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Ohio driving lesson · Rules of the Road

Right-of-way

A 3-minute lesson from the Ohio 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
Rules of the Road
Checkpoint questions
6
Source pages
13

Right-of-way decides who goes first when two road users want the same space. The law tells you when to yield — it never gives anyone the right to force their way through.

Right-of-way

The priority of traffic flow: which pedestrian or vehicle may proceed first in a particular situation or place.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Yield the right-of-way to:

  • The driver who is at, or arrives before you at, an intersection
  • Oncoming drivers when you are making a left turn
  • The driver on your right at a four-way intersection when you both arrive at the same time
  • Drivers on a public highway when you enter from a driveway or private road
  • Drivers already on a limited-access or interstate highway when you're on the entrance ramp
  • Pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers still in the intersection
  • Public safety vehicles (emergency, police, fire)
  • Funeral processions
Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

At a four-way intersection, the driver who arrives first goes first. If you and another driver arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on your right.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

When you make a left turn, yield to drivers in the opposing traffic lane.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Know the rule

When you pull out of a driveway or private road, traffic already on the public highway has the right-of-way.

Handbook p. 13 ↗

Put it into practice

You and another car reach a four-way stop at the same moment; the other car is on your right. Let it go first. If you had clearly arrived first, you would go first.

Put it into practice

You're backing out of a private lot onto a busy street. Every car on the street has the right-of-way; wait for a gap.

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.

Two drivers arrive at a four-way intersection with stop signs at exactly the same time. Who has the right-of-way?
  1. The driver on the left
  2. The driver going straight
  3. The driver on the right
  4. The driver who signals first

Answer: The driver on the right

If both drivers arrive at the same time at a four-way intersection, the driver on the right has the right-of-way.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
When must you yield to oncoming traffic?
  1. When making a right turn on green
  2. When driving straight through a green light
  3. When entering a roundabout
  4. When making a left turn

Answer: When making a left turn

Drivers must yield to oncoming traffic in the opposing lane when making a left turn.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
You're entering a public highway from a private driveway. Who has the right-of-way?
  1. Traffic on the highway
  2. You, since you're merging
  3. Whoever signals first
  4. Whoever is moving faster

Answer: Traffic on the highway

Drivers must yield to drivers already on a public highway when entering from a driveway or private road.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
You're entering an interstate highway from an acceleration ramp. Who has the right-of-way?
  1. You, since ramps have priority
  2. Drivers already on the interstate
  3. Whoever is going slower
  4. It depends on which lane you enter

Answer: Drivers already on the interstate

Drivers entering a limited access or interstate highway from a ramp must yield to drivers already on that highway.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
Besides other drivers, which of these must you also yield the right-of-way to?
  1. A vehicle signaling but not yet moving
  2. A parked delivery truck
  3. A funeral procession
  4. A vehicle with its hazards on in a parking lot

Answer: A funeral procession

The handbook specifically lists funeral processions, along with public safety vehicles, as requiring right-of-way.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
Your light turns green, but a bicyclist is still crossing the intersection. What must you do?
  1. Go, since you have the green light
  2. Yield until the bicyclist clears
  3. Go if you can leave 3 feet of space
  4. Go if the bicyclist is in a bike lane

Answer: Yield until the bicyclist clears

You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers who are still in the intersection.

Handbook p. 13 ↗
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