The main roundabout rule in NSW is that you give way to every vehicle already in the roundabout, including ones that came in from your left or from opposite you. Indicate left or right on the way in if you’re turning, keep it on as you go around, and indicate left as you leave if it’s practical. Going straight, you don’t need to indicate on the way in.
Who do you give way to at a roundabout?
You give way to every vehicle that’s already in the roundabout. As you come up to it, slow down or stop if you need to. A lot of people learn “give way to the right”, and that’s only part of it. You also give way to a car that entered from your left or from straight across from you and is already going around.
Two signs warn you that a roundabout is coming. One shows the roundabout ahead. The other tells you to give way to vehicles on the roundabout.
When you turn left or right at a roundabout, you don’t have to give way to people walking unless there’s a pedestrian crossing. You still have to take care not to hit anyone.
When to indicate at a roundabout
It depends on where you’re going.
- If you’re turning left, indicate left on the way in and keep indicating as you go around.
- If you’re going straight ahead, you don’t need to indicate on the way in. Indicate left as you leave, if it’s practical.
- If you’re turning right or doing a U-turn, indicate right on the way in and keep it on as you go around. Then switch to your left indicator as you leave, if it’s practical.
Whichever way you go, turn your indicator off as soon as you’ve left the roundabout. A blinker left on can confuse other drivers.
The official rules give one example of when it may not be practical: going straight through a small single-lane roundabout, where you may not be able to indicate left as you exit.
Which lane to use at a multi-lane roundabout
Use the left lane to turn left and the right lane to turn right or do a U-turn. To go straight ahead, you can use any lane. Arrows on the road change all of this. If the arrows say a lane is for turning only, or that another lane can turn too, follow the arrows.
Try to choose your lane before you get there so you don’t have to change lanes inside the roundabout. If you do need to change lanes, these rules apply:
- You can only cross a broken white line. Never cross an unbroken one.
- Indicate, and give way to any vehicle in the lane you’re moving into.
- Check your blind spot by turning your head before you move across.
Bikes and trucks
Bike riders can use a full lane, and they follow the same roundabout rules as drivers, with one difference. On a multi-lane roundabout, a rider can turn right from the left lane. When they do, they must give way to vehicles leaving the roundabout. So if you see a bike stopped in the left lane, it may be giving way to you as you leave.
Trucks and other heavy vehicles may need more than one lane to turn at a roundabout. Don’t put your car in the path of a heavy vehicle while it’s turning, because you could be crushed. The Road User Handbook says it’s safest to stay behind it and wait until it has finished the turn.
Roundabout rules in the NSW driving test
Roundabouts can cost you the driving test for your Ps. Transport for NSW’s guide to the driving test lists fail items that can catch you out at a roundabout:
- using the wrong lane to turn at a roundabout
- driving up onto the kerb or the roundabout, or straddling a traffic dome with one wheel either side of it
- not giving way to a vehicle that has priority over you at an intersection
- often not indicating when you have to, and the guide names leaving a roundabout as one of those times
On a multi-lane roundabout, the guide says to position the car using the road markings. Stay in the lane the road markings show for your direction, and exit into a lane you’re allowed to use. Before you cross lanes to get out, turn your head and check your blind spot. For how the rest of the test is scored, see our guide to the NSW driving test.
A good way to practise is to pick a few roundabouts near home, including at least one with two lanes. Drive through them every way you can: left, straight, right and a full U-turn. Ask your supervisor to call out every time you forget to indicate on the way out.
Practise road rules with DrivePrep NSW
DrivePrep NSW is a practice app for the NSW knowledge tests, and its Car pathway is where you practise road rules like these for your Ls (see what the car Driver Knowledge Test (DKT) covers). Category practice lets you work on one topic at a time. There’s a road signs section for the sign questions, and missed-question review brings back anything you got wrong so you can try it again.
When you’re ready to test yourself, you can get DrivePrep NSW on the App Store for iPhone and iPad and start with the Car pathway.
Common questions
Do you give way to the right at a roundabout in NSW?
You give way to every vehicle already in the roundabout. That means the ones on your right, plus any that entered from your left or from directly opposite you.
Do you have to indicate going straight through a roundabout?
You don’t need to indicate as you approach. You must indicate left when you leave, if it’s practical. On a small single-lane roundabout, it may not be practical to indicate left as you exit when you go straight through.
Can you change lanes in a roundabout?
Yes, but only where the lane line is broken. You must indicate and give way to any vehicle in the lane you’re moving into, and you should check your blind spot. It’s better to pick the right lane before you enter.
Do you give way to pedestrians at a roundabout?
When you turn left or right at a roundabout, you don’t have to give way to pedestrians unless there’s a pedestrian crossing. You must still take care not to hit anyone crossing.
Official NSW sources
- Roundabouts: giving way, indicating, lanes, changing lanes, pedestrians and bike riders at roundabouts.
- Road User Handbook: the roundabout rules, when you must indicate, and giving heavy vehicles room to turn.
- A Guide to the Driving Test: lane position and blind spot checks at roundabouts, and the fail items that apply to them.
DrivePrep NSW is an independent study app and isn’t affiliated with Service NSW or Transport for NSW. Rules, fees and test arrangements can change, so check the official sources before your test.