Roundabouts are a motorists nightmare

In Spain, two-lane roundabouts are where so many foreigners have accidents or receive fines, all down to the different rules there.

The GOLDEN rule is you are NOT allowed to exit a roundabout from the inner lane at any time; you are ONLY allowed to exit from the outer lane.

The car in the outer lane always has priority, even if it does not intend to exit. That means to come off the roundabout, you must position yourself into the outer lane BEFORE your exit.

If you hit a car in the outer lane while exiting from the inner lane, you are automatically at fault. 

The General Directorate of Traffic (DGT) states that roundabouts must be treated like straight roads, meaning you must always follow specific lane and priority rules to avoid accidents. Failure to do so also risks a fine.

Set Rules for Roundabouts

• Direction: You must always drive anticlockwise.
• Right-of-Way: Vehicles already in the roundabout have priority over those entering. When entering, you must give way to any vehicle approaching from your left.
• Exit Lane: You must only exit from the outside (right) lane. Taking an exit directly from an inside lane is a serious offence that can result in a €500 fine and the loss of 6 points from your license.
• If You Miss Your Exit: If the outside lane is occupied and you cannot safely merge to exit, you must continue circling the roundabout until you can move to the outside lane safely. Never stop inside a roundabout to wait for a gap.

Signalling and Special Cases

• Indicators:
  • You do not need to signal when entering the roundabout.
  • You must use your right indicator just before your intended exit to warn other drivers.
  • Signal when changing lanes within the roundabout. Failure to signal correctly can lead to a €200 fine.
• Cyclists: A group of cyclists is treated as a single vehicle. If the first cyclist has entered the roundabout, you must wait for the entire group to pass before you can proceed.
• Large Vehicles: Bigger vehicles such as articulated lorries and coaches may use more than one lane if necessary to complete their manoeuvre.