Rhode Island driving lesson · Signals & Roadway Markings
Traffic Lights & Right-of-Way
A 3-minute lesson from the Rhode Island course. Read the rules and examples, follow the handbook page references, and check your understanding before you move on.
Traffic signals give the right-of-way to drivers and pedestrians one street at a time. But a green light never guarantees safety—someone may run the red. Approach every intersection ready to stop.
Right-of-way
The privilege of having or giving other motorists immediate use of a certain roadway.
With no signs or signals, when two vehicles reach an intersection from different roads at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.
Taking your foot off the gas and holding it over the brake pedal without touching it, ready to brake. Slow down and cover the brake approaching all intersections.
Right turn on red: unless a sign prohibits it, you may turn right on a steady red after stopping completely and yielding to pedestrians and other vehicles. You are never required to turn on red.
If another driver fails to stop at a red light, drivers with a green light should not insist on the right-of-way. Be alert for violators and ready to stop.
Your light turns green, but a car on the cross street is still speeding toward its red. Don't insist on your right-of-way—wait until it passes or stops, then proceed with caution.
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.
How should you treat an uncontrolled intersection with no signs or signals?
As if a stop sign were present for both directions
As if a yield sign were present
As if the wider road has the right-of-way
As a four-way stop always
Answer: As if a yield sign were present
When approaching an uncontrolled intersection, motorists must treat it as if there were a yield sign present.
