Right-of-Way and Intersections
The Core Right-of-Way Rules
Right-of-way is something you yield, never something you take. At an uncontrolled intersection (no signs or signals), the vehicle that arrives first goes first; if two arrive at the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right. At a four-way stop, the same first-arrival rule applies, and simultaneous arrivals yield right. A vehicle already in the intersection has the right of way-never enter unless you can clear it. When turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. When turning right, yield to pedestrians and cyclists continuing straight.
Entering and Exiting Traffic
When entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, or private road, you must yield to all traffic and pedestrians already on the road. When merging onto a highway, use the acceleration lane to match speed and yield to traffic already on the highway. Vehicles on the through road have the right of way over vehicles entering from a side street or driveway.
Special Situations
Yield to emergency vehicles using lights and sirens-pull to the right and stop. Yield to funeral processions. On a hill or narrow road, the vehicle going downhill generally yields to the one going uphill, and the vehicle with more room to maneuver yields. Always yield to pedestrians in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked.
Traps: simultaneous arrival at a four-way stop (yield right, not left); a left-turning vehicle facing a green light (still must yield to oncoming traffic); a driver waving you through (never assume-verify it is safe). Worked example: You and a car to your right reach a four-way stop at the same moment. You yield, because the car on your right goes first, even if you arrived a split second earlier.