Roadwise States Colorado Driving lessons Who has the right-of-way Colorado driving lesson · Lane Controls & Right-of-Way
Who has the right-of-way A 3-minute lesson from the Colorado course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Read time 3 minutes
Course unit Lane Controls & Right-of-Way
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 14 Right-of-way rules decide who goes first where signs or signals don't. The law says who must yield, but it never gives anyone the right-of-way, even on a green light. You're always responsible for avoiding a crash.
Know the rule
Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers already in an intersection you're approaching.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Know the rule
Always yield to pedestrians; they have the right-of-way at all intersections and crosswalks. Come to a complete stop and let them pass safely.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Know the rule
Don't assume pedestrians can see or hear you or crossing signals; some are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or blind. A white cane or guide dog often identifies blind people.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Know the rule
Bicycles are vehicles. Yield to bicyclists in a designated bike lane when merging with or crossing it to turn. Bicyclists on a sidewalk or crosswalk have a pedestrian's rights.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Uncontrolled intersection An intersection without control devices such as stop signs or traffic lights.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Know the rule
Before turning left, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk and oncoming bicyclists and motorcyclists, taking time to judge their speed and distance.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Other yield rules: Changing lanes or passing: yield to vehicles already in that lane Merging: yield to all vehicles on the road you're joining Don't change lanes or merge if another vehicle must slow for you Reversing: yield to all vehicles close enough to be a hazard Handbook p. 14 ↗ Know the rule
On a steep, narrow road too tight for two vehicles, the vehicle going downhill yields by backing to a wider place or stopping, unless it's more practical for the uphill vehicle to back to a turnout.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Put it into practice
You and another car reach a four-way stop at the same moment; it's on your right. You're the vehicle on the left, so you yield and let it go first.
A useful reminder A green light doesn't give you the right-of-way over someone already in the intersection. Yield first, then go.
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.
According to Colorado law, who must you always yield the right-of-way to? Pedestrians Only vehicles with a green light Only bicyclists in a bike lane Only emergency vehicles Answer: Pedestrians
You must always yield the right-of-way to pedestrians when driving.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ At a four-way stop, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, who must yield? The vehicle on the right yields to the left Neither vehicle needs to yield The vehicle on the left yields Whichever vehicle is larger has the right-of-way Answer: The vehicle on the left yields
When vehicles arrive simultaneously at a 4-way stop, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ At an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or signals, who has the right-of-way if two vehicles arrive at the same time? The larger vehicle The vehicle on the right The faster vehicle The vehicle on the left Answer: The vehicle on the right
At an uncontrolled intersection, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Before turning left, you must yield to oncoming traffic UNLESS which condition applies? You have a green arrow or arrived first Your turn signal has been on for over 5 seconds You are driving a larger vehicle There is no crosswalk present Answer: You have a green arrow or arrived first
You must yield to oncoming traffic when turning left, unless you have a green arrow or arrived first at a four-way stop.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ On a narrow mountain road where two vehicles meet and cannot pass, who generally must yield? The vehicle going uphill Whichever vehicle is smaller The vehicle going downhill The vehicle that arrived second Answer: The vehicle going downhill
The vehicle going downhill must yield, usually by backing up, except where it's more practical for the uphill vehicle to yield instead.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ You are turning left and have a green arrow. Do you still need to yield to oncoming traffic before completing the turn? Yes, unless you arrived at the light first Only if oncoming traffic has a red light No, a green arrow is the exception to that rule Yes, you must always yield regardless of the arrow Answer: No, a green arrow is the exception to that rule
The handbook notes you must yield to oncoming traffic when turning left, unless you have a green arrow or arrived first at a four-way stop.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Previous lesson Roundabouts Next lesson Emergency vehicles, plows, buses & work zones More in Lane Controls & Right-of-Way About the source Roadwise’s Colorado course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 14. The linked PDF is a third-party mirror of the handbook, rather than a government-hosted page.
Open the handbook source PDF · View the source edition
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