Roundabout Rules in France
France: Roundabout Capital of the World!
France has over 30,000 roundabouts - more than any other country. Learning to navigate them is essential!
Basic Rules
- Yield to vehicles already in the roundabout
- Drive counter-clockwise
- Signal left when entering (shows you're going around)
- Signal right when exiting
French Signaling Practice
Unlike Germany:
- Signal LEFT when entering is common (but optional)
- Signal RIGHT when exiting is required
- This helps other drivers understand your intentions
Lane Selection
| Exit | Entry Lane | Signal |
|---|---|---|
| 1st (immediate right) | Right lane | Right from start |
| 2nd (straight on) | Right or middle | Right before exit |
| 3rd+ (left/U-turn) | Left lane | Left in, right to exit |
Special French Roundabouts
Large Roundabouts with Lights
Some major roundabouts have traffic lights:
- Follow the lights
- Stay in marked lanes
- Some have 2+ lanes throughout
Mini Roundabouts
- Very common in residential areas
- Same rules apply
- Vehicles can drive over the center if needed
Step by Step
- Approach: Look for yield sign, reduce speed
- Signal: Optional left if going more than halfway
- Yield: Wait for vehicles in roundabout
- Enter: Smoothly when safe
- Navigate: Stay in lane, prepare for exit
- Exit: Signal right, check mirrors, exit
Common Mistakes
- Not yielding to traffic in roundabout
- Forgetting to signal when exiting
- Wrong lane selection
- Cutting across lanes to exit
- Going too fast