Giving Way and Signalling Correctly
Two of the most important things to get right at a roundabout are knowing when to give way and how to use your indicators (signals). These help keep traffic flowing and make sure everyone understands what you’re doing.
Giving Way
In the UK, when you approach a roundabout, you must give way to traffic coming from your right—these are the vehicles already on the roundabout. You don’t need to stop if it’s clear, but you must slow down and be prepared to wait if another car is approaching from your right.
If there are no vehicles coming, and it’s safe, you can keep moving smoothly onto the roundabout. Hesitating too long when it’s clearly safe to go is a common mistake learners make, so your instructor will help you build confidence in judging the right moment.
Signalling
Using your indicators tells other road users what you’re planning to do. Here’s a quick guide:
- Turning left (first exit): Signal left as you approach.
- Going straight (second exit): No signal on approach, then signal left just after passing the first exit.
- Turning right (third exit or beyond): Signal right as you approach, then signal left just after passing the exit before yours.
Signalling properly is something your examiner will watch closely during the test, so it’s worth practising until it feels natural.