You and another driver reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same time. The other car is on your right. Who should go first?

You, because you are going straight

Your light turns green (solid green circle) and you want to turn left. You must:

Yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians before turning

Turn immediately; green gives you the right-of-way

Turn only if the car behind you honks

When entering a roundabout, you must yield to:

Traffic already circulating in the roundabout

Traffic waiting to enter behind you

No one; roundabouts have no right-of-way rules

At a T-intersection with no signs, a driver on the road that ends (the stem of the T) must:

Yield to traffic on the through road

Go first because they arrived first

A flashing yellow left-turn arrow means:

You may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians

The signal is broken; treat it as a 4-way stop

Right-of-Way Rules Explained: Who Yields, and When

Right-of-way rules decide who must yield, not who gets to go. At a 4-way stop the first car to stop goes first and the car on the left yields to the car on the right; drivers turning left yield to oncoming traffic; and every driver yields to pedestrians in crosswalks and to emergency vehicles using lights or sirens.

Updated on 2026-11-06 · Ver en español

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Right-of-way quiz: 5 test-style questions

You and another driver reach an intersection with no signs or signals at the same time. The other car is on your right. Who should go first? You, because you are going straight / The car on your right / Whoever is driving faster / Whoever honks first. Answer: The car on your right. At an uncontrolled intersection, when two vehicles arrive at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Your light turns green (solid green circle) and you want to turn left. You must: Turn immediately; green gives you the right-of-way / Yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians before turning / Wait for a green arrow / Turn only if the car behind you honks. Answer: Yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians before turning. A solid green circle allows a left turn, but it is unprotected: you must yield to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians crossing the street you are turning into.
When entering a roundabout, you must yield to: Traffic waiting to enter behind you / Traffic already circulating in the roundabout / Traffic on your right only / No one; roundabouts have no right-of-way rules. Answer: Traffic already circulating in the roundabout. Vehicles already in the roundabout have the right-of-way. Slow down, yield to traffic coming from your left and to pedestrians, then enter when there is a safe gap.
At a T-intersection with no signs, a driver on the road that ends (the stem of the T) must: Yield to traffic on the through road / Go first because they arrived first / Yield only to trucks / Sound the horn and proceed. Answer: Yield to traffic on the through road. Drivers on the road that ends must yield to vehicles and pedestrians on the through road, which continues in both directions.
A flashing yellow left-turn arrow means: Left turns are prohibited / You have a protected left turn / You may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians / The signal is broken; treat it as a 4-way stop. Answer: You may turn left after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. The flashing yellow arrow allows a permissive left turn. Oncoming traffic has a green light, so you may turn only when there is a safe gap and no pedestrians are crossing.

What right-of-way really means

In U.S. traffic law, right-of-way is never owned — it is given. State vehicle codes are written as duties to yield: “the driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to…”. That wording matters on the permit test. The correct answer is almost never “insist on your right-of-way”; it is “yield” or “let the other driver go if they do not yield.”

Yielding means slowing down or stopping as needed so that another road user can go first without having to brake or swerve. If someone fails to yield to you, the law still expects you to avoid a crash when you reasonably can. A driver who forces their way through and causes a collision can be found at fault even if the other driver made the first mistake.

Right-of-way questions are among the most frequently missed on the written test because they describe a scenario in words. The fastest way to master them is to picture the intersection, identify the traffic control (sign, signal or nothing), and then apply the rules below in order. Our topic practice tests include dozens of these scenarios with explanations.

Four-way (all-way) stops

An all-way stop has a STOP sign on every approach, often with a small plaque reading ALL WAY or 4-WAY. Every driver must come to a complete stop, then go in the order they arrived.

Who goes first at an all-way stop
Situation	Who goes first
One car stops before the others	The first car to come to a complete stop
Two cars stop at the same time, at right angles	The car on the right; the car on the left yields
Two cars stop at the same time, facing each other, both going straight or turning right	Both may go; their paths do not cross
Two cars facing each other, one turning left	The car going straight or turning right; the left-turning car yields
Four cars arrive at once	Drivers must communicate (eye contact, a wave); be patient and let one go
A pedestrian is crossing	The pedestrian, always

A dark traffic signal (power failure) is treated as an all-way stop in most states. Stop completely and take turns as described above.

Uncontrolled and T-intersections

An uncontrolled intersection has no signs or signals at all — common in residential neighborhoods and rural areas. Slow down as you approach and be ready to stop. The rules follow the same logic as the all-way stop:

The vehicle that reaches the intersection first goes first.
If two vehicles arrive at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
A driver turning left yields to an oncoming vehicle going straight or turning right.
At a T-intersection without signs, the driver on the road that ends yields to traffic and pedestrians on the through road.
A driver entering from a driveway, alley, parking lot or private road yields to all traffic and pedestrians on the public road and sidewalk.
Where a STOP or YIELD sign controls only one road (a two-way stop), drivers with the sign yield to cross traffic, which does not stop. Look for a CROSS TRAFFIC DOES NOT STOP plaque.

