Right of Way Rules - Who Goes First at Every Intersection

Understanding Right of Way Rules

Right-of-way questions appear on virtually every DMV permit test - and they're some of the most commonly missed. The rules feel complicated because they depend on the situation. Here is a complete breakdown.

The Core Principle

"Right of way" doesn't mean you have the legal right to go - it means other drivers are legally required to yield to you. But even if you have the right of way, you must still avoid a collision if you can. Right of way is about who yields, not about who is exempt from responsibility.

4-Way Stop Signs

At a 4-way stop:

• First to arrive = first to go. The vehicle that reached the intersection first goes first.
• Tie = yield to the right. If two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the LEFT yields to the driver on the RIGHT.
• Facing each other = both go together. Two vehicles across from each other going straight can both go at the same time.
• Turning left = yield to straight traffic. If you're turning left across traffic, yield to the vehicle going straight, even if you arrived first.

Uncontrolled Intersections (No Signs or Signals)

An uncontrolled intersection has no stop signs, yield signs, or traffic signals. The rules:

• Yield to vehicles already in the intersection
• Yield to the vehicle on your right if you arrive simultaneously
• Reduce speed and be prepared to stop

T-Intersections

At a T-intersection (one road ends and meets another):

• The driver on the terminating road (the bottom of the T) must yield to traffic on the through road (the top of the T)

Roundabouts

At a roundabout:

• Yield to circulating traffic - vehicles already inside the circle have the right of way
• Enter when there is a safe gap
• Drive counterclockwise
• Yield to pedestrians when exiting

Left Turns

When turning left at a green light (not a green arrow):

• Yield to all oncoming traffic
• Yield to pedestrians crossing the street you're turning onto
• Only turn when it is safe to do so

A green arrow means you have a protected left turn - oncoming traffic is stopped and you can go.

Pedestrians at Crosswalks

You must yield to pedestrians:

• At any marked crosswalk
• At any unmarked crosswalk (the intersection corner)
• When a pedestrian has a walk signal
• When a pedestrian is already in the crosswalk

Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk - the stopped vehicle may be yielding to a pedestrian you cannot see.

Emergency Vehicles

Emergency vehicles (police, fire, ambulance) with lights and/or siren active always have the right of way. You must:

• Pull to the right side of the road
• Stop
• Remain stopped until the vehicle passes

School Buses

A stopped school bus with flashing red lights and a stop arm extended has the right of way over all traffic - in both directions on undivided roads. You must stop and remain stopped until the lights stop flashing.

Bottom Line

When in doubt, yield. Being wrong about right of way causes accidents. Being overly cautious just causes a brief delay.