if it's already on the roundabout, you must give way to it before you enter.

Giving way on roundabouts is straightforward, when you know the rules.

When to turn off a multi-lane roundabout

You can position your car to be in the correct lane at a roundabout by looking for signs, lane markings and arrows when approaching the roundabout.

Unless traffic lane arrows indicate otherwise, if you want to:

  • turn left, use the left lane
  • turn right, use the right lane
  • go straight ahead, use either lane.

Video of turning right at roundabouts

Watch the video to find out more about turning right at roundabouts.

Duration 00:00:55 |

You may think you can turn right from any lane on a roundabout.

But that's not the rule.

On a multi-lane roundabout, you should turn right from the right lane.

You can only turn right from the left hand lane of a roundabout if the road markings indicate that you can do so.

So, if the arrows on the road don't indicate otherwise, turning right from the left hand lane is illegal.

Remember the rule: unless road markings indicate otherwise, you must be in the right lane to turn right on a roundabout.

A car approaches and then turns left at a roundabout
Turning left at a roundabout

Turning left

  1. Position your vehicle in the left lane, unless arrows on the road or signs indicate otherwise.
  2. Use your left indicator as you approach and enter the roundabout.
  3. Give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.
  4. Remain in the left lane as you complete your turn.
  5. Continue to use your left indicator as you exit the roundabout.
  6. Stop indicating once you have exited the roundabout.
A car approaches and then turns right at a roundabout. Another car makes a U-turn at a roundabout
Turning right or making a U-turn
at a roundabout

Turning right or U-turns

  1. Position your vehicle in the right lane, unless arrows on the road or signs indicate otherwise.
  2. Use your right indicator as you approach and enter the roundabout.
  3. Give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.
  4. Before exiting, use your left indicator and follow the exit lane marking.
  5. Stop indicating once you have exited the roundabout.

Never turn right from the left lane unless arrows on the road indicate that you can.

Video of signals at roundabouts

Watch the video about how to signal at roundabouts.

Duration 00:01:36 |

Signalling on roundabouts is easy, when you know the rules.

But here are some tips before you start.

Remember you must give way to any vehicles already on the roundabout before you enter. And if the lanes approaching the roundabout are marked with arrows, make sure you follow their direction.

Otherwise, if you're planning to turn left, here's the way to do it.

Approach the roundabout in the left lane or line of traffic. Then, signal left as you approach the roundabout. Continue to signal left as you exit the roundabout and turn your indicator off after you've exited.

If you want to drive straight ahead on a roundabout, you can approach without signalling. But, make sure you signal left as you exit and turn your indicator off after you've left the roundabout.

To make a right turn, approach the roundabout in the right lane or line of traffic, then signal right as you approach the roundabout and continue to signal right until you're ready to exit. Then, signal left before you exit the roundabout. The same rule applies if you intend driving beyond the right turn exit.

Signalling on roundabouts is simple, when you know the rules.

Going straight ahead

  1. Position your vehicle in either lane unless the arrows on the road or signs indicate otherwise.
  2. There is no need to use your indicator until you are ready to exit the roundabout.
  3. Give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.
  4. Before exiting, use your left indicator and follow the exit lane marking.
  5. Stop indicating once you have exited the roundabout.
A car in the left lane approaches a roundabout and goes straight ahead, exiting the roundabout in the same left lane. Another car in the right hand lane approaches the roundabout and goes straight ahead, exiting in the same right hand lane
Going straight ahead through
a roundabout

Spiral roundabouts

Spiral line-marking is used on some roundabouts to help guide drivers onto single lane exits adjacent to 2 circulating lanes.

Using the first exit

  1. Position your vehicle in the left-hand lane.
  2. Use your left indicator as you approach and enter the roundabout.
  3. Give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.
  4. Remain in the left lane as you complete your turn.
  5. Continue to use your left indicator as you exit the roundabout.
  6. Stop indicating once you have exited the roundabout.
A car in the right lane approaches a roundabout and indicates to turn right. Another car on the roundabout indicating to exit the roundabout
Spiral line-marking on a roundabout

Spiral line-marking on a roundabout

Never enter a roundabout from the left-hand lane if travelling past the first exit, unless arrows on the road indicate that you can.

Using an exit more than halfway around the roundabout

  1. Position your vehicle in the right-hand lane, unless arrows on the road or signs indicate otherwise.
  2. Use your right indicator as you approach and enter the roundabout.
  3. Give way to all vehicles already on the roundabout.
  4. Remain in your lane or change into the right-hand spiralled lane.
  5. Indicate intention to change lanes, give way to vehicles in the lane and only move into another lane when it is safe to do so.
  6. Before exiting, use your left indicator and follow the exit lane marking.
  7. Stop indicating once you have exited the roundabout.

Never enter a roundabout from the left-hand lane if travelling past the first exit, unless arrows on the road indicate that you can.

Another way of looking at roundabouts

Turns that occur at roundabouts can be described by imagining the roundabout to be a clock face.

  • Any turn that exits the roundabout before 12 o'clock can be considered a left turn.
  • Any turn that exits the roundabout after 12 o'clock can be considered a right turn.
  • Straight ahead at a roundabout is taken to be at half-way around or at 12 o'clock.

The Queensland Road Rules uses the terms 'less than half-way round' and 'more than half-way around'.

Last updated:
27 September 2017
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