A 3-minute lesson from the Alaska course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Many intersections have no stop sign, yield sign or signal. The law still tells you who goes first, but right-of-way is something you're given, never something you take.
Uncontrolled intersection
An intersection on a route not protected by stop signs, yield signs, or traffic lights.
At an uncontrolled intersection you must slow down and have your vehicle under control at the cross street, including unmarked crosswalks for nonmotorized users. Approaching from the right doesn't excuse you.
When two vehicles reach an uncontrolled intersection at about the same time and could collide, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
You and a pickup reach an unmarked four-way intersection together; the pickup is on your right. You yield. But if a cyclist is already crossing, both of you wait. Non-motorized users have the right-of-way at uncontrolled intersections.
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, who must yield when two vehicles approach at the same time with danger of collision?
The driver on the right always yields
Whichever driver arrives second
The larger vehicle always has the right-of-way
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
The driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right at uncontrolled intersections.