Chapter 5

Roundabouts & Intersections

Who has priority on an official roundabout versus one with no signs at all, how to choose your lane, when to indicate, the common junction shapes, and why you must never block a junction.

Not every circular junction is a legal 'roundabout' in Belgium — and the priority rule flips completely depending on whether it is one. This is one of the most common traps in the exam.

What makes a roundabout official

In Belgian law, a location is only a 'rotonde' (roundabout) if it carries the D5 sign, and every entrance to it has a B1 (give way) or B5 (stop) sign. Where these signs are present, the rule is simple: traffic already circulating on the ring always has priority over traffic entering it.

On the ring — has priority

Entering — must give way (B1)

D5 — mandatory roundabout direction

B1 — placed at every entrance

The exception: no signs at all

Some small circular junctions — often in 30 km/h zones — have no D5 or B1 signs at all. Legally these are not roundabouts, so the default rule applies instead: priority to the right. That means traffic already on the ring must give way to a vehicle entering from its right, exactly the opposite of an official roundabout.

Always check for the signs before assuming who has priority — never assume every circular junction works the same way.

Choosing your lane on a multi-lane roundabout

As a general guide, use the outer (right) lane if you're taking one of the first exits, and the inner (left) lane if you're going further around. Don't assume the number of lanes stays the same all the way through: a lane can end or shift after an exit, so keep checking your mirrors and blind spot rather than relying on the lane markings alone.

Using your indicator on a roundabout

Entering: you don't need to indicate, unless you're taking the very first exit — then signal right just before you enter.
While on the ring: signal whenever you change lanes.
Exiting: signal right as you pass the exit just before the one you want, so other drivers know you are about to leave the ring.

Cyclists on and around a roundabout

A ring of cycle track hugging the outside of the roundabout is the norm rather than the exception, so build the habit now: the moment you peel off to exit, your attention belongs to any cyclist holding their line on that track and any pedestrian stepping out to cross — both outrank you there.

A different setup shows up at other roundabouts: the cyclist crossing sits a short distance back from the ring itself, and it carries its own miniature give-way sign — that inverted triangle — aimed squarely at the cyclists rather than at you. This flips things around entirely: unless a cyclist has already committed to the roadway, priority isn't automatically theirs at this particular crossing. Treat the sign as the deciding factor every time, not a blanket assumption about cyclists and roundabouts.

Common junction shapes

Away from roundabouts, most junctions are one of three basic shapes. The priority rules from the previous chapter (priority to the right, priority signs, priority roads) apply the same way regardless of the shape.

Crossroads

T-junction

Staggered junction

Never block a junction

Priority and a green light both share the same blind spot: neither one checks whether there's actually room for you on the far side. Read the traffic ahead yourself before committing — if it's backed up enough that you'd stall mid-crossing, hold your position short of the junction until a real gap opens, rather than becoming the obstacle that jams up everyone crossing your path.

Chapter quiz

Check what you remember. Questions and answer order are shuffled every attempt, and you'll have 20 seconds to answer each one.