Roundabout ahead sign: what it means

Roundabout warning sign: a white triangle with a red border and three black arrows in a circle
Image: Crown copyright, OGL

The roundabout sign warns that a roundabout is ahead. Choose your lane early and be ready to give priority to traffic coming from your right.

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What it means

It is a warning triangle, unlike the blue circular mini-roundabout sign, which is an order. A plate underneath may tell you to reduce speed.

Rule 184: decide as early as possible which exit you need, give the right signal and get into the correct lane. Rule 185: give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs, road markings or traffic lights say otherwise.

Where you see it

On the approach to roundabouts. Look out for the direction signs and lane markings that follow it.

A common mistake

Choosing a lane at the last second. Read the signs and lane markings early (rule 184), then stay in your lane.

Quick quiz

At a roundabout with no other signs or markings, who normally has priority?

  1. Traffic from your left
  2. Traffic from your right
  3. Whoever arrives first
Show answer

B. Traffic from your right. Rule 185: give priority to traffic approaching from your right, unless signs, markings or lights say otherwise. Source: The Highway Code, rule 184, GOV.UK; The Highway Code, rule 185, GOV.UK; Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK; The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK; Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Compare with

Next in warning signs: Bend ahead sign. See all warning signs or the full road signs list.

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Sources

  1. The Highway Code, rule 184, GOV.UK
  2. The Highway Code, rule 185, GOV.UK
  3. Know your traffic signs: warning signs, GOV.UK
  4. The Highway Code: traffic signs, GOV.UK
  5. Traffic sign images, Department for Transport, GOV.UK

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Traffic sign images are Crown copyright, from the Department for Transport. Sources and image credits.