Chapter 6: Navigating the Roads

Knowing the rules for navigating the road is the foundation of safe, predictable, and cooperative driving. These rules govern how drivers interact with each other in dynamic situations like intersections, turns, and passing maneuvers. A clear understanding of right-of-way, proper turning procedures, and safe passing is essential for preventing conflicts and collisions, and it is a major focus of the Delaware driver’s exam.

Right-of-Way

The concept of right-of-way is not a right to be taken, but a rule determining who must yield to another road user. The law never grants anyone the absolute right-of-way; it only specifies which driver must give way. The primary goal is to prevent crashes by establishing a clear and consistent order of movement.

• Uncontrolled Intersections: At an intersection with no signs or signals, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right. It is always safest to slow down and be prepared to yield to all vehicles before entering.
• All-Way Stops: At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive at the intersection and come to a complete stop should proceed first. If two or more vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• Driveways and Private Roads: A driver entering a public road from a driveway, alley, or private road must stop and yield the right-of-way to all approaching traffic and pedestrians.
• Merging: When merging onto a highway from an on-ramp, the driver must yield to traffic already on the main roadway. The goal is to adjust speed on the ramp to match the flow of traffic and merge into a safe gap.
• Pedestrians: Drivers must yield to pedestrians in a marked or unmarked crosswalk. At a signalized intersection, drivers must yield to pedestrians crossing on a “Walk” signal. Pedestrians using a guide dog or carrying a white cane have the absolute right-of-way at all times.
• Emergency Vehicles: Upon the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle (police, fire, ambulance) using a siren or flashing lights, every other driver must yield. This requires pulling over to the right-hand edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stopping until the emergency vehicle has passed. Under Delaware’s “Move Over Law,” when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights, drivers must move over one lane if possible. If a lane change is not possible or safe, the driver must slow down to a safe speed.