RoundaboutPoland

An introduction to the traffic rules and road signs of Poland. Learn about driving, road safety and much more in our illustrated book, with answers to frequently asked questions.

For informational purposes only. Always follow official regulations. Some content and images were created with AI assistance.


25. Roundabout

A roundabout is a circular road arrangement in which traffic travels around a central island in one designated direction. Vehicles enter and leave through connecting roads, and traffic signs or local rules determine who has priority.

Drivers should reduce speed, choose a suitable lane, observe all road users and signal as required when leaving. The direction of travel, entry priority, lane use and rules for cyclists and pedestrians depend on local traffic signs and regulations.

Roundabout on road 162 in Gościno. (Poland)
Wikimedia.org • Grzegorz W. Tężycki • CC BY-SA
Who has priority at a roundabout in Poland?

The Polish circular-traffic sign together with a give-way sign assigns priority to vehicles already circulating. The circular-traffic sign alone does not remove the ordinary priority-from-the-right rule.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 22, 25–27; Signs 36

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

Mandatory roundabout direction. Mandatory roundabout direction.

English • Traffic sign C-12 • Roundabout. Sign C-12 indicates that traffic at the junction circulates around an island or square in the direction shown.

Polski • C-12 • ruch okrężny. Znak C-12 „ruch okrężny” oznacza, że na skrzyżowaniu ruch odbywa się dookoła wyspy lub placu w kierunku wskazanym na znaku.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 36 ust. 1

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Paweł Grzywocz • Public domain • Original revision 2025-09-26. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Polish official sign catalogue, Dz.U. 2019 poz. 2310: Eli.gov.pl • C-12, PDF page 43, with amendments 2021/433, 2021/2065, 2022/2372 and 2026/133 checked. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

Warning for a roundabout. Warning for a roundabout.

English • Traffic sign A-8 • Roundabout. Sign A-8 warns of a junction where traffic circulates around an island or square in the direction shown.

Polski • A-8 • skrzyżowanie o ruchu okrężnym. Znak A-8 „skrzyżowanie o ruchu okrężnym” ostrzega o skrzyżowaniu, na którym ruch odbywa się dookoła wyspy lub placu w kierunku wskazanym na znaku.

Sources

🔗 Commons.wikimedia.org
🔗 Eli.gov.pl • § 5 ust. 8

SVG source: Commons.wikimedia.org • Original SVG
Author not stated on source page • Public domain • Original revision 2025-10-07. Wikimedia original unmodified.

Artwork reviewed against the Polish official sign catalogue, Dz.U. 2019 poz. 2310: Eli.gov.pl • A-8, PDF page 41, with amendments 2021/433, 2021/2065, 2022/2372 and 2026/133 checked. Catalogue-equivalent illustration; intentional update from the previous PNG. This is an educational illustration, not a manufacturing specification.

How should you choose a roundabout lane in Poland?

Choose your intended exit before entering and follow the lane arrows and destination signs. Keep to the marked route and make any permitted lane change only when safe; having priority over entering traffic does not give you priority to change lanes.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 22, 25–27; Signs 36

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

What should you check when leaving a roundabout in Poland?

Check the lane you will cross or enter, signal the manoeuvre as required and look for cyclists and pedestrians at the exit. Obey any separate crossing controls and do not force an exit across another vehicle’s path.

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, Road Traffic Law — articles 22, 25–27; Signs 36

🔗 eli.gov.pl • Poland, traffic signs and signals — 2019/2310 consolidation, read with subsequent amendments

1 Poland 2 Motorway 3 Expressway 4 Residential area 5 Built-up area 6 Zone 7 Speed limit 8 Footpath 9 Bike path 10 Shared-use path 11 Separated path 12 Pedestrian warning 13 Tunnel 14 Speed bump 15 Toll road 16 Customs 17 One-way traffic 18 Quay 19 Slope 20 Bus lane 21 Bus stop 22 Dead end 23 Stop sign 24 Give way 25 Roundabout 26 Priority road 27 Road narrowing 28 Priority over oncoming traffic 29 Give way to oncoming traffic 30 Pedestrian crossing 31 Railway crossing 32 Mandatory direction 33 Turn prohibition 34 School area 35 Overtaking 36 Crossing animals 37 Curve 38 Chevron 39 Wrong-way driving 40 Roadworks 41 Height limit 42 Weight limit 43 Radar speed sign 44 Priority at the next junction 45 Traffic lights 46 Traffic lights warning 47 Pedestrian lights 48 Road markings 49 Junction layout 50 Driving licence 51 Traffic mirror 52 International border 53 Pedestrian underpass 54 Cycling route 55 Parking 56 No parking 57 No stopping 58 Park and ride 59 Kiss and ride 60 Disabled parking 61 Traffic management 62 Merging 63 Reversing 64 U-turn 65 Road surface 66 Provisional licence 67 Hazardous cargo 68 Radio service 69 Tourist attraction 70 Horn 71 Licence plate 72 Charging station 73 Dangers 74 Rail safety 75 Pedestrian 76 Cyclist 77 Car 78 Truck 79 Bus 80 Police 81 Ambulance 82 Taxi 83 European emission standard 84 Public road 85 Pothole 86 Private property 87 Path 88 Particulates 89 Air pollution 90 Rush hour 91 Road code 92 Two-way traffic 93 Street gutter 94 Cargo bike 95 Forestry vehicle 96 Construction vehicle 97 Semi-trailer truck 98 Trolleybus 99 Speed pedelec 100 Delivery vehicle ...