Driving Tests

PEI Roundabout Rules: Who Yields, Which Lane and When to Signal

informational·how to guide·Published July 19, 2026

Who has the right of way in a roundabout in PEI?

Traffic already in the roundabout and pedestrians have the right of way: the PEI Driver's Handbook says a vehicle that enters must always yield to both. All vehicles travel counterclockwise, and every driver signals right before exiting. In a dual-lane roundabout, turn left or make a U-turn from the left-hand lane, turn right from the right-hand lane, and stay in your lane until you exit.

Where these rules come from

Rules as of 2026. The yield, lane and signal steps in this guide come from Chapter 4 of the PEI Driver's Handbook, from the Highway Safety Division of the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure. The only roundabout-type rule in the law is section 158(4) of the Highway Traffic Act, current to May 29, 2026; the fine schedule is part of the same Act. The handbook is a guide, and the Act has the exact wording of the law. Confirm the rules with Access PEI (princeedwardisland.ca) before you drive.

How to drive through a PEI roundabout, step by step

1
Choose your lane before you enter
In a dual-lane roundabout, use the left-hand lane to turn left or make a U-turn, the right-hand lane to turn right, and either lane to go straight. A single-lane roundabout has one lane, so there is no lane to choose.
2
Signal your move
Signal left for a left turn or a U-turn. Signal right for a right turn. If you go straight, the handbook says you must not signal before you enter.
3
Yield to pedestrians and to traffic in the roundabout
Pedestrians at the crosswalk and vehicles already in the roundabout go first. Enter only when there is a gap.
4
Drive counterclockwise
All vehicles travel counterclockwise and keep to the right of the centre island.
5
Keep your lane
In a dual-lane roundabout, stay in the lane you entered until you leave the roundabout.
6
Signal right before you exit
After a left turn, a U-turn or a straight-through move, signal right before your exit. On a right turn, keep the right signal on until you have exited.

Which lane and which signal in a PEI roundabout

Which lane and which signal in a PEI roundabout
Your move	Lane (dual-lane roundabout)	Signal
Turn left or make a U-turn	Left-hand lane	Signal left before you enter. Signal right before you exit.
Go straight	Left-hand or right-hand lane	Do not signal before you enter. Signal right before you exit.
Turn right	Right-hand lane	Signal right and keep the signal on until you have exited.

Can I change lanes inside a roundabout in PEI?

No. In a dual-lane roundabout, the PEI Driver's Handbook says vehicles must remain in their lane until exiting the roundabout and should not change lanes while in it. Plan your exit before you enter, and pick the lane for that exit at the entry. Practise the entry rule with the question on who yields in a two-lane roundabout.

Pedestrians and cyclists at PEI roundabouts

Pedestrian rules in a roundabout are the same as at all other crosswalks on the road.
Each crosswalk has two sections, and some sections have two lanes to cross.
A pedestrian crosses the first section to the splitter island, stops, checks that traffic is yielding, then crosses the second section.
Before crossing, a pedestrian makes sure both lanes of traffic are yielding, extends an arm to show the intent to cross and tries to make eye contact with drivers.
A cyclist can ride through like a vehicle, under the same rules, in the centre of the lane for the move.
A cyclist can also leave the road at the crosswalk, get off the bicycle and go through the roundabout as a pedestrian.

What is the fine for not keeping right of the island in PEI?

Section 158(4) of the Highway Traffic Act says a driver who passes around a rotary traffic island shall drive to the right of the island, unless a sign gives other directions. As of 2026, the fine schedule of the Act lists failing to drive to the right of a rotary traffic island with a minimum fine of $200 and a maximum of $1,000 (CAD). For how fines and demerit points work for a new driver, read the guide to new driver penalties in PEI.

Key takeaways

Yield to traffic already in the roundabout and to pedestrians, and drive counterclockwise.
In a dual-lane roundabout, choose your lane before you enter and keep it until you exit.
Signal left for a left turn or U-turn and right for a right turn. Going straight, do not signal on entry.
Signal right before every exit. On a right turn, keep the signal on until you have exited.
Next step: practise on the free Prince Edward Island Class 7 practice test. It is in English only.

PEI roundabouts: common questions

Which way do you go around a roundabout in PEI?

Counterclockwise, with the centre island on your left. The Driver's Handbook says all vehicles must travel in a counterclockwise direction, and section 158(4) of the Highway Traffic Act says a driver who passes around a rotary traffic island drives to the right of it, unless a sign gives other directions.

Do you signal when going straight through a roundabout?

Not when you enter. The PEI Driver's Handbook says a vehicle going straight must not signal before entering the roundabout, and should signal right before exiting. The rule is the same in single-lane and dual-lane roundabouts. The practice question on signalling before you leave a roundabout checks the exit step.

Can I enter a two-lane roundabout beside another car?

No. The handbook says a vehicle should not enter a roundabout alongside another vehicle that is already in it. Wait for a gap, then enter in the lane for your exit: the left-hand lane to turn left or make a U-turn, the right-hand lane to turn right, or either lane to go straight.

Are the rules different in a single-lane roundabout?

Only the lane rules. A single-lane roundabout has one lane, so there is no lane to choose or change. The rest is the same: yield to traffic already inside and to pedestrians, drive counterclockwise, signal left for a left turn or U-turn, signal right for a right turn, and signal right before you exit.

Who goes first at a roundabout crosswalk, the driver or the pedestrian?

The pedestrian. The PEI Driver's Handbook says vehicles entering a roundabout must always yield to pedestrians, and the pedestrian rules in a roundabout are the same as at all other crosswalks. A pedestrian shows the intent to cross by extending an arm and tries to make eye contact with drivers.