GO Drive · Roundabouts
Roundabout questions: what to look for
Read roundabout questions in four steps: name the exit, check lane markings, identify traffic whose path crosses yours from the right, then check signals. Practise the examples on GO Drive and use the official NZTA Road Code to confirm each rule.
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Jump to practiceWhy roundabout questions trip people up
A roundabout is still an intersection: a central island that all vehicles must travel to the left of. Theory items rarely ask only “who goes first?” They mix exit choice, lane arrows, the give-way rule as you enter, and signalling on approach and as you leave.
If you only remember “give way to the right,” you can still miss a signalling or lane question. Treat each item as a small scene: decide where the pictured vehicle is going before you decide who must wait or which indicator is correct.
A four-step method
Step 1 — Exit: how far around are you going?
Scroll sideways to read all columns.
| Intention | How the Road Code frames it |
|---|---|
| First exit / turning left | Leaving at the first exit |
| Straight through | Going straight through; read the lane arrows and signs |
| More than halfway around | Travelling more than halfway around the roundabout |
Mark that intention before you look at the answers. Many wrong options are correct for a different exit.
Step 2 — Lane: what do the markings tell you?
On a single-laned roundabout there is usually one approach lane each way — slow down, prepare to give way, then apply signalling for your exit.
On a multi-laned roundabout, NZTA notes that approaches are often marked with lanes and arrows, and not every roundabout is marked the same way. Before you pick an answer:
- Find any lane arrows or signs on the approach.
- Choose the lane that matches where you want to go when arrows are shown (for example left arrow for the first exit, straight for ahead, right when going more than halfway).
- If you later need to cross into another lane to exit, give way to vehicles already in the lane you want to enter.
Do not invent a blanket rule such as “always use the far-left lane for a right turn.” That kind of option appears as a distractor when markings say otherwise.
Step 3 — Give way as you enter
Slow down and be prepared to give way. The Road Code rule for entering is:
Give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter the roundabout.
That wording matters. It is not “every vehicle somewhere on your right forever,” and it is not “whoever arrived first.” In a diagram, ask: whose path from the right would cross yours if you rolled in now? The same enter rule applies on single-laned and multi-laned roundabouts; on multi-laned layouts you still give way on entry and stay in the correct lane for your destination.
Step 4 — Signals: approach first, exit second
Match signalling to the exit you named in Step 1; confirm the sequence in the NZTA Road Code linked below.
Turning left at the first exit — signal left on approach and as you leave at the first exit.
Going straight through — do not signal on approach; signal left as you pass the exit before the one you intend to take.
Travelling more than halfway around (including a right turn) — signal right on approach; keep signalling right while you travel around; then signal left as you pass the exit before the one you wish to take.
Common traps: left signal on approach when going straight; keeping a right signal as you are about to leave; forgetting the late left signal when exiting after going straight or right; ignoring cyclists — NZTA notes people on bikes may find it hard to keep a turn signal on a roundabout and are exempt from maintaining that turn signal, but you still look for them.
Worked examples (free practice)
Example A — Straight through: when do you signal?
Open: Question 1022
The statement says that when going straight through a roundabout, you do not signal on approach; you signal left as you pass the exit before the one you intend to take.
- Exit: straight through.
- Signals: no approach signal; left signal after the previous exit.
The statement matches the Road Code sequence for going straight. Reveal the answer on the practice page; if you missed it, check whether you mixed this up with a left-turn approach signal.
Example B — Give way on entry
Open: Question 1027
The statement says that when approaching a roundabout, you must give way to all vehicles that will cross your path from your right as you enter.
This is the enter rule from the Road Code. Treat “will cross your path from your right as you enter” as the checklist phrase. Do not substitute an arrival-order or vehicle-size shortcut for checking which paths would cross.
Example C — Turning right: signals and lanes
Open: Question 5003
Multi-select: what must you do when turning right at a roundabout? Options include signalling right on approach, signalling left just before leaving, keeping a right signal as you leave, and always taking the far-left lane even if markings prohibit that.
- Exit: more than halfway around → right-turn path.
- Signals: right on approach; left after passing the exit before yours → the first two fit; keeping right as you leave does not.
- Lane: follow markings — “always far-left” invents a forbidden rule.
Reveal the answer on GO Drive and compare each option to Steps 2 and 4. Multi-select items are good training for not stopping after the first correct signal fact.
A short checklist before you tap an answer
- Name the exit: first / straight / more than halfway.
- Read any lane arrows, signs, or markings in the picture.
- On entry: who from the right would cross your path if you went now?
- On approach: left signal / no signal / right signal — which matches the exit?
- On exit: have you switched to a left signal after the previous exit (when required)?
- If changing lanes to leave a multi-laned roundabout: would you cut across someone already in that lane?
- Did you look for cyclists or large vehicles that may straddle lanes?
Then choose the answer and read the explanation even when you are correct.
Practise next (free)
- Topic hub: Intersections and giving way
- Example questions: 1022 · 1027 · 5003
- Timed mock: exam hub
No account is required to learn on GO Drive. Use the mock after roundabout give-way and signalling stop feeling like two separate topics.
Related on GO Drive
Official further reading
Use the official sources below to check rule wording. The NZTA Road Code remains the source of truth.
This guide supports practice. It does not replace the official Road Code or professional driving instruction.
Put the method into practice
Exit → lane → give way → signals
Name the exit and check the controls before choosing your answer.