Rules of the Road and Traffic Laws
Core concepts
Alabama follows the national right-of-way pattern: at an uncontrolled intersection the first vehicle to arrive goes first, and if two arrive at the same time the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At a four-way stop, the same first-arrival/same-time rule applies. When turning left, you yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk you are entering. A vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway or private road yields to all traffic already on the road.
Know the speed limits and following rules. Unless posted otherwise, Alabama's basic speed law says drive at a reasonable speed for conditions; posted limits are maximums, not targets. Use the three-second rule for following distance in good conditions and add more space in rain or at night. Signal at least 100 feet before a turn and well before any lane change.
Traps to watch
Questions love the word "always." Yielding rules are conditional, so an answer that says you always have the right of way is usually wrong. Another trap: confusing a stop with a yield, or assuming a green light means proceed without checking. Passing on the right is generally allowed only on multi-lane roads or when the car ahead is turning left; it is not a free pass in every situation. Also remember that pedestrians in a crosswalk, even an unmarked one at an intersection, have the right of way.
Worked example
You arrive at a four-way stop at the same moment as a car on your right. Who goes? The car on your right, because when arrivals are simultaneous the driver on the left yields. Rule of thumb: "first there, first through; if tied, yield right."