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North Dakota driving lesson · Right-of-Way & Speed

Right-of-way at intersections & hand signals

A 3-minute lesson from the North Dakota course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.

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Read time
3 minutes
Course unit
Right-of-Way & Speed
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
23

Right-of-way rules decide who goes first, which keeps traffic orderly and cuts crashes. Many drivers ignore them, so drive defensively and always be ready to yield to someone who doesn't follow the rules.

Right-of-way rules

Rules that set orderly traffic movement by deciding who must yield. If everyone follows them, crashes can be reduced.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Know the rule

When two vehicles reach an unsigned intersection at about the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Driver on the left must yield
At an unsigned intersection, the driver on the left must yield

Know the rule

When entering an intersection, look first to your left, then to your right, then left again, and be prepared to yield.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Know the rule

At an uncontrolled T-intersection, the vehicle on the terminating street must yield to vehicles on the continuing street.

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Know the rule

Vehicles turning left must yield to oncoming traffic. Watch for vehicles passing on the right side of a vehicle that is turning left.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Left turn yield and four-way stop order diagrams
Left-turning driver must yield; at a four-way stop, first to stop goes first

Know the rule

At a four-way stop, the vehicle that stops first goes first. If another vehicle goes out of turn, yield to it so you don't cause a crash.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
100 feet

Give turn signals continuously during the last 100 feet before the turn

Handbook p. 23 ↗

Know the rule

Know the basic hand signals even though vehicles have electric turn and brake lights. Recognize hand signals from motorcyclists and bicyclists, and give them room to complete the move, as you would another vehicle.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Hand signals for stop, left, right (vehicle view)
Hand signals: stop, left turn, right turn

Hand signals, given with the left arm:

  • Left turn: arm straight out
  • Right turn: arm bent upward
  • Stop: arm bent downward
Handbook p. 23 ↗

Put it into practice

You and another car reach an unsigned intersection at the same moment, and the other car is on your right. You must yield and let it go first. If it waves you on but a third car is coming, keep looking left, right, left before you move.

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 unsigned intersection, when two vehicles arrive at about the same time, who must yield?
  1. The vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right
  2. Neither vehicle must yield
  3. The vehicle on the right must yield to the vehicle on the left
  4. The slower vehicle must yield

Answer: The vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right

When two vehicles approach an unsigned intersection at about the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
At an uncontrolled T-intersection, who must yield?
  1. Both vehicles must stop and alternate
  2. The vehicle on the continuing street yields to the terminating street
  3. The vehicle on the terminating street yields to the continuing street
  4. Whichever vehicle arrives first has the right of way

Answer: The vehicle on the terminating street yields to the continuing street

At an uncontrolled T-intersection, the vehicle on the terminating street must yield to vehicles on the continuing street.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
At a four-way stop, who has the right of way?
  1. The largest vehicle
  2. The vehicle that stopped first
  3. The vehicle on the right
  4. The vehicle traveling straight through

Answer: The vehicle that stopped first

At a four-way stop, the vehicle that stops first goes first.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
Vehicles turning left must yield to what?
  1. Oncoming traffic
  2. Only vehicles already turning
  3. Vehicles behind them
  4. Only vehicles on the cross street

Answer: Oncoming traffic

Vehicles turning left must yield to oncoming traffic and watch for vehicles passing on the right.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
What should you do at an uncontrolled intersection before proceeding?
  1. Look left once, then proceed
  2. Look right only, then proceed
  3. Look left, right, then left again, ready to yield
  4. Proceed at normal speed without stopping

Answer: Look left, right, then left again, ready to yield

Per p.23, when entering an intersection look first to your left, then to your right and then left again, and be prepared to yield.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
If a vehicle goes out of turn at a four-way stop, you should yield to that vehicle to avoid a crash.
  1. True
  2. False

Answer: True

If one vehicle goes out of turn at a four-way stop, yield to that vehicle so you do not cause a crash.

Handbook p. 23 ↗
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