If you are in the right lane, can you continue driving around the roundabout or you are expected to exit?
26 comments
It depends on the road markings, and applying that to left lane in this case
We have multiple types of roundabouts. There too many to give a generic statement like that
At some point, you are definitely expected to exit the roundabout.
More expected to exit but there are marked exceptions. At the major roundabout near me, coming off the motorway the left lane is used to turn right (3rd exit, about 2 o’clock)
Depends on the markings, they are usually extremely straightforward
If it is regular roundabout, then you are allowed to continue, and required to signal that you leave roundabout.
On the other hand, there are some roundabouts where lanes are clearly marked and right lane leads to the nearest exit (so called turbine roundabout).
In Belgium the only rule is fuck everyone else and do what you want!
I may be very wrong but I don’t think this is country dependent, as it isn’t a law. From what I grasp, right lane will be for the first exit (and possibly second, depending on how many exists there are and how many lanes there are). Second lane for second exit, third for third, and so on.
But I don’t thing laws *prevent* you from driving on the righternmost lane until, say, the fifth exit. Douchebag love but legally acceptable (at least it is, in Belgium).
In Brussels, there’s this big ass roundabout. It has EIGHT exist and many lanes (like four, maybe even five?). It even has a bus stop that’s literally in the roundabout (like the bus stops on the outermost lane).
I hate that place. It’s the perfect example of how little people actually understand how roundabouts work. Everyone sticks to the first two lanes, except for the occasional brave guy that’ll take exit 8 and so he goes on third. Beyond that, it seems reserved to taxis and people who don’t give a shit and will take the first exit from the fourth lane.
We have only one unmarked multilane roundabout in the Netherlands (Keizer Karelplein Nijmegen). I don’t know what the rules are. I will just act like I’m driving in Africa/Southern Europe if I ever have to drive there.
It can vary depending on signs and markings.
The recommendation is that you only keep left if you’re making a left or U-turn.
But at the basic level of written law – yes, you are allowed to keep in the right lane even if you’re not exiting.
I think the overwhelming majority of roundabouts in Germany only have one lane. You can drive in circles as long as you wish.
In Portugal you’re expected to exit. In reality it sometimes seems like a free for all, and also a great place to park your car
If you want to leave the roundabout on the first exit you enter the roundabout in the outside line. For the other exits you go trough the midle and before your exit you go for de outer line and exit the roundabout.
Basically, the outside lane is only for exiting.
Two lanes roundabouts are very rare where I live, and technically you are supposed to circle in the inner lane and exit from the outermost one. But every time I tried doing this no other driver understood and thought I was cutting them off unnecessarily, so I just stopped. Basically here you exit the roundabout however you want
If you go to the right, you blink to the right and stay in the right lane/right side of the lane
If you go straight ahead, you do not blink until the next exit is yours, and place where it is most practical, usually right lane
If you go to the left, you blink to the left and stay in the left lane/left side of the lane, and blink to the right when your exit is the next one.
It’s really annoying as a lot of people follow the rules, but since they were changed in the last 10 years or so, there are still some people following the old rules (confusing), and there are also some idiots never blinking and just doing what they want
From the way I was told, with two lanes roundabouts, the first lane is for taking the first and the second exits and the second is for taking the third exit and onward. With three lanes the innermost lane is for taking the third exit, the second the second exit and the first to take the first exit.
But in the end, everyone does what they want.
When I did my driver’s in Spain I was told you can remain in the right lane at all times. If there are 2 lanes, the left one is for overtaking. Only ever exit from the right lane. Of course not all drivers do that.
You’re normally expected to use the outer lane for any exits before or after the 12 o clock position (straight ahead) and the inner lane for any subsequent exits.. However, if there are signs/ road markings saying otherwise you should follow those.
I’m saying inner/ outer lane to keep it comparable to other countries. Ireland dives on the left, so the actual lanes you use may be reversed – left lane for left/ straight, right lane for right.
For straight ahead, don’t indicate until you’ve passed the turnoff before yours, then signal left.
I havent seen a multi-lane roundabout in germany that doesnt have markings to indicate the allowed directions on the lane.
