Right-of-Way Rules

What is the right-of-Way?

• The right to proceed first• Important things to remember:

– Never assume you have the right-of-way– Right-of-way is always given by someone

• Often, the correct move is to let the other drivers or pedestrians go first

• One of the most common causes of fatal collisions is one driver’s failure to yield the right-of-way to another driver

When should you Yield the Right-of-Way

• The rule that you must yield the right-of-way in order to avoid a collision overrides all other rules

Situations in which you must always yield the right-of-way

1. To any emergency vehicles that has its sirens on and its lights flashing

• Same direction:– Move to the far right of the road and stop

• Opposite direction:– Move to the far right– If you are on a multiple-lane road you may

not have to stop, but you should move to the far right and slow down

Situations in which you must always yield the right-of-way (cont.)2. Buses – when re-entering the flow of

traffic

3. Postal Vehicles – when re-entering the roadway

4. Motorized or mobility-assistance devices

5. Vehicles already in the intersection

Situations in which you must always yield the right-of-way (cont.)6. To all Pedestrians: Stop for pedestrians in a crosswalks. Failure to stop carries a $500 fine, up to 25 days in jail, community service, a driving privilege suspension of up to 6 months and 2-points

7. People who are blind and are carrying a white cane

•People who are using a guide dog, no matter where they cross the street

Yielding at Intersections

• Controlled – if there are traffic signals or signs in any direction– Yield to the right or vehicles already stopped in the

intersection– Driving on private property to avoid a traffic signal or sign

is a motor vehicle violation• Uncontrolled – when two or more roads join and there is

no traffic signal or regulatory device– Reduce speed and be ready to stop if any traffic is coming

from the right or left– Yield to the right