A 4-minute lesson from the Kansas course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Right-of-way rules decide who waits when vehicles or pedestrians meet with no sign or signal to sort it out. The law only says who must yield; it never gives anyone the right-of-way. You get it only when someone yields it to you.
Know the rule
Regardless of the circumstances, you must do everything you can to avoid striking a pedestrian, property or another vehicle.
In a business or residential district, a driver coming out of an alley, driveway or building must stop before the sidewalk or sidewalk area, then yield.
Emergency vehicles showing a red light or sounding a siren or bell have the right-of-way. Immediately drive to the right and stop until they pass. Never follow them.
Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with flashing lights on a road with two or more lanes each way, move to a lane not next to it. If you can't, slow down and proceed with caution.
Don't enter an intersection, crosswalk or railroad crossing unless there's room on the other side for your vehicle, even on a green light (K.S.A. 8-1584).
You and another car reach a 4-way stop at the same moment; the other car is on your right. Let it go first. If you had clearly arrived first, you'd 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.
A driver controlled by a yield sign needs to stop:
Every time, just like at a stop sign
Only when needed to avoid interfering with traffic
Never; a yield sign only requires slowing
Only when a pedestrian is in the crosswalk
Answer: Only when needed to avoid interfering with traffic
Cars controlled by a yield sign need stop only when necessary to avoid interfering with traffic, including pedestrians, that has the right-of-way.
At a 4-way stop where vehicles arrive at different times, who should be given the right-of-way?
The driver turning left
The driver going straight
The driver who reached the intersection first
The driver on the right, regardless of arrival order
Answer: The driver who reached the intersection first
The general rule at a 4-way stop is that the first vehicle to arrive gets the right-of-way; the right-hand rule only applies when vehicles arrive together.
