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Alabama driving lesson · Traffic Laws

Right of way and pedestrians

A 3-minute lesson from the Alabama course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Traffic Laws
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
21, 64, 65, 67

Right-of-way rules say who goes first. They depend on courtesy and common sense, and breaking them is one of the main causes of crashes.

Know the rule

If two vehicles enter an uncontrolled intersection from different roads at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 64 ↗

Know the rule

If you enter an uncontrolled intersection at an unlawful speed, you lose any right of way you might otherwise have.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Know the rule

Yield to emergency vehicles showing a flashing red or blue light and sounding a siren or bell. Pull to the side and stop, clearing an intersection first, and wait until the vehicle has passed.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Know the rule

You must stop and yield at any intersection to a blind person carrying a white cane tipped with red, held with arm extended, or using a guide dog.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Know the rule

Vehicles entering from a private road or driveway must stop and yield to cars on the public street or highway.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Know the rule

When turning left at an intersection or into an alley, driveway or private road, yield to any oncoming vehicle in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Know the rule

Vehicles entering on a green arrow must yield to other traffic lawfully using the intersection.

Handbook p. 65 ↗

Drivers must:

  • Stop for school children and for school safety patrols directing movement
  • Yield to blind pedestrians with canes and/or guide dogs
  • Not block crosswalks while at a stop sign or waiting at a red light
  • Stop for a school bus displaying an extended stop arm
Handbook p. 67 ↗

Know the rule

Pedestrians must yield to all vehicles when crossing anywhere other than a crosswalk.

Handbook p. 67 ↗

Safety rules for pedestrians:

  • Walking on a roadway: stay as far left as possible, in single file
  • In darkness or poor visibility: carry a light and wear light colors or reflective materials
  • Remember slippery roads and poor visibility make it harder for drivers to stop
  • Make eye contact with a driver before proceeding
Handbook p. 67 ↗
5 points

Failure to yield right of way

Handbook p. 21 ↗

Put it into practice

You and another car reach an intersection with no signs or signals at about the same time. The other car is on your right, so you yield. If it came in speeding, though, it would lose its right of way.

Check your understanding

Read the question, decide on an answer, then open it to check the explanation. These are Roadwise study questions based on the source handbook.

At an uncontrolled intersection, if two vehicles arrive from different roads at about the same time, who must yield?
  1. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
  2. The larger vehicle always has the right of way
  3. Whoever arrives first always has the right of way
  4. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

Answer: The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right when both arrive at about the same time.

Handbook p. 64 ↗
What must you do when you see a blind pedestrian carrying a white cane tipped with red?
  1. Stop and give the right of way
  2. Sound your horn to alert them
  3. Proceed if you have the green light
  4. Only slow down, not stop

Answer: Stop and give the right of way

The law requires you to stop and give right of way to a blind pedestrian with a red-tipped white cane or a guide dog.

Handbook p. 65 ↗
Vehicles entering a public street from a private road or driveway must do what?
  1. Have the right of way over public street traffic
  2. Stop and yield to cars on the public street
  3. Only stop if signs are posted
  4. Only yield if signaled to do so

Answer: Stop and yield to cars on the public street

Cars entering from a private road or driveway must stop and yield to cars on the public street or highway.

Handbook p. 65 ↗
When making a left turn at an intersection, when must you yield to an oncoming vehicle?
  1. Only if it is signaling a turn
  2. Only when you have a red light
  3. When it's in or near enough to be an immediate hazard
  4. Never, left-turners always have priority once signaled

Answer: When it's in or near enough to be an immediate hazard

A left-turning driver must yield to any oncoming vehicle within the intersection or close enough to constitute an immediate hazard.

Handbook p. 65 ↗
Emergency vehicles you must yield to by pulling over and stopping are displaying what?
  1. Flashing amber lights only
  2. A flashing red or blue light and a siren or bell
  3. High beams and a horn
  4. Flashing white lights only

Answer: A flashing red or blue light and a siren or bell

You must yield to ambulances, fire and police vehicles displaying a flashing red or blue light and sounding a siren or bell.

Handbook p. 65 ↗
If you're at an intersection when an emergency vehicle approaches, what should you do before stopping?
  1. Clear the intersection, then stop
  2. Stop immediately where you are
  3. Back up out of the intersection
  4. Speed up and stay ahead of it

Answer: Clear the intersection, then stop

The handbook instructs drivers already in an intersection to clear it before stopping for an emergency vehicle.

Handbook p. 65 ↗
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