Normally I dont drive in big cities and take public transport instead, so maybe someone from a big city can give an example that proofs me wrong.
In Spain the practical rule is simple: are you taking the first or the second exit? Stay in the right lane. Are you taking the third or fourth exit? You gotta use the left (inner) lane. Do you want to go into the roundabout? Watch out for anything those crazy drivers might be doing in the roundabout.
You have to stop and give way to those in the roundabout before you enter it.
Edit: And you are only supposed to signal right when you exit it.
In Portugal you go around the roundabout in the outside lane as many times as possible beeping anyone trying to do the right thing then fall asleep after a litre of wine at lunch after having parked on the edge of the roundabout
There are no real rules, just recommendations. You just need to bear in mind that once on the roundabout, vehicles coming from right have priority.
Outer circle has to yield to inner circle. Something that the fucking car rental companies fail to tell tourists so they become a danger to themselves and others when driving here.
The Dutch Banana Roundabout always strikes us as pretty much ideal. I searched to find the perfect image…
but no luck, just a lot of (as systemearth says)
NL has multiple types of roundabouts, too many to give a common-to-all generic answer.
We love the example of the Hovenring by ipvDelft, if only as a ´nobel-prize´ winning example:
26 comments
It depends on the road markings, and applying that to left lane in this case
We have multiple types of roundabouts. There too many to give a generic statement like that
At some point, you are definitely expected to exit the roundabout.
More expected to exit but there are marked exceptions. At the major roundabout near me, coming off the motorway the left lane is used to turn right (3rd exit, about 2 o’clock)
Depends on the markings, they are usually extremely straightforward
If it is regular roundabout, then you are allowed to continue, and required to signal that you leave roundabout.
On the other hand, there are some roundabouts where lanes are clearly marked and right lane leads to the nearest exit (so called turbine roundabout).
In Belgium the only rule is fuck everyone else and do what you want!
I may be very wrong but I don’t think this is country dependent, as it isn’t a law. From what I grasp, right lane will be for the first exit (and possibly second, depending on how many exists there are and how many lanes there are). Second lane for second exit, third for third, and so on.
But I don’t thing laws *prevent* you from driving on the righternmost lane until, say, the fifth exit. Douchebag love but legally acceptable (at least it is, in Belgium).
In Brussels, there’s this big ass roundabout. It has EIGHT exist and many lanes (like four, maybe even five?). It even has a bus stop that’s literally in the roundabout (like the bus stops on the outermost lane).
I hate that place. It’s the perfect example of how little people actually understand how roundabouts work. Everyone sticks to the first two lanes, except for the occasional brave guy that’ll take exit 8 and so he goes on third. Beyond that, it seems reserved to taxis and people who don’t give a shit and will take the first exit from the fourth lane.
We have only one unmarked multilane roundabout in the Netherlands (Keizer Karelplein Nijmegen). I don’t know what the rules are. I will just act like I’m driving in Africa/Southern Europe if I ever have to drive there.
It can vary depending on signs and markings.
The recommendation is that you only keep left if you’re making a left or U-turn.
But at the basic level of written law – yes, you are allowed to keep in the right lane even if you’re not exiting.
I think the overwhelming majority of roundabouts in Germany only have one lane. You can drive in circles as long as you wish.
In Portugal you’re expected to exit. In reality it sometimes seems like a free for all, and also a great place to park your car
If you want to leave the roundabout on the first exit you enter the roundabout in the outside line. For the other exits you go trough the midle and before your exit you go for de outer line and exit the roundabout.
Basically, the outside lane is only for exiting.
Two lanes roundabouts are very rare where I live, and technically you are supposed to circle in the inner lane and exit from the outermost one. But every time I tried doing this no other driver understood and thought I was cutting them off unnecessarily, so I just stopped. Basically here you exit the roundabout however you want
If you go to the right, you blink to the right and stay in the right lane/right side of the lane
If you go straight ahead, you do not blink until the next exit is yours, and place where it is most practical, usually right lane
If you go to the left, you blink to the left and stay in the left lane/left side of the lane, and blink to the right when your exit is the next one.