Left turns, right turns on red and traffic signals

Signals settle most conflicts, but turns still require yielding. With a solid green circle, you may turn left only after yielding to oncoming traffic and pedestrians — this is an unprotected or “permissive” turn. A green arrow gives a protected turn: oncoming traffic is stopped, though you must still watch for pedestrians and red-light runners.

Many intersections now use a flashing yellow arrow for left turns. It means the same as a green circle for turning: you may go after yielding. A steady yellow arrow means the turn signal is about to change, and a red arrow means you may not turn in that direction.

Every state allows a right turn on red after a complete stop, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted or local law forbids it (New York City is the best-known exception). You must yield to pedestrians and cross traffic first. Most states also allow a left turn on red from a one-way street onto another one-way street moving left, after a full stop; a few states also allow it from a two-way street onto a one-way street. Check your handbook.

When a signal turns green, yield to vehicles and pedestrians still in the intersection before you move. A green light gives you permission to go, not a guarantee that the way is clear.

Roundabouts and traffic circles

Modern roundabouts are spreading across the U.S. because they reduce serious crashes compared with traditional intersections. Traffic always moves counterclockwise, and drivers already in the circle have the right-of-way.

Slow down as you approach and choose your lane early using the signs and pavement arrows.
Yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk before the entry line.
Yield to traffic already circulating, which comes from your left. Enter only when there is a safe gap; you do not need to stop if the way is clear.
Never stop inside the roundabout except to avoid a crash. Do not pass or change lanes inside it.
Signal right before your exit and yield to pedestrians at the exit crosswalk.
If an emergency vehicle approaches, exit the roundabout first, then pull over. Do not stop inside the circle.

Pedestrians and bicyclists

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked crosswalks and in unmarked crosswalks — the extension of the sidewalk across the street at almost every intersection, even without painted lines. Many states require you to stop, not just slow down, for a pedestrian in your half of the road or approaching it. Never pass a vehicle that is stopped at a crosswalk; it may be stopped for someone you cannot see.

A pedestrian using a white cane or a guide dog always has the right-of-way, in every state. Stop and wait until they have crossed. Do not honk; it can be confusing.

Bicyclists have the same rights and duties as drivers on most roads. Yield to a cyclist in a bike lane before you turn right across it, and check your mirror and blind spot first. Most states require at least 3 feet of space when passing a bicycle, and some require more or a full lane change.

Emergency vehicles, school buses and Move Over laws

When an ambulance, fire truck or police vehicle approaches using a siren or flashing red or blue lights, pull to the right edge of the road and stop, clear of intersections, until it has passed. Never follow closer than the distance your state sets (often 500 feet) behind an emergency vehicle that is answering a call.

All 50 states have Move Over laws. When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle — and in most states a tow truck, utility vehicle or highway maintenance vehicle — with flashing lights, move over a lane if you safely can; if not, slow down well below the limit. A growing number of states apply the rule to any stopped vehicle with hazard lights on.

For a school bus with flashing red lights and its stop arm out, stop. On a two-lane road, traffic in both directions stops. On a divided highway with a median, oncoming traffic usually does not have to stop, but rules vary, so check your state handbook. Many states also give the right-of-way to a funeral procession; do not cut into the line.

Merging, highways and other situations

Drivers entering a freeway from an on-ramp must yield to traffic already on the freeway. Use the acceleration lane to reach the speed of traffic, signal, and merge into a gap. Drivers on the freeway should make room when they safely can, but they are not required to.

When two lanes become one, the courteous and efficient method is the zipper merge: use both lanes until the merge point, then take turns. Some states promote it on their signs. When you leave a parking space, yield to traffic in the lane. On a narrow mountain road where two vehicles cannot pass, the vehicle going downhill usually backs up or pulls over, because it is easier for the uphill vehicle to keep moving — confirm your state's rule.

Right-of-way is tested together with signs and signals, so study them as a set. Read our road signs guide next, then check yourself with a full mock exam.

Right-of-way FAQ

Who has the right of way at a 4-way stop?

The first vehicle to come to a complete stop goes first. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. A driver turning left yields to an oncoming driver going straight.

Who has the right of way when turning left?

On a solid green light or a flashing yellow arrow, the left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians. Only a green arrow gives you a protected left turn.

Do pedestrians always have the right of way?

Drivers must yield to pedestrians in marked and unmarked crosswalks, and must always take care to avoid hitting any pedestrian. Pedestrians are also required to obey signals and not step suddenly into traffic, but the driver is expected to be cautious.

Who yields at a T-intersection?

Where there are no signs, the driver on the road that ends (the stem of the T) yields to traffic and pedestrians on the through road.

Who has the right of way in a roundabout?

Traffic already inside the roundabout. Drivers entering must yield to circulating traffic coming from the left and to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

What should I do when an emergency vehicle comes up behind me?

Pull to the right edge of the road and stop, staying out of intersections, until the emergency vehicle has passed. If you are in a roundabout or intersection, clear it first, then pull over.

Can I turn right on red in every state?

Yes, after a complete stop and yielding to pedestrians and cross traffic, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted or local law prohibits it, as in New York City.