If you are not sure how to approach a roundabout, remember what you would do at a crossroads:

To turn left you would signal left and keep left

To go ahead you would not signal and you would keep to the left

To turn right you would signal right and move near to the centreline

The same rules apply at a roundabout

To go left at a roundabout:

• signal left as you approach
• keep to the left lane
• give way to traffic from the right
• continue to signal until you have left the roundabout.

To go ahead at a roundabout:

• do not signal as you approach
• keep to the left lane
• give way to traffic from the right
• go round the roundabout in the left hand lane
• signal left as you pass the penultimate exit (the exit before the one you want)
• continue to signal until you have left the roundabout.

To go right at a roundabout:

• signal right as you approach
• keep to the right hand lane
• give way to traffic from the right
• go round the roundabout in the right hand lane, keep signalling right
• signal left as you pass the penultimate exit (the exit before the one you want)
• change to the left lane (safely)
• continue to signal left until you have left the roundabout.

Don't forget, you should always use a "Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre" routine, the advice above is to help with road position and signals in particular.

Some roundabouts have three or more lanes as you approach. While the above rules normally apply, look for road markings and signs which will help to guide you.

How do you work out whether an exit is ahead or right?

If you compare the road signs to a clock face, any exit up to 12 o'clock is ahead, and after 12 o'clock is right.

Look at the following signs and decide which direction each exit would be:

• left,
• second left, (the same procedure as ahead, but a better description when there are a lot of exits)
• ahead,
• right.