Right-of-Way Rules and Intersections
Who goes first, and why
Right-of-way is never "taken" - it is yielded. At an uncontrolled intersection, the first vehicle to arrive proceeds first; if two arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way. At a four-way stop the same rules apply: first to stop, then first to go, with ties resolved to the right. A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right. A vehicle entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, or parking lot must yield to all traffic already on the road. Pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right-of-way, and you must yield to them even if you have a green light and they are crossing legally.
At roundabouts, traffic already circulating has the right-of-way; entering vehicles yield to the left (in right-hand-traffic countries). Do not stop inside the circle unless traffic ahead blocks you.
Emergency vehicles using lights and sirens have the right-of-way; pull to the right and stop until they pass. School buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm require you to stop in both directions unless you are on a divided highway separated by a median.
Trap: questions love the "same time arrival" scenario and often place a left-turning vehicle opposite a straight-through vehicle. The left-turner yields, regardless of who arrived first. Another trap: a green light does not grant an absolute right-of-way - you must still yield to pedestrians and to vehicles already lawfully in the intersection.
Worked example: You arrive at a four-way stop simultaneously with a car on your right and a car opposite turning left. The car on your right goes first; you go next (straight); the left-turner goes last.