This is one of those questions that gets people fired up, because a lot of drivers were taught different things, and some people are absolutely convinced that their way is the only way.
So let’s start with Ontario.
In Ontario, we do not teach people to signal just because they are entering a roundabout.
Why?
Because entering the roundabout is not really a choice between multiple directions. The road is designed to take you into the roundabout. There is nowhere else to go but into the circulating lane, assuming it is safe to enter and you have yielded to traffic already in the roundabout.
That is the first important rule: the vehicle entering the roundabout must yield to vehicles already inside the roundabout.
When it comes to turn signals, the important signal is the exit signal.
You signal your intention to leave the roundabout. You do not signal simply because you are entering it.
That means if you are taking the first exit, your right signal may already be on as you approach and enter the roundabout. But that is not because you are “signalling into” the roundabout. It is because your exit is coming up immediately, and you are telling other road users that you are taking that first exit.
If you are not taking the first exit, putting your right signal on too early can actually create confusion. A driver waiting to enter may think you are leaving before you reach them, when you are actually continuing around. That is not helpful. That is bad information.
So the clean Ontario answer is this:
Do not signal just to enter the roundabout.
Signal right when you are preparing to exit.
If you are taking the first exit, signal right because you are exiting right away.
If you are going past the first exit, wait until you have passed the exit before the one you want, then signal right and leave the roundabout.
Now, some driving schools and some local guidance may teach drivers to signal left when they are planning to continue around to a second, third, or later exit. I understand why they teach that. They are trying to communicate that the driver is not exiting yet.
But even then, I would still frame it this way: you are not signalling “entry.” You are trying to communicate your intended path through the roundabout. The most important signal remains the right signal to exit.
Roundabouts are supposed to be safer, and when everyone understands them, they can be. They reduce conflict points, slow vehicles down, and keep traffic moving. But when drivers do not understand who yields, which lane to use, or what a signal means, it can feel less like an engineered safety improvement and more like a guessing game.
The safest and clearest message is:
Yield to traffic already in the roundabout.
Choose the correct lane before you enter.
Stay in your lane.
Do not stop inside the roundabout unless required for safety.
Signal right before you exit.
And do not signal just because you are entering.
Across Canada, the guidance is broadly similar, but not identical. Most official guidance focuses on signalling right before exiting. Some provinces, municipalities, or driver training programs may teach additional signalling, including a left signal for later exits. If your local handbook specifically teaches that, know what is expected where you drive.
But from an Ontario-first perspective, and from a practical communication perspective, the main thing other road users need to know is when you are leaving.
You signal your exit, not your entry.
