Roundabout signals when driving

Roundabout Signals: Intro

Are you wondering about roundabout signals when driving? Roundabouts are designed to keep traffic moving and improve safety at intersections.

How does it improve safety? Well, first of all, drivers are forced to slow down before the circle. This alone improves safety because the slower you crash, the less it hurts.

Secondly, it’s rather impossible to have a ‘T-bone’ collision in a roundabout. This is one of the worst types of collisions.

Technically a roundabout is a traffic circle with more than one lane. Although I hear a lot of people referring them to ‘circle things’ :lol:

roundabout signals: On Approach to the roundabout

On approach, reduce your speed to about 20 km/hr in case you need to yield to other vehicles and for good control.

Look for signs and pedestrians and be prepared. You must yield to any traffic already in the roundabout.

This means you will yield to your immediate left. All vehicles must enter to the right and use the roundabout in a counter-clockwise direction.

You can enter the roundabout when there is a safe gap in the traffic and you feel it is safe.

Once you are inside the roundabout, vehicles approaching are supposed to yield to you.

Do not stop inside the roundabout unless traffic conditions require you to do so.

Keep in mind that if you miss your exit you may horrify your passengers and drive in circles until you find it again.

Roundabout Signals For Going ‘Straight’ at the roundabout

When you’re driving and you’d like to continue straight ahead, do not signal on approach and signal ‘right’ before you leave.

Roundabout Signals For Turning Right at the roundabout

You need to turn right? Simply signal ‘right’ on approach keep signal on until you are gone.

Left at the roundabout

Ah the left turn? Signal ‘left’ on approach and signal ‘right’ before you leave.

signal to enter a roundabout
  • Save
roundabout turning left
  • Save

Roundabouts are not complicated

  • Check for signs and road marking, not all roundabouts are the same
  • Yield to anyone already in the circle, this includes bikes and pedestrians
  • Use your right turn signal before you leave

Read more: The info and interactive roundabout simulator on the Ministry of Transportation webpage

Carmen Cohoe

Carmen became a driving instructor in beautiful North Vancouver at the age of 22 due to some crazy people who agreed to hire her. After that, there was never a dull moment teaching many different folks from many different places how to drive using automatic and standard vehicles and a minivan.

8 thoughts on “Roundabout signals when driving

  • Anonymous

    Everyone goes right entering a roundabout …and the only reason for signalling upon entering would be for cars behind you…and they couldn’t care less where I’m going. We’re all travelling the same speed in the round a bout and the same exiting so signalling for someone behind is a moot point. I’m getting in the habit of signalling upon exit but no body does here and it doesn’t seem to make a lot of difference.

  • Someone

    Absolutely false information! If you are turning left, you signal that intention right up until you are leaving the roundabout, then you signal right. If you are going ‘straight’ through, you don’t signal on approach, but you do signal right when leaving the roundabout. If you are turning right, signal it! If you aren’t signalling, no one else knows where you’re going and traffic slows until it’s figured out. Not signalling is what causes the hold ups and the accidents in roundabouts!

    • carmenac

      I agree a left signal is a good idea for left turns (although technically according to ICBC you need only a right signal before you leave). It’s a bad idea to trust people’s signals, especially when we have the right of way rules which state people inside the roundabout have right of way over those entering, regardless of turn signals. Thanks – I will edit this post as the wording is confusing. Not sure even why it is here as there is a very detailed posting about this already. Be clear there is a difference between traffic circles and roundabouts in terms of signalling.

      • Phil

        Signaling left when you are carrying on around a roundabout is very helpfull to a person weighting to pull on
        If you don’t then it could cause an accident because the driver coming on has to read your mind that you are not exiting
        We are not that smart to be able to read minds yet
        SO SIGNAL
        Do you signal at a 4 way stop

    • Logan

      I know this is old now, however this is incorrect information from “Someone”. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure guidelines say that drivers are to signal right when leaving the roundabout. Signaling prior actually causes more confusion. The reason for this is because when entering a roundabout, it is viewed as a continuation of the road, therefor signaling is not needed.

      More information can be found at the link below
      http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/roundabouts/

      • Matt Paugh

        THank you Logan. there is no reason to ever signal left in a roundabout unless it’s a multi lane roundabout and your changing lanes. Not really an issue here though. The roundabout is exactly that, a continuation of the lane. Every single time someone is leaving s roudmabout they are deviating from their normal lane of travel to the right. Every. Single. Time. It’s the only indicator that should be used and is required to be used as it avoids any and all confusion. If you’re in the roundabout already, then you’re staying there until turning right

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