The correct lane and positioning

Where you position the car helps other road users understand your intentions. By choosing the correct lane in good time and keeping a clear position on the road, you make traffic safer, smoother and easier to predict.

When positioning your car you must also leave sufficient space between your car and pedestrians, cyclists and parked cars. The minimum margin should be at least the width of a car door, but at higher speeds or in uncertain situations, you may need to leave more space.

Always pass cyclists, pedestrians and parked cars with a suitable safety margin

At junctions

You may only turn at a junction if it can be done without endangering or obstructing others driving in the same direction as you. Pay special attention to the traffic behind you.

Before turning right at a junction you should position the car close to the right-hand side of the road. Stay close to the right-hand side of the road after completing the turn.

Before turning left at a junction you should position the car as close to the left edge of your lane as possible. This maximises your visibility and makes it easier for other drivers to see your car and to pass you on the right. Complete the turn on the right-hand side of the road.

Before turning left at a junction on a one-way street you should position the car as close to the left-hand side of the road as possible. Complete the turn on the right-hand side of the road.

When turning left at a junction you have a duty to give way to all oncoming traffic.

When turning onto a road with several lanes in the same direction, adapt your turn to the surrounding traffic and to where you intend to go. Choose the lane that best suits your continued journey, without obstructing or endangering other road users.

You have a duty to give way to oncoming traffic when turning left at a junction

In roundabouts

Roundabouts increase traffic safety by reducing speeds and increase accessibility by evening out the traffic flow.

When you are about to enter a roundabout you must give way to traffic already on the roundabout. Reduce your speed well in advance of the roundabout and try to find a gap in traffic to move into. Do not stop unnecessarily, as this can create queues, but do not enter until it is safe to do so.

When driving through a roundabout, plan your lane choice in good time, cooperate with road users in other lanes, and be prepared to slow down or stop for pedestrians, cyclists and moped riders at entrances and exits.

You must give way to traffic on the roundabout

You must indicate when changing lanes in a roundabout and when exiting it. However, you are not required to indicate right or left when entering, because traffic in a roundabout travels in one direction only. In some situations, it may still be appropriate to indicate before entering, as this helps other road users understand where you intend to go.

How you should position your car before you enter, and once you are on, the roundabout depends on which exit you intend to take.

Roundabouts with one lane

Right turns

1. Position your car on the right-hand side of the lane and start indicating to the right before entering.
2. Keep to the right in the roundabout.
3. Exit to the right.

Straight

1. Position your car on the right-hand side of the lane. Do not indicate.
2. Keep to the right in the roundabout.
3. Start indicating to the right just after passing the exit prior to your exit.
4. Exit to the right.

Left turns

1. Position your car on the left-hand side of the lane and start indicating to the left before entering.
2. Keep to the left in the roundabout and keep indicating.
3. After passing the exit before the one you intend to take, indicate right and move to the right when it is safe to do so.
4. Exit to the right.

How you should position your car before you enter the roundabout depends on whether you are going to turn right, drive straight on or turn left

Roundabouts with several lanes

If a roundabout has several lanes, you can initially position the car closer to the centre of your lane.

Always follow road signs, direction signs and lane arrows if they show which lane you should choose. If there are no such instructions, you can use the following basic rules:

• Choose the right-hand lane if you are going to exit to the right or drive straight on.
• If you plan to go straight ahead and then turn left immediately after the roundabout, it may be appropriate to use the left-hand lane.
• Choose the left-hand lane if you are going to exit to the left.

When driving in roundabouts

• Be prepared to stop for pedestrians, cyclists and moped riders at pedestrian crossings, cycle passages and cycle crossings when entering or exiting roundabouts.
• You may only change lanes if you can do so without endangering or unnecessarily obstructing other road users.
• When another driver is about to change lanes you should adapt your speed to facilitate the lane change.
• You must indicate before changing lanes and before exiting a roundabout.
• Where possible and appropriate, you should exit the roundabout from the right-hand lane. If you exit from another lane, you must pay particular attention to traffic in the lane to your right.

Remember: You must give way when entering a roundabout and indicate right when leaving it.

Instructional video

Click on the picture below to watch Transportstyrelsen's instructional video (Swedish only) about driving in a roundabout.

On roads with several lanes

When driving in towns and cities, roads often have several different lanes leading to different destinations. It is important to plan your lane position in good time.

Usually you should drive in the right-hand lane. But in the following situations, you can choose the most suitable lane for your destination:

• If there are lane assignment signs above the road or lane arrows on the roadway.
• If the road has at least two marked lanes in the same direction and the speed limit is 70 km/h or lower.

In practice, this means that in built-up areas you can often choose the lane that best suits your destination more freely than on roads with higher speed limits. The aim is to reduce unnecessary lane changes, since lane changes in heavy traffic increase the risk of accidents.

