Roundabout Traffic Rules: How to Master Right-of-Way, Lanes, and Signage to Pass the Written Exam
You will learn how to navigate roundabouts correctly by applying right-of-way rules, lane selection, and signage so that you can answer the written exam questions with confidence. You will understand why the right-hand rule does not apply, how to enter and exit without creating crossing paths, and which exceptions you must memorize. This knowledge is critical because more than half of all roundabout accidents occur at the entrance, according to an AXA insurance study cited by the DGT.
What do you need to master roundabouts on the written exam?
Before you start, gather these materials. Each one has a specific role in your learning and on exam day.
- The official traffic rules manual (2025 edition): gives you the legal foundation and the regulatory signs you must recognize. The DGT publishes road traffic rules and regulatory signs.
- A list of priority and prohibition signs: R1/R-6 signs (priority) and R-100/R-117 signs (no entry) appear at roundabouts, and you must identify them without hesitation.
- Roundabout diagrams or schematics: help you visualize lanes, entrances, and exits. The DGT describes three key moments: entry, circulating inside, and exit.
- Practical cases from past exams: allow you to apply theory to real situations and detect error patterns.
Step 1: Understand the right-of-way rule at roundabouts (it is not priority to the right)
Right-of-way at a roundabout belongs to vehicles already circulating inside. Those entering must yield, stopping if necessary. This is the fundamental difference from linear intersections: at a roundabout, the general right-hand priority rule does not apply.
Key insight: at a roundabout, the vehicle already inside always has priority, unless a sign or traffic light indicates otherwise.
This exception is important: at large roundabouts, there may be vertical signs or traffic lights that require vehicles inside to stop to let entering vehicles pass and improve traffic flow. So do not memorize "always priority to the one inside" without nuances. The exam may present you with an image showing a traffic light inside.
Step 2: Apply the entry rule: right lane, with an exception
The general rule says that entry into a roundabout must always be made from the right lane when it is free and possible. This rule avoids crossing paths and facilitates flow.
But there is an exception: when the right lane is congested, you may enter from the left lane directly into the roundabout to facilitate access. In addition, circulation in the inner lane is permitted up to the last exits.
Key insight: entering from the left lane is only justified if the right lane is congested; it is not a free option.
How to decide on the exam?
If the question describes heavy traffic in the right lane, the correct answer may be to enter from the left. If there is no congestion, the answer is the right lane. This decision criterion separates those who pass from those who fail.
Step 3: Master inner circulation and lane choice
Inside the roundabout, you must choose the appropriate lane according to your exit. The DGT allows circulation in the inner lane up to the last exits. This means that if you are going to exit at a distant exit, you may use the inner lane, but you must plan your change to the right lane in advance.
Key insight: the inner lane is not for circulating indefinitely; it is for approaching your exit and then leaving via the right.
A common mistake is to remain in the inner lane until the exit and then cut across suddenly. The general rule says that you leave the roundabout via the right lane, taking it early enough to avoid dangerous crossing paths.
Step 4: Execute the exit correctly (and know the exception)
The general exit rule is to leave the roundabout via the right lane, occupying it early enough. This maneuver avoids the classic "tap" on the rear corner of a moving vehicle, which can cause it to overturn with serious consequences, according to the DGT's Driver Training Area.
Key insight: the exit is prepared, not improvised; taking the right lane in advance is a safety rule, not just an exam rule.
Exception: you are only allowed to exit from an inner lane when a sign (for example, an arrow on the road) indicates it. On the exam, if you see an arrow authorizing the exit from the inside, that is the correct answer.
Step 5: Identify special situations: cyclists and large vehicles
Cyclists in a group have right-of-way as if they were a single vehicle when the first one has already entered the roundabout. This means that if the first cyclist has entered, the whole group has priority. On the exam, do not yield only to the first cyclist and then merge.
Large vehicles may obstruct your view and occupy several lanes to maneuver at the entrance or exit. You must anticipate and give them space. This type of question is common on the written exam.
Step 6: Interpret vertical and horizontal signage
Signage at roundabouts includes priority signs (R1/R-6) and no-entry signs (R-100/R-117), among others. You must recognize them by their shape and color. For example, the "yield" sign (R1) usually appears at the roundabout entrance. The no-entry sign (R-100) prevents access.
Key insight: signage can modify the general right-of-way rule; if there is a traffic light or sign indicating otherwise, the sign prevails.
This is a frequent conflict point on the exam: the general rule is priority for the one inside, but a sign can reverse that priority.
Step 7: Simulate exam situations with quick decisions
Practice with diagrams. For example, imagine a roundabout with four exits. You are going to take the third exit. Which lane do you use? According to the rule, you may circulate in the inner lane up to the last exits, but you must take the right lane in advance. The correct answer is: enter via the right if it is free, change to the inner lane if needed, and return to the right before the exit.
Key insight: on the exam, the answer is usually the one that avoids crossing paths and respects the priority of the vehicle already inside.
Troubleshooting: common mistakes and how to resolve them
Scenario 1: "The right lane is congested, can I enter from the left?"
Yes, but only if the right lane is congested. The DGT allows entry from the left lane directly into the roundabout in that case. If there is no congestion, the answer is no.
Scenario 2: "I am going to take the last exit, should I circulate in the inner lane?"
You may circulate in the inner lane up to the last exits, but remember that the exit must be made via the right lane, unless an arrow on the road indicates otherwise. Plan the lane change in advance.
Scenario 3: "There is a traffic light inside the roundabout, who has priority?"
Signage prevails. If the traffic light requires vehicles inside to stop to let entering vehicles pass, you must obey it. The general rule of priority for the one inside is modified by the sign.
Next Steps: consolidate your learning and prepare for the exam
Now that you know the rules of right-of-way, lanes, and signage, it is time to put them into practice. Review the three key moments (entry, inner circulation, and exit) and make sure you can explain each one in your own words. Take tests with roundabout diagrams and time yourself. If you miss a question, do not memorize the answer: go back to the general rule and its exceptions. Remember that the right-of-way rule at roundabouts is not the same as at linear intersections, and that signs can change that priority. To complete your preparation, check out related articles such as Alcohol and Drug Rules: Limits and Penalties and Safety Distance: How to Calculate It and Maintain It to Avoid Accidents. With constant practice and attention to detail, you will pass the written exam with confidence.
Frequently asked questions about roundabouts on the written exam
What is the main right-of-way rule at a roundabout?
Priority belongs to vehicles already circulating inside; those entering must yield.
Can I exit a roundabout from the inner lane?
Only if a sign (for example, an arrow on the road) indicates it; otherwise, you must exit via the right lane.
Do cyclists in a group have priority?
Yes, as if they were a single vehicle when the first one has entered the roundabout.
What happens if there is a traffic light inside the roundabout?
Signage prevails over the general rule; obey the traffic light.
