The National Police have reminded drivers of this again in recent days through their social media channels with three simple instructions: enter cautiously, respect the priority of those already driving on the roundabout and signal the exit with the indicator. These rules match the recommendations of the Directorate-General for Traffic (DGT), which stresses that there are three key moments: entering, driving within the roundabout and exiting.
WHO HAS PRIORITY AT A ROUNDABOUT?
The first rule is also one of the most important: vehicles already driving on the roundabout have priority. As they approach, drivers must reduce their speed, look especially to the left and not enter until they have confirmed that they can do so safely. As a general rule, drivers should enter from the right-hand lane whenever it is free and possible.
Once inside, the choice of lane will depend on the situation. The DGT recommends using the outer lane whenever it is free, although on urban roundabouts drivers may use whichever lane is most convenient for their destination. If they intend to take one of the first exits, they should remain in the outer lane; for later exits or to make a U-turn, they may use an inner lane, but they must progressively move into the outer lane before leaving the roundabout.
THE MISTAKE YOU MUST AVOID WHEN LEAVING A ROUNDABOUT
One of the most common mistakes is exiting directly from an inner lane and crossing in front of another vehicle. The general rule is that a roundabout must be exited from the outer right-hand lane. If traffic prevents the driver from moving into that lane in time, the DGT's recommendation is clear: it is safer to go around the roundabout again than to attempt to cross several lanes to reach the exit. Drivers may only exit directly from an inner lane when the road's own signage allows it.
Indicators must also be used correctly on roundabouts. The right indicator should be activated to signal that the driver is going to take an exit, while any lane change within the roundabout must also be signaled. By contrast, keeping the left indicator on simply to show that the driver is continuing around the roundabout is incorrect: it should only be used when there is an actual lateral movement into another lane.
The importance of these rules goes beyond avoiding a scare or an argument behind the wheel. According to data released by the DGT in 2026, almost 43,500 accidents were recorded on urban and highway roundabouts in Spain between 2020 and 2024, resulting in 309 deaths and more than 54,000 injuries. Predictable driving that respects right of way, lanes and indicators can also reduce dangerous situations on the roads and streets of Aragón.
