Roadwise States Maryland Driving lessons Defensive driving & right-of-way Maryland driving lesson · Basic Driving Rules
Defensive driving & right-of-way A 3-minute lesson from the Maryland 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 Basic Driving Rules
Checkpoint questions 6
Source pages 13, 14 Defensive driving means constantly watching the front, sides and rear of your vehicle so you spot trouble early. Right-of-way rules decide who goes first, but they never give you the right to force your way.
Before you drive: You and your vehicle should be in good condition to drive Carry a valid Learner's Permit or driver's license, and the vehicle registration card Adjust your seat and mirrors Make sure you and all passengers are wearing a seat belt Handbook p. 13 ↗ Know the rule
A basic rule of driving: at all times, the driver should control the vehicle to avoid a crash.
Handbook p. 13 ↗ Defensive driving Searching ahead and being ready to change speed or lanes, so you have time to identify risks and drive more safely.
Handbook p. 13 ↗ Steps to manage risk: Adjust your speed, position, and direction to respond to road conditions Keep control of your vehicle Increase the time you have to respond Let others know what you plan to do (turn signals, etc.) Keep a safe distance from other road users Do not assume other drivers will do what they are supposed to do Always be careful Handbook p. 13 ↗ Yielding the right-of-way Letting other vehicles, bicyclists, or pedestrians go first, moving ahead of you or crossing in front of you.
Handbook p. 13 ↗ Know the rule
Never assume you automatically have the right-of-way. Always consider the situation and circumstances.
Handbook p. 13 ↗ Yield the right-of-way to: The driver who is at, or arrives before you at, an intersection The driver on your right if you both arrive at the same time The driver on your right at a four-way stop Pedestrians, bicyclists, and drivers still in the intersection Drivers already on the road when you stop at a "T" intersection Other drivers, when a yield sign faces you Opposing traffic when you are turning left Drivers on a road you enter from a driveway or private road Drivers already on a highway, if you are on the entrance or acceleration ramp Handbook p. 14 ↗ Put it into practice
You and a pickup truck reach a four-way stop at the same moment; the truck is on your right. Let the truck go first. If you had arrived first, you would go first.
A useful reminder Ties go to the driver on the RIGHT. Entering traffic (ramps, driveways, T intersections) yields to traffic already there.
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.
What is the basic rule of driving regarding crashes? The driver should always yield to faster traffic The driver should control the vehicle to avoid crashes The driver ahead is responsible for avoiding crashes The driver should always follow the posted speed limit exactly Answer: The driver should control the vehicle to avoid crashes
At all times, the driver is responsible for controlling the vehicle to avoid a crash.
Handbook p. 13 ↗ You and another driver arrive at a four-way intersection with stop signs at the same time. Who has the right-of-way? The driver on your left The driver going straight The driver on your right The larger vehicle Answer: The driver on your right
When two drivers arrive at a stop-sign intersection at the same time, the driver on the right has the right-of-way.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ When making a left turn, whose right-of-way must you yield to? Drivers in the opposing traffic lane Drivers behind you only Pedestrians only, not vehicles No one, since you have the turn signal on Answer: Drivers in the opposing traffic lane
When turning left, you must yield to drivers in the opposing traffic lane going the other direction.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ You are stopped at a 'T' intersection facing a through road. Who has the right-of-way? You, since you are stopped and ready Drivers already on the through road Whoever is turning right You, if you arrived at the intersection first Answer: Drivers already on the through road
Drivers already on the road you are stopped at have the right-of-way over a driver entering from a 'T' intersection.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ You are entering a road from a private driveway. Who must you yield to? Only drivers signaling a turn No one, since you are entering slowly Drivers already on the road Only vehicles going in the same direction Answer: Drivers already on the road
Drivers entering a road from a driveway or private road must yield to drivers already on the road.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ When entering a highway from an entrance ramp, drivers already on the highway must yield to you. True False Answer: False
Drivers entering a highway from an acceleration ramp must yield to drivers already on the highway, not the other way around.
Handbook p. 14 ↗ Previous lesson Out-of-country licenses, interpreters & accommodations Next lesson Speed limits & safe speed More in Basic Driving Rules About the source Roadwise’s Maryland course uses the driver handbook edition supplied with this study pack. This lesson cites source pages 13, 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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