6 roundabout rules explained

Posted 29 April, 2021 Lauren Ferrone and Jeremy Rochow

Almost half of people who took our most recent samotor road rules quiz incorrectly answered the question relating to indicating requirements at roundabouts.   With that in mind, it might be a good time to brush up on some of the more challenging roundabout situations that come our way and how to safely navigate them

Q. I was taught to give way to the right when entering a roundabout, but I’ve heard this has changed. Is that correct?

  A: Despite what many of us were taught, the ‘give way to the right’ rule doesn’t apply at roundabouts. Rather, the law says you must give way to any vehicle, including bicycles already in the roundabout. So, in the picture above, car A must give way to car B. But this doesn’t mean you should race to get to the dotted line first. All drivers need to slow down on approach and be prepared to give way and stop if necessary. It’s a good idea though to pay particular attention to traffic on your right, as there’s a good chance those vehicles will enter before you.  

Q. What should I do when there’s a long vehicle near me at a 2-lane roundabout?

  A: When you’re driving a long vehicle, it’s a tough ask to make a turn in a single lane. So, these vehicles – if they have a ‘do not overtake turning vehicle’ sign displayed – can use 2 lanes to make a turn, if necessary and safe to do so. Take the picture above, for example. The truck is in the left lane but indicating to turn right – it can legally do this because the driver knows his vehicle will need all of the left lane and some of the adjacent lane to complete the turn . Now, say you’re in car A: you should wait behind the truck until it’s driven through the roundabout. Don’t pull-up alongside it. Basically, driving past a long vehicle in a roundabout isn’t a great idea – and it’s against the law.  

Q. I’ve heard cyclists can turn right at a roundabout from the left lane. Is this true?

  A: Yes; cyclists can turn right from the left-hand lane of a roundabout. However, if a rider uses the left lane, they need to give way to any vehicles exiting the roundabout. This means when they get to point B in the picture above, they’ll need to slow down and let car A pass before continuing around.  

Q. What do I do if there’s a cyclist next to me when I’m waiting to enter a roundabout?