Driving in Menorca: roundabouts and road safety tips

Menorca is an easy island to drive around, but it has a lot of roundabouts — and that's where most of the near-misses happen. It isn't just a feeling, either: according to Spain's traffic authority, the DGT, around 45,000 injury crashes were recorded at Spanish roundabouts between 2015 and 2019, with 317 deaths. That's close to 10% of all injury crashes on the country's roads.

The good news: almost all of them are avoidable once you're clear on three things. This guide walks you through them, following the official DGT guidance.

The golden rule: priority belongs to those already inside

At a roundabout the usual give-way-to-the-right rule doesn't apply. Priority belongs to vehicles already circulating inside, unless a sign or traffic light says otherwise.

So as you approach: look left, slow down and give way, stopping completely if necessary. Never pull out unless you're sure you can do it safely.

Entering: where more than half of crashes happen

The approach and entry are the critical moment: according to an AXA study cited by the DGT, 54% of roundabout crashes occur at the entry. Two rules:

• Enter from the right-hand lane whenever it is free and possible. This is compulsory.
• If you can't see properly — a large vehicle in the way, an uphill approach, overgrown verges — slow right down, and stop before entering if you have to.

Inside: use the outer lane

Once you're in, stay in the outer lane whenever it's free. The inner lanes are for overtaking.

At urban roundabouts you may use whichever lane suits your destination, but if you are taking one of the first exits the outer lane is the sensible choice. If you are taking one of the last exits or making a U-turn at a busy roundabout, use the inner lanes and then move out to the outer lane progressively before your exit, indicating every lane change.

Exiting: always from the outer lane

This is what causes most of the crashes in Menorca, so it's worth being crystal clear about it. As a general rule you may not leave a roundabout from the inner lanes. You must exit from the right-hand outer lane.

The classic offence is cutting across: a driver in the inner lane slices diagonally towards the exit and crosses the path of someone driving correctly in the outer lane. It's exactly the collision you see again and again on the island's roundabouts.

And here is the key point many drivers get wrong: the driver in the inner lane who wants to exit is the one changing lanes, so they are the one who must give way to whoever is already in the outer lane. If the traffic won't let you reach the outer lane in time, the safest thing is to go round again and position yourself properly. An extra lap costs nothing; cutting across can cost a lot.

The four most common mistakes

• Pulling out without giving way to those already on the roundabout, assuming they'll brake.
• Exiting from the inner lane and cutting across the outer lane.
• Not indicating. Use your indicator for every lane change and when leaving the roundabout.
• Entering too fast, without having looked left in good time.

Other tips for driving in Menorca

• Narrow secondary roads: many of the lanes down to the coves are narrow, lined with dry-stone walls on both sides and with no hard shoulder. Keep your speed down and expect to meet cars coming the other way.
• The Me-1 is the Maó–Ciutadella backbone and carries most of the island's traffic. Watch your speed: the limit changes along the way and there are speed cameras.
• Cyclists: Menorca attracts many cycle tourists. Leave 1.5 m when you overtake, and never overtake on a blind bend.
• Animals and walls: livestock can wander onto the road in rural areas, and the stone walls cut your visibility on bends.
• Parking at the coves: arrive early; many car parks fill by mid-morning in summer and parking on the verge can be fined. See our guide to reaching and parking at the coves.
• Access cameras in Maó: the centre has camera-restricted zones. Check the parking and access cameras guide.
• In summer there's more traffic, more pedestrians and more distractions: leave a bigger gap.

If this is your first trip to the island, our guide to getting around Menorca by car or bus will also help.