Roundabouts
Are there roundabouts in Iceland? How do they work? Is there anything I need to know before I start my drive?
Rey
Last Update vor 9 Monaten
Lord of the rings
We seem to love roundabouts in Iceland! They are a cheap way to help guide traffic; a much cheaper alternative to building bridges and tunnels to direct traffic at intersections.
One mayor in Reykjavík was even dubbed the "Lord of the rings" due to the amount of roundabouts that were built during his tenure.
General information
Roundabouts in Iceland never have traffic lights. If used correctly, then you should never have to stop inside a roundabout to give way to another car (more on that below).
Changing lanes within a roundabout is strictly forbidden! The lane you choose, going into the roundabout, is the one you stick with until you leave it!
The inner lane has the right of way!
Single-lane roundabouts
These are the simplest roundabouts. They are usually found on less traffic-intense roads, where there is only one lane going each way.
Make sure you know which exit you are taking before you enter the roundabout.
Before exiting the roundabout, please make sure to indicate, so that other drivers can plan accordingly.
Two-lane roundabouts
In Iceland, you will never find a roundabout with more than two lanes! We don't have those massive 5-6 lane ones like you will find in Paris and some other major cities.
With a two-lane roundabout, it is crucial to know which exit you are taking!
If you are taking the first exit, then please stay on the right lane. This means you will be on the outer lane of the roundabout. Make sure there is not a car coming, on the outer lane, before entering the roundabout.
Two-lane roundabouts always have two lanes exiting as well as entering. If you are exiting on the first exit, and you took the outer lane, then you should not have to yield to a car on the inner lane. But please be aware of your surroundings and other cars nonetheless.
If you are exiting on the second or later exits, then please stay on the left lane, going into the roundabout.
When exiting, please signal, and proceed to exit. Any car on the outer lane, who intends on continuing past the exit you are exiting through will have to yield to you exiting (they shouldn't have been on the outer lane if they are going further, in the first place).
This is how things should work, but people being people, there will always be someone who doesn't abide by these rules. Make sure you are always aware of your surroundings, and other cars in the roundabout, and make sure you are not the one making these mistakes.