Right-of-Way: Who Goes First and Why
The core rules
Right-of-way questions reward knowing a small set of default rules. At an intersection with no signs or signals, the first vehicle to arrive goes first; if two arrive at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way. At a four-way stop the same rules apply - first to stop, first to go, ties go to the right. A vehicle already in the intersection has the right-of-way over one waiting to enter.
Turning traffic yields to through traffic. A left-turning driver must yield to oncoming vehicles going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. When entering a roadway from a driveway, alley, or private road, you yield to all traffic already on the road. When merging onto a freeway, entering traffic must yield to traffic already on the freeway.
Pedestrians and special vehicles
Pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk have the right-of-way, and a driver must yield even if the pedestrian is not in the painted lines but is crossing at an intersection. Emergency vehicles with lights and siren running have the right-of-way - pull to the right and stop. School buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop arm require traffic in both directions to stop on undivided roads.
Traps to watch for
- "First to arrive" vs. "on the right." If one car clearly stopped first, it goes first even if the other is on its right.
- Left turn at a green light. A green light does not give a left-turning driver the right-of-way over oncoming traffic.
- Yield sign confusion. A yield sign means slow and prepare to stop - not a full stop is always required.
Rule of thumb
When two rules seem to conflict, the more vulnerable party wins: pedestrians over cars, through traffic over turning traffic, main road over driveway.