Roundabout Signs Explained:
What Every Learner Should Know
Quick answer: The roundabout sign is a red warning triangle with three curved arrows chasing each other in a circle[cite: 3]. It warns you a roundabout is ahead, so slow down and get ready to give way to traffic coming from your right[cite: 3]. A mini roundabout has its own separate blue circular sign with three arrows[cite: 3].
Roundabouts confuse a lot of learners, and the signs are the first thing you need to read right[cite: 3]. Get the sign, and you know what is coming and what to do[cite: 3]. This guide covers the main roundabout signs, what each one means, and how to act when you see them[cite: 3].
Key facts at a glance
The main roundabout warning sign
The classic roundabout sign is a red triangle with three curved black arrows forming a circle[cite: 3]. A red triangle always means a warning, so this one tells you a roundabout is ahead[cite: 3]. When you see it, ease off, check your mirrors, and get ready to give way[cite: 3]. It often appears with a distance plate, such as 100 yards, so you know how far off the roundabout is[cite: 3].
The mini roundabout sign
The mini roundabout sign is different[cite: 3]. It is a blue circle with three white arrows going clockwise[cite: 3]. A blue circle means a rule you must follow, not just a warning, so it marks an actual mini roundabout you must treat as a real junction[cite: 3]. You still give way to traffic from your right, and you must drive around the central marking, not straight over it where you can avoid it[cite: 3].
Roundabout direction signs
As you get close to a bigger roundabout, you often see a rectangular map style sign[cite: 3]. It shows the roundabout as a ring with each exit labelled, listing the roads or towns each exit leads to[cite: 3]. Use it to pick your exit early, so you can get in the correct lane and signal in good time[cite: 3]. On these signs, the exits are shown in the order you meet them going round[cite: 3].
What to do when you see a roundabout sign
The sign is your cue to follow a simple routine[cite: 3]. Slow down as you approach and read any direction sign to find your exit[cite: 3]. Get into the correct lane early: normally the left lane for the first exit or straight on, and the right lane for exits past 12 o'clock, unless road markings say otherwise[cite: 3]. Give way to traffic coming from your right, and only pull out when there is a safe gap[cite: 3]. Signal left as you pass the exit before the one you want[cite: 3].
Mini roundabout vs roundabout signs
The quick way to tell them apart is the shape and colour[cite: 3]. The warning triangle with the red border tells you a normal roundabout is coming, so prepare to give way[cite: 3]. The blue circle marks a mini roundabout, which you treat the same way for priority but where space is tight and you must keep off the painted centre where possible[cite: 3]. Both mean give way to the right, but the blue circle is the junction itself while the red triangle is the warning ahead of it[cite: 3].
Frequently Asked Questions
Learn roundabouts with confidence
Signs make sense fast once you drive real roundabouts with someone guiding you[cite: 3]. TM Drive School drills roundabouts on the busy West London junctions you will meet on test day[cite: 3]. See our prices and book a lesson, read our guide to roundabout rules, or see what to expect on your driving test day[cite: 3].