Rules of the road and right of way
Domain 2: Rules of the road and right of way
Questions here describe a traffic situation and ask who moves first, where you may overtake, or what is illegal. The foundation is simple - South Africa drives on the left - but the marks come from applying that precisely under pressure.
General order of priority
- Traffic already on the road you want to join has right of way; a vehicle entering from a driveway, petrol station or parking area yields to everything.
- At a four-way stop: the first vehicle to stop moves first. If two stop at the same moment, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Never move until you have confirmed the other vehicle is actually stationary.
- Turning across oncoming traffic: a right-turning vehicle yields to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning left.
- At a roundabout, give way to traffic already circulating, approaching from your right; signal left before your exit.
- Pedestrians on a zebra crossing have right of way.
- Emergency vehicles using lights and siren: move left and stop if necessary.
Overtaking
Overtake on the right. Passing on the left is lawful only in narrow cases, such as a one-way street or when the vehicle ahead is turning right and there is room. You may not overtake on a barrier line, on a blind rise, on a bend, at a railway crossing, or wherever you cannot see enough clear road to finish the manoeuvre.
Stopping and position
Keep left except when overtaking or turning right. Do not stop on a pedestrian crossing, on a railway crossing, or where you block a junction or driveway.
Worked example
You stop at a four-way stop at the same moment as a car approaching from your right, and a car opposite you signals right. Reasoning: the car on your right goes first; the car opposite, turning right, must then wait for you because you are going straight. You proceed second.
Traps
Treating a four-way stop as "me first"; assuming an indicator gives someone right of way; overtaking on the left because the queue is slow; entering an intersection when the exit is blocked.