Roundabout sign
Official name: Roundabout; mandatory direction
Direction of travel
Written by Chris Prosman Reviewed by Dirk van Zuijlen
Updated
- Sign code
- D1
- Category
- Direction of travel
- Traffic signs
- Roundabout; mandatory direction of travel.
D1 identifies a roundabout with a compulsory direction of travel. Follow the white arrows around the central island. The circular blue sign controls direction, not priority: check B6, give-way triangles, traffic lights and other rules at the entrance.
What to do at this sign
Choose a suitable lane before the roundabout and follow its arrows and markings. Look beyond cars on the roundabout to cycle tracks and pedestrian crossings. Their arrangements can differ between entrances; read the signs wherever your route crosses another path.
Example on the road
D1 and B6 stand together at an entrance. D1 tells you how to circulate; B6 requires you to give way to drivers on the crossing road. D1 alone does not automatically grant priority to traffic already on the roundabout.
Other conditions to check
Indicate right when leaving, because you are turning off. Also indicate when changing lanes. Indicating left beforehand can communicate an intention, but it is not a general legal obligation for everyone planning a later exit.
How to recognise the sign
A circular blue sign with white arrows or a white symbol identifying the road users concerned.
Difference from J9 — Roundabout
J9 warns of a roundabout ahead. D1 stands at the roundabout and specifies the compulsory direction.
J9 — RoundaboutLegal basis
Frequently asked questions
- Does traffic on a roundabout always have priority?
- Not because of D1 alone. Read the priority signs, give-way markings and any traffic lights.
- Must I indicate when leaving a roundabout?
- Yes. You are turning off and must indicate right.
Explained in the course
Practise this sign for your theory exam
Roundabout sign belongs to the Direction of travel category. In the CBR theory exam a traffic sign is almost never asked on its own: you are shown a situation and have to know what you may or must do in it. In the free sign trainer you practise the signs by category, with the explanation shown right after every answer.
Practise traffic signs for free Practise car theory: free mock exam
