Right-of-way laws decide who goes first where vehicles and pedestrians can't all cross at once, and they help establish legal fault after a collision. They apply to everyone, including bicyclists. Think of the right-of-way as something to be given, not taken.
Know the rule
When other people don't follow the right-of-way rules, you should yield, even if the right-of-way belongs to you, whenever damage or injury is possible.
Handbook p. 28 ↗Know the rule
Decide who has the right-of-way before entering an intersection. If you have it and another driver yields it to you, proceed immediately. Make eye contact so you know the other driver sees you.
Handbook p. 28 ↗Know the rule
You must yield to children playing in the streets. Drive with extreme caution when children are present, and slow down near schools, playgrounds and in residential areas.
Handbook p. 28 ↗Know the rule
You must give the right-of-way to any blind person crossing the street. Blind pedestrians usually have a guide dog or a cane that is all white, white with a red tip, or chrome, which they tap on the pavement ahead.
Handbook p. 28 ↗For a blind pedestrian, the law says:
- Stop immediately and let the person pass
- Stop outside the crosswalk, not in the crosswalk
- Stop 15 feet from a blind person in the roadway or at an intersection
Distance a vehicle must stop from a blind person in the roadway or at an intersection
Handbook p. 28 ↗Know the rule
Yield to a funeral procession. Once the lead vehicle enters an intersection, the rest of the procession may follow regardless of traffic control devices. Procession vehicles use headlights to signal others not to cut in.
Handbook p. 28 ↗You must always yield:
- Entering/crossing highways with no signs or signals: stop, yield to traffic, go when safe
- At a stop sign: stop before the crosswalk, yield to pedestrians and vehicles in or near the intersection
- At a yield sign: slow to a reasonable speed and be ready to stop
- To pedestrians crossing the roadway, whether the crosswalk is marked or unmarked
- When turning left: to all oncoming traffic; go only with enough clear distance
- From a private road, alley, driveway or building: stop before the sidewalk or crosswalk
Know the rule
Yield to police cars, fire engines and ambulances sounding a siren and/or flashing warning lights: pull over to the right edge of the road, clear of intersections, and stop until they pass. In heavy traffic, clear a path.
Handbook p. 29 ↗Know the rule
If an officer signals you to stop while you're in the left lane, you must still pull over to the right shoulder, even if that means crossing several lanes of traffic.
Handbook p. 29 ↗Know the rule
You don't have to yield to emergency vehicles that have no warning lights or sirens on.
Handbook p. 29 ↗Know the rule
You must move to the left lane or slow down for any vehicle on the side of the highway, including emergency vehicles, law enforcement, maintenance workers or cars with hazard lights flashing.
Handbook p. 29 ↗Put it into practice
You're stopped at a red light when you hear a siren behind you. Don't stop in the intersection. When the light allows, pull to the right edge of the road clear of the intersection, stop, and wait until the ambulance has passed.