It’s really annoying as a lot of people follow the rules, but since they were changed in the last 10 years or so, there are still some people following the old rules (confusing), and there are also some idiots never blinking and just doing what they want
From the way I was told, with two lanes roundabouts, the first lane is for taking the first and the second exits and the second is for taking the third exit and onward. With three lanes the innermost lane is for taking the third exit, the second the second exit and the first to take the first exit.
But in the end, everyone does what they want.
When I did my driver’s in Spain I was told you can remain in the right lane at all times. If there are 2 lanes, the left one is for overtaking. Only ever exit from the right lane. Of course not all drivers do that.
You’re normally expected to use the outer lane for any exits before or after the 12 o clock position (straight ahead) and the inner lane for any subsequent exits.. However, if there are signs/ road markings saying otherwise you should follow those.
I’m saying inner/ outer lane to keep it comparable to other countries. Ireland dives on the left, so the actual lanes you use may be reversed – left lane for left/ straight, right lane for right.
For straight ahead, don’t indicate until you’ve passed the turnoff before yours, then signal left.
I havent seen a multi-lane roundabout in germany that doesnt have markings to indicate the allowed directions on the lane.
Normally I dont drive in big cities and take public transport instead, so maybe someone from a big city can give an example that proofs me wrong.
In Spain the practical rule is simple: are you taking the first or the second exit? Stay in the right lane. Are you taking the third or fourth exit? You gotta use the left (inner) lane. Do you want to go into the roundabout? Watch out for anything those crazy drivers might be doing in the roundabout.
You have to stop and give way to those in the roundabout before you enter it.
Edit: And you are only supposed to signal right when you exit it.
In Portugal you go around the roundabout in the outside lane as many times as possible beeping anyone trying to do the right thing then fall asleep after a litre of wine at lunch after having parked on the edge of the roundabout
If you are looking for a challenge, try the Magic Roundabout in Swindon, UK.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Roundabout_(Swindon)
There are no real rules, just recommendations. You just need to bear in mind that once on the roundabout, vehicles coming from right have priority.
Outer circle has to yield to inner circle. Something that the fucking car rental companies fail to tell tourists so they become a danger to themselves and others when driving here.
The Dutch Banana Roundabout always strikes us as pretty much ideal. I searched to find the perfect image…
but no luck, just a lot of (as systemearth says)
NL has multiple types of roundabouts, too many to give a common-to-all generic answer.
We love the example of the Hovenring by ipvDelft, if only as a ´nobel-prize´ winning example:
[https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=646eedf97dcc8cf2&rlz=1CAIMRL_enNL1132&sxsrf=AE3TifP3UWGXeH1X_9aUOhzKHcjtKb3blw:1751478913749&q=Hovenring+by+ipv+Delft&udm=2&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeuYzzFkfneXafNx6OMdA4MQRJc_t_TQjwHYrzlkIauOKiWCnruNfHTRmzt0RxosbrOMpYTFDxPGyD8T2B3g2diIu3ngkbY9zBvCWUufXsTFwoiRfzCo6PN174qxy5RWVWKD-YXE&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBhfGz356OAxXWwQIHHYH7GiMQtKgLKAF6BAgVEAE&biw=1476&bih=661&dpr=1.3](https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=646eedf97dcc8cf2&rlz=1CAIMRL_enNL1132&sxsrf=AE3TifP3UWGXeH1X_9aUOhzKHcjtKb3blw:1751478913749&q=Hovenring+by+ipv+Delft&udm=2&fbs=AIIjpHxU7SXXniUZfeShr2fp4giZ1Y6MJ25_tmWITc7uy4KIeuYzzFkfneXafNx6OMdA4MQRJc_t_TQjwHYrzlkIauOKiWCnruNfHTRmzt0RxosbrOMpYTFDxPGyD8T2B3g2diIu3ngkbY9zBvCWUufXsTFwoiRfzCo6PN174qxy5RWVWKD-YXE&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjBhfGz356OAxXWwQIHHYH7GiMQtKgLKAF6BAgVEAE&biw=1476&bih=661&dpr=1.3)
Back to your orig Q, too few peeps know that you should just drive around again if you miss your turn.