Right-of-Way and Safe Driving Rules
Right-of-way rules
At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop is first to go. If two arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. A vehicle turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. When entering a public road from a driveway, private road, or parking lot, you yield to all traffic already on the road. At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle on the left yields. Yield to emergency vehicles using lights and siren, and to a school bus stopped with red lights flashing on an undivided road-traffic in both directions must stop.
Safe driving basics
Use the three-second following rule in good conditions and add more at night, in rain, or behind large trucks. Louisiana's Move Over law requires drivers to change lanes or slow down for stopped emergency, utility, or construction vehicles with flashing lights. Buckle up: Louisiana uses primary enforcement, so an officer may stop you for a seat-belt violation alone. Pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way; do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk.
Worked example
You and another car reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same moment; the other car is on your right. You must yield and let it go first. If it were on your left, you would have the right of way, but you should still be prepared to stop if it fails to yield.
Traps
Right-of-way is not a license to proceed blindly-yield does not mean you can ignore a vehicle that fails to stop. At a four-way stop, do not assume the largest vehicle goes first; order of arrival and right-side priority control. Do not stop for a school bus on the opposite side of a divided highway.