Right-of-Way Rules: Who Goes First?

Last updated November 10, 2026

Right-of-way rules decide who goes first when drivers, cyclists and pedestrians meet. The most important thing to know: the law never gives you the right-of-way. It only says who must yield. If another driver doesn't yield, let them go. Being right isn't worth a crash.

Four-way (all-way) stops

• The first vehicle to stop completely goes first.
• If two vehicles stop at the same time, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.
• If two vehicles facing each other arrive together, both can go straight. A driver turning left yields to the one going straight.
• When a traffic light is out completely, treat the intersection as an all-way stop.

Uncontrolled intersections

When there are no signs or signals, slow down and be ready to stop. If two vehicles arrive at about the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right. At a T-intersection, traffic on the road that ends yields to traffic on the road that continues through.

Turning left

A left-turning driver must yield to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right, and to pedestrians in the crosswalk. On a solid green light, pull into the intersection if it's clear, wait for a safe gap, and keep your wheels pointed straight until you turn, so a rear-end hit doesn't push you into oncoming traffic. A green arrow means oncoming traffic is stopped and you have a protected turn. A flashing yellow arrow means you may turn after yielding.

Roundabouts

• Slow down and yield to traffic already in the roundabout, and to pedestrians at crosswalks.
• Enter when there's a gap and travel counterclockwise (to the right).
• Don't stop inside the roundabout unless you need to avoid a crash. Signal right before your exit.
• Give large trucks extra room, since they may need more than one lane.

Pedestrians and cyclists

Yield to pedestrians in any crosswalk, marked or unmarked. Even with a green light, wait for people to finish crossing before you turn. Always yield to a pedestrian using a white cane or guide dog. Never pass a car that has stopped at a crosswalk, because it may be stopped for someone you can't see. Treat cyclists as vehicles: check for them before turning right across a bike lane.

Emergency vehicles and school buses

• Emergency vehicles using a siren or flashing lights: pull to the right edge of the road and stop until they pass. If you're in an intersection, clear it first.
• Move Over laws (in all 50 states): when you pass a stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck or road crew with flashing lights, change lanes away from it if it's safe. If you can't, slow down well below the speed limit.
• School buses with flashing red lights and the stop arm out: stop, and stay stopped until the lights go off and the arm folds in. On a two-lane road, this applies to traffic in both directions. Rules for oncoming traffic on bigger roads vary. See our school bus laws guide.

Merging and entering the road

On a freeway on-ramp, use the acceleration lane to match the speed of traffic, then yield to vehicles already on the freeway and merge into a safe gap. When you pull out of a driveway, alley or parking lot, yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk and to all traffic on the road.

Brush up on the stop and yield signs that control many of these situations, or learn what flashing lights and turn arrows mean.