Georgia driving lesson · Right-of-Way, Passing and Turns
Right-of-way basics
A 3-minute lesson from the Georgia course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Right-of-way decides who goes first when entering a road, changing lanes, turning or crossing an intersection. Georgia law sets it for every situation, but it is something you give, not take. If another driver takes it wrongly, let them go to prevent a crash.
Right-of-way
The lawful authority to enter a roadway, change lanes, turn, travel through an intersection, or make any other traffic movement.
If you face a stop sign and cross traffic doesn't, stop, then yield to any vehicle or pedestrian in the intersection or close enough to make crossing dangerous.
At an intersection with no stop signs, yield signs or signals, if two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
If your road merges into other traffic without a stop, adjust speed and position to merge safely. If traffic merges into your road, move away from it if you can; if not, adjust to let it in.
When entering or crossing a road from an alley, private road or driveway, stop and yield to all pedestrians and vehicles already on the road or sidewalk.
You and another car reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same moment. The other car is on your right, so you yield and let it go first.
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.
Right-of-way is best described in the handbook as something that is:
Optional at low-traffic intersections
Given, not taken
Always yours if you arrive first
Held by whoever is going straight
Answer: Given, not taken
Georgia law treats right-of-way as something to be given, not taken, even if you legally have it.