Hringtorg á Íslandi: Sjónræn leiðarvísir

Roundabouts in Iceland Follow Different Priority Rules

If you have driven in the UK, Australia, or most of continental Europe, you think you know how roundabouts work. In Iceland, you are probably wrong. The specific roundabout priority rule in Iceland — which lane has right of way when exiting — is the opposite of what most foreign drivers expect, and it causes accidents and near-misses every day in Reykjavík.

The Core Rule: Inner Lane Exits First

In an Icelandic roundabout with two lanes, the vehicle in the inner lane has priority when exiting. This means a car in the inner lane can exit the roundabout at any point, crossing in front of vehicles in the outer lane, and the outer lane vehicle must yield.

This is the opposite of what many drivers learn in other countries, where the outer lane has priority because it is already positioned to exit. In Iceland, the inner lane is the "priority" lane throughout the roundabout.

Practical Example: Miklabraut Roundabout

The large roundabout where Miklabraut meets Kringlumýrarbraut in Reykjavík is the busiest in Iceland and the one where tourists most commonly make errors. Here is how to navigate it:

If you want to take the first exit (turning right): enter in the outer lane, signal right, and exit immediately. Simple.

If you want to go straight (second exit): you may use either lane, but the inner lane is faster. If you use the inner lane, check your mirrors and blind spot when exiting — outer lane vehicles should yield to you, but not all of them know this rule.

If you want to take the third exit or turn left: enter in the inner lane. Drive around the roundabout in the inner lane, signal right when you pass the exit before yours, and exit. Vehicles in the outer lane must yield.

Common Mistakes by Visitors

• Staying in the outer lane for a left turn: This blocks inner lane traffic and creates confusion. Use the inner lane for left turns and U-turns.
• Not yielding to inner lane vehicles exiting: If you are in the outer lane and an inner lane vehicle signals to exit, you must slow down or stop to let them cross in front of you.
• Entering the roundabout without yielding: You must yield to all traffic already in the roundabout, regardless of which lane they are in.
• Not signalling: Use your right indicator when exiting. Use your left indicator if you are going more than halfway around to signal your intention to continue.

Single-Lane Roundabouts

Many roundabouts outside Reykjavík are single-lane. These are straightforward: yield to traffic in the roundabout, enter when clear, signal right when exiting. The priority confusion only applies to multi-lane roundabouts.

The Legal Consequence of Getting It Wrong

Failure to yield at a roundabout carries a 30,000 ISK fine. If the failure to yield causes an accident, the driver who failed to yield is automatically considered at fault for insurance purposes — regardless of which country's rules they thought they were following.