How to drive a roundabout in Poland — rules and exam mistakes

In Polish law a roundabout is simply a junction with a circular road. There is no special 'roundabout rule': priority is decided by the road signs at the entry, which almost always means give way to traffic already on the roundabout.

Choosing your lane

• Turning right (first exit): approach and leave in the right-hand lane
• Going straight ahead: either lane is legal unless arrows say otherwise, but the right lane is safer and expected on the exam
• Turning left or going all the way round: approach in the left lane and move right only before your exit
• Always follow painted arrows and lane markings — on turbo roundabouts they are binding and lane changes inside are forbidden

Signalling

• No indicator when entering, unless you are turning right at the first exit
• Always indicate right before leaving the roundabout — after passing the exit before yours
• Check the mirror and blind spot before moving from the left lane to the right one

Warsaw specifics

Several large Warsaw roundabouts have tram tracks running through them (Rondo Waszyngtona, Rondo Starzyńskiego). Trams have priority over cars on the roundabout unless signs or lights say otherwise. Larger junctions also have traffic lights inside — obey the lights before the general roundabout rules.

Mistakes that fail the exam

• Leaving the roundabout from the left lane across another vehicle
• Forgetting the right indicator before the exit
• Stopping on the roundabout when the exit is blocked instead of continuing round
• Entering when a vehicle already on the roundabout is approaching too fast
• Changing lanes on a turbo roundabout, which is an immediate serious error

We practise the roundabouts on the exam routes of both Warsaw WORD centres during every course, with the rules explained in English.