Blog

Roundabouts

Who gives way at a roundabout?

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

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.

Turning left

Turning left at a roundabout

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.

Turning right or U-turns

Turning right or making a U-turn at a roundabout

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.

Going straight ahead

Going straight ahead through a roundabout

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.

Spiral roundabouts

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

Spiral line-marking on a roundabout

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.

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'.