Roundabout: when should I start indicating to show I am taking an exit?

24/7/2015

When taking the first exit to the left, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
- You should signal left and approach in the left-hand lane
- You should keep to the left on the roundabout and continue signalling left to leave.

When taking an exit to the right or going full circle, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
- You should signal right and approach in the right-hand lane
- You should keep to the right on the roundabout until you need to change lanes to exit the roundabout
- You should signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

When taking any intermediate exit, unless signs or markings indicate otherwise
- You should select the appropriate lane on approach to and on the roundabout
- You should not normally need to signal on approach
- You should stay in this lane until you need to alter course to exit the roundabout
- You should signal left after you have passed the exit before the one you want.

When there are more than three lanes at the entrance to a roundabout, use the most appropriate lane on approach and through it. https://www.gov.uk/

See how to negotiate roundabout:

11 Comments

lin

10/4/2018 10:30:21

I am trying to clarify if there is only one correct lane to take when entering a roundabout and going straight over, as there is a conflict between the words in Highway Code rule 185 and the diagram in Highway Code rule 184. The words say use ‘appropriate’ lane whereas the diagram shows a car using the left lane.

[I have a dispute with another car that entered the roundabout after me. I started in the right hand lane and the other car started from the left hand lane and was behind me. There were 2 lanes on entry and 1 lane on exit from the roundabout which meant I followed HC rules 184-187 correctly by choosing a lane, signalling and moving outwards (there were no advance road markings to say which lane to take and no lane markings on the roundabout). The front wheel of the other car hit my rear wheel – showing me to be almost a car length ahead. Am I correct in thinking that the other car driver failed to note HC 184, 185 and 187 about being aware of the speed and movements of other traffic, and giving plenty of room to traffic in front of them leaving at the next exit?

Catman

19/4/2018 10:43:42

Unless you were actually overtaking on entering the roundabout you should have been in the left hand lane unless otherwise directed by signage or markings.

Jon

21/6/2018 14:08:00

Hello, couple of months so may have already sorted. There's no conflict between the wording and diagram; it states use "appropriate lane". Diagram shows straight over as using the left lane; so the "appropriate lane" is the left lane.
There is a point you may want clarity on. One point the highway code doesn't really provide details on, is what is straight over and what is right; from the latest test I took (motorcycle license two years ago) to rule is, unless markings or signs state otherwise, first exit is left. Second exit is stright on, except when it is past the wertical/12 O'Clock position on the road sign; right is all others.
Therefore if your exit, on the roadsign, was past the vertical/12 O'Clock; it would be considered a right hand exit and you would be correct. If not you were in the wrong; some images here might help.
Also regarding Catman's reply; overtaking on approach to roundabout, does not change rules of the road. It would also be considered driving without due care and attention if you overtook a car so close to a roundabout, that you were not able to get back into the correct lane.

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSYtk6ewmobdvBgPduJ6IXxItsEUYzM-C2yAiOLR0nYjpvggSRB
(Exit 2 is vertical, so is straight ahead; so use left lane.)

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSBcPYnD34zxStXj2qQ31R0n_fBOoxoBeBAlyCORmibxGkJ5pMIKg
(Exit 2 (alexandria rd) is past the vertical, so is considered right)

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQzJozitsMEq7FE4_sVzXnxwv1fduVbZjnczcsbvQZN4hPkjfpn
(Exit 1 is left, Exit 2 is straight, Exit 3 is right and Exit 4 is right.)

Ashlee link

22/3/2021 17:44:25

Greeat reading this

Jay

24/8/2021 18:20:21

Can i have a definition of intermediate exit ? I was under the impression that it was anything from first up to and including 12oclock and anything past 12 was a right and therefore should be indicated as a right. I have now been told that only the last exit is indicated as a right and everything between first and last is “intermediate”? What is the definition of intermediate exit ?

Justine

6/10/2021 17:10:11

Hi Jay, What a headache is this eh?! An intermediate exit in my opinion is not first exit left or last exit right so therefore it’s straight ahead. If map board says second exit is to the right then it’s right hand lane and signal left to exit off. It can be confusing but I just look at map board now and if it’s ‘to the right’ I take rh lane as the HC states you should do :-)

James Armstrong

8/10/2021 18:23:53

I've been driving for years and needed to refreash myself on the speed & gears one should be using when driving on a round-a- bout, it is still the same as when I started driving, 10 to 15 miles an hour (jogging speed)!!!! what a joke.
The only person going around a round-a-bout at jogging speed is a jogger.

Steve

11/10/2021 14:36:11

Ha ha, that surely must be a joke, James.

15 miles per hour is a 4 minute mile. Even if you did that speed for just 50 yards, you'd have to be Usain Bolt for that to be considered a "jog". Give it a try and let us know how you get on.

Obviously the speed you can safely take a roundabout depends on its size - a small roundabout will require lower speeds. I think you'll find that the fastest a car can negotiate a 50m diameter circle in the dry without skidding (or a handbrake turn) is around 20mph. If you can find a suitable place (perhaps a track), measure out a circle and let us know how that goes too.

Stephen Adomako

16/11/2021 05:17:43

Hi,

I am a student learner and someone confused me at a 3 lane entry round about so hopefully someone can explain it to me.

So I thought the left hand lane is for exit 1 (9 o clock exit), the road marking and sign also indicated this going up to the round about. I was in the middle lane as I was going for exit two, (twelve o clock exit). As I passed exit 1, and performed my checks I noticed a driver who took the left lane didn't exit. So I assumed he will exit on exit two like myself (ie twelve o clock), I indicated left to exit at 12 o clock with the intention of taking the right lane out of the exit, because this guy was now on my left a bit behind me and i thought he would be on the left lane after we all exit at 12 o clock. But he sped up significantly, and then proceeded to cut across me heading, past on to the 3 o clock exit. As a learner, I slowed down, allowed him to go on across me, before proceeding to the right lane exit at 12 o clock.

But I have been reflecting on this issue for a while now, was I wrong in how I entered and exited this round about, the road signs and markings all said left lane to exit at 9 o clock, middle lane to 12 o clock and right lane to 3 o clock. If someone takes the left lane as he did, are they allowed to cut across and go on for 3 o clock or even 4 o clock? It is kind of confusing because i am unable to find an elaborate explanation

Justine Clark

18/11/2021 12:08:42

If you were in the middle lane to go ahead at the rb and the person in the left hand lane wanted to go right (3oclock) then he was in the incorrect lane and should have proceeded left (1st exit), turned around and then gone ahead to exit in the direction he wanted to go.

Paul Richardson

12/2/2022 21:00:45

Does the new H2 rule that drivers should give way to pedestrians apply to all types of junction ( uncontrolled, controlled and roundabouts).

Roundabout: when should I start indicating to show I am taking an exit?

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