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Utah driving lesson · Rules of the Road

Right-of-way and intersections

A 3-minute lesson from the Utah 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
51, 52, 53, 59

Right-of-way rules decide who goes first, but they never give you the right to hit anyone. Most crashes happen where traffic meets, so slow down, scan every direction, and be ready for others to make mistakes.

Know the rule

At every intersection, slow down and search for traffic controls, oncoming and cross traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists, road conditions, and anything blocking your view.

Handbook p. 51 ↗

Know the rule

Don't rely on others to obey signals or signs or to yield. Before moving after a stop, check for traffic and bicyclists: look left, right, and left again.

Handbook p. 51 ↗

Know the rule

When your light turns green, make sure your path is clear and no cross traffic remains. Don't pull out just because an oncoming car's turn signal is on; the driver may turn after passing you or may have forgotten the signal.

Handbook p. 52 ↗

Through an intersection:

  • Approaching: check traffic in all directions, brake smoothly, keep your lane position
  • Stopping: stop completely behind stop signs, signals, sidewalks, or stop lines
  • Behind another car: stop where you can still see its rear tires
  • Driving through: both hands on the wheel, slow down, yield, and don't change lanes
  • Once through: check mirrors, accelerate smoothly, move to the right-most lane when safe
Handbook p. 52 ↗

Yield the right-of-way to:

  • A driver who reached the intersection before you
  • Drivers in the opposite lane when you are turning left
  • The driver on your right at a four-way stop when you arrive at the same time
  • Drivers on a public road when you're coming from a driveway or private road
  • Drivers already on an interstate when you're on the entrance ramp
  • Pedestrians, bicyclists, and others still in the intersection
Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

Never assume you have the right-of-way. Look at the situation and think about safety; courtesy is the key.

Handbook p. 59 ↗

Know the rule

You must yield to pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk, even if it is not marked.

Handbook p. 53 ↗

Put it into practice

You and another car arrive at a four-way stop at the same moment; the other car is on your right. You wait and let it go first. If it had arrived first, it would still go first, no matter which side it was on.

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 a four-way stop, if two drivers arrive at the same time, who must yield?
  1. The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
  2. The driver going straight goes first
  3. The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
  4. The driver turning left goes first

Answer: The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

Yield the right-of-way to the driver on your right at a four-way stop if both arrive at the same time.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
When entering a public road from a private driveway, you must yield to:
  1. Only oncoming vehicles
  2. No one, if your turn signal is on
  3. Only pedestrians, not vehicles
  4. All drivers already on the public road

Answer: All drivers already on the public road

Yield the right-of-way to drivers on a public road if you are coming from a driveway or private road.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
When entering an interstate highway from an entrance ramp, you must yield to:
  1. Drivers already on the interstate
  2. No one; entering traffic has the right-of-way
  3. Only vehicles in the right lane
  4. Only vehicles in the left lane

Answer: Drivers already on the interstate

Yield the right-of-way to drivers already on an interstate highway if you are on the entrance ramp.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
When making a left turn, you must yield to:
  1. No one, if your signal is on
  2. Drivers in the opposite lane
  3. Only pedestrians
  4. Only vehicles behind you

Answer: Drivers in the opposite lane

Yield the right-of-way to drivers in the opposite lane when making a left turn.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
Before entering an intersection after a stop, what should you do?
  1. Only check your mirrors
  2. Only look straight ahead
  3. Accelerate immediately once stopped
  4. Look left, right, then left again

Answer: Look left, right, then left again

Look left, right, and then left again before entering the intersection after stopping.

Handbook p. 51 ↗
You must yield to pedestrians and bicyclists who are:
  1. Still in the intersection
  2. Only on the sidewalk
  3. Only if they have a green light
  4. Never; vehicles always have priority

Answer: Still in the intersection

Yield the right-of-way to pedestrians, bicyclists, and others still in the intersection.

Handbook p. 59 ↗
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