You can usually choose the most suitable lane for your destination when driving in densely built-up areas

At junctions, there are often lane assignment signs above the road and lane arrows on the roadway that you should follow. They show where different lanes lead and in which direction or directions you may drive.

If you have chosen the wrong lane, you should continue in the direction the lane leads and then turn around at a suitable place. Avoid last-minute lane changes, as they often surprise other road users and increase the risk of accidents.

If you are driving in a lane separated by a solid lane line, you must follow the direction or directions shown by the lane arrow on the road.

Remember: Plan your lane choice in good time. Last-minute lane changes increase the risk of misunderstandings and accidents.

At junctions, there are often lane arrows on the roadway that show in which directions you are allowed to turn

Prohibited lanes

On roads that are not one-way, there are often lanes for traffic travelling in the opposite direction. You are not allowed to drive in these lanes. Solid lines, road markings and other instructions normally make it clear which lanes are intended for oncoming traffic.

Public transport lanes

You are normally not allowed to drive in public transport lanes (bus lanes). These lanes are reserved for vehicles in regular service. If the lane is on the far right in your direction of travel, cyclists and riders of class II mopeds may also use it, unless otherwise indicated.

You may, however, cross a public transport lane or another lane reserved for certain types of vehicles. For example, if you are driving in the left-hand lane on a road with three lanes, you may cross the middle lane, even if it is a public transport lane, to reach the right-hand lane.

Also pay attention to lane arrows at junctions where a public transport lane ends before the junction but continues on the other side. In that situation, the lane arrows do not always apply to vehicles coming from the public transport lane. A bus may therefore be allowed to continue straight ahead through the junction, even if the lane arrow before the junction shows that other traffic must turn right or left.

Always be prepared for buses to continue straight ahead through junctions, even if they were in a lane that, before the junction, only allowed traffic to turn right or left

Large vehicles when turning and in roundabouts

Avoid driving alongside large vehicles in sharp turns and roundabouts. Large vehicles may need extra space and may move into your lane to complete the turn. If you drive beside a large vehicle as it is turning your car might be damaged. Instead, lower your speed and allow the large vehicle to drive into the turn or roundabout ahead of you.

Reversible lanes

A reversible lane is a lane whose direction of travel is determined by traffic signals. This means that the direction of travel can change on roads with reversible lanes. Traffic flow and the time of day usually determine the direction in which traffic is currently allowed to proceed.

On roads with reversible lanes, the direction of travel can change depending on traffic flow and the time of day

Changing lanes

Before changing lanes in heavy traffic, you should first ask yourself whether the lane change is really necessary. Unnecessary lane changes increase the risk of accidents and often irritate other road users. You are not allowed to weave back and forth between lanes just to gain a few places in the queue.

When changing lanes, both the driver changing lanes and the drivers in the adjacent lane have a responsibility.

The driver changing lanes has the main responsibility for ensuring that the lane change can be made without danger or unnecessary obstruction to other road users. At the same time, drivers in the adjacent lane must show consideration and adapt their speed if necessary to make the lane change easier.

Lane changes in heavy traffic increase the risk of accidents and should preferably be avoided

The most suitable place to change lanes is well in advance of or immediately after junctions. Just before junctions, solid lines usually prohibit lane changes.

If you need to change lanes, do so calmly, clearly and without surprising other road users.

Change lanes in the following way:

1. Check distances ahead and adapt your speed.
2. Check your rear-view mirror, side mirrors and your vehicle's blind spot*.
3. Indicate and wait a short while to see how other road users react.
4. Check your vehicle's blind spot.
5. Change lanes calmly but steadily, without any sudden steering wheel movements.
6. Adapt your speed so that you enter the lane with enough space both in front of and behind you.

* The blind spot is the area to the side and diagonally behind the car that you cannot see in the mirrors. You check the blind spot by briefly glancing over your shoulder (in the direction you are moving the car).

Remember: The driver changing lanes has the main responsibility for ensuring that the lane change is made safely.

Show consideration

If another driver signals to change into your lane, you should help by reducing your speed and creating a larger gap between you and the vehicle in front.

When two lanes merge into one, road users often need to use the zipper merge, also called merging in turn. This means that vehicles take turns to move ahead – one from one lane, then one from the other, and so on. For this to work, road users need to cooperate and show mutual consideration.

The zipper merge requires mutual consideration

Turning around

You may only turn around or reverse if it can be done without endangering or obstructing other road users.

If you need to turn around in city traffic, there are three common options:

• You can drive around the block.
• You can reverse around a corner and then turn around.
• You can make a U-turn unless road markings or a road sign prohibits it.

Of the three options, driving around the block is the safest option. It minimises the risk of you surprising or being surprised by other road users.