Driving Tests

Ontario Roundabout Rules: How to Enter, Choose a Lane and Signal

informational·how to guide·Published August 12, 2026

How do you enter a roundabout in Ontario?

Slow down as you approach the yield line and yield to traffic already in the roundabout, which has the right-of-way. Enter when there is an adequate gap, keep to the right of the central island and drive counter-clockwise. In a two-lane roundabout, use the left lane to turn left or go straight, and the right lane to turn right or go straight.

Where these roundabout rules come from

This guide follows the roundabout section of the Official MTO Driver's Handbook from Ontario's Ministry of Transportation (MTO), as of 2026. It also uses the Handbook pages on signs, intersections, sharing the road and emergency vehicles, and the MTO Truck Handbook for large vehicles. Confirm them with the MTO (ontario.ca) before you drive.

How to drive through a roundabout in Ontario, step by step

1
Pick your exit and your lane early
Look for signs to choose your exit. Then choose your lane as you would at any other intersection. The lane table below shows which lane to use.
2
Slow down as you approach the yield line
Slow down and watch for pedestrians on the approach. Stay in your lane.
3
Check the traffic and yield
Check all vehicles already in the roundabout and those waiting to enter, including cyclists. Traffic in the roundabout has the right-of-way. Pay special attention to vehicles on your left. Adjust your speed, or stop at the yield sign if you need to. Practice question: right-of-way at a multi-lane roundabout.
4
Enter when there is an adequate gap
Go when there is an adequate gap in the circulating traffic. Do not enter directly beside a vehicle that is already inside, because it may leave at the next exit.
5
Keep to the right of the island and keep your lane
Keep to the right of the central island and travel counter-clockwise. Do not change lanes inside the roundabout. Do not stop, except to avoid a collision.
6
Signal and leave
Signal your exit. Stay in the lane you entered from: left lane in, stay left; right lane in, stay right.

What the yield sign at a roundabout entrance looks like

At the entrance you face a yield sign, which is a triangle with a white background and a red border. For stop-sign intersections, see our guide to right-of-way at a four-way stop.

Signs that show a roundabout and its exits

The Roundabout Ahead warning sign tells you to reduce speed. Its counter-clockwise arrows show the direction of traffic inside the roundabout. An information and direction sign shows the upcoming roundabout exits and where they will take you. These signs usually have a green background. Use them to choose your exit before you reach the yield line.

Which lane to use in a two-lane roundabout

Which lane to use in a two-lane roundabout
Where you want to go	Lane to enter from	What to remember
Turn left	Left lane	Do not enter from the right lane to turn left. Stay in the left lane as you leave.
Go straight	Left lane or right lane	Keep the lane you entered from. If you leave from the left lane, watch for vehicles on your right that continue to circulate.
Turn right	Right lane	Stay in the right lane as you leave.

When to signal as you leave an Ontario roundabout

Signal your exit, and watch for pedestrians as you leave. Once you have passed the exit before the one you want, use your right-turn signal. A signal does not give you the right-of-way, so make sure the way is clear before you move. Practice question: what to do as you leave a roundabout.

Pedestrians, cyclists, trucks and buses at a roundabout

A pedestrian may be crossing at the entry or the exit

Splitter islands at the entry points can give pedestrians a refuge. As a general rule, do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. A stopped vehicle may be a clue that a pedestrian is crossing.

A cyclist is in the roundabout or waiting to enter

Include cyclists in your checks before you enter. Cyclists generally keep to the centre of the appropriate lane, or get off their bike and use the roundabout as a pedestrian would.

A truck or bus is beside you or ahead of you

Allow extra room alongside it. A large vehicle may swing wide on the approach or inside the roundabout, may occupy both lanes before it enters, and may need the full width of the road. Many roundabouts have a central apron, a raised strip around the central island that works as an extra lane for large vehicles, says the MTO Truck Handbook.

What to do when an emergency vehicle comes at a roundabout

You are already inside the roundabout

Exit at your intended exit and go past the traffic island before you pull over.

You have not entered the roundabout yet

Pull over to the right if possible and wait until the emergency vehicle has passed.

The emergency vehicle has passed

Check that the way is clear and signal before you merge back into traffic.

You are not sure that it is an emergency vehicle

Emergency vehicles show flashing red or blue lights, a siren or a bell, or alternating flashes of white light from the headlamp high beams.

Key takeaways

Traffic inside the roundabout has the right-of-way. Slow down as you approach the yield line, enter at an adequate gap and drive counter-clockwise.
In a two-lane roundabout, the left lane is for left turns and going straight. The right lane is for right turns and going straight.
Signal your exit. Use your right-turn signal once you have passed the exit before yours.
When an emergency vehicle comes and you are inside the roundabout, leave at your exit and go past the traffic island before you pull over. If you have not entered, pull over to the right.
Next step: practise on the free Ontario G1 practice test.

Ontario roundabout rules: common questions

What if I miss my exit in a roundabout?

If you are in the inside lane (the lane next to the central island), keep going around until you reach your exit again. Stay in your lane while you go around.

What is the difference between a roundabout and a traffic circle in Ontario?

Older traffic circles, which exist in some areas of Ontario, are larger than roundabouts, allow higher speeds and force traffic to merge and weave. Modern roundabouts are smaller and use splitter islands at the entry points.

Do I have to stop for pedestrians at a roundabout?

Where the roundabout has a pedestrian crossover, a school crossing or a crossing guard, stop and yield the whole roadway. At every roundabout, watch for pedestrians on the approach to the yield line and when you leave.

What happens if I do not pull over for an emergency vehicle in Ontario?

A first offence for failing to stop can bring a fine and three demerit points. Inside a roundabout, leave at your exit and go past the traffic island first, then pull over. Anywhere else, in general, stop at once as near as practical to the right-hand curb or edge of the road, and not on the shoulder.