Chapter 6: Navigating the Roads

Knowing the rules of interaction between vehicles is the essence of safe driving. These rules, covering right-of-way, turning, and passing, create a predictable environment that prevents chaos and collisions. Mastering these procedures is vital for demonstrating control and awareness during the skills test and for safely navigating complex traffic situations every day.

Right-of-Way

Right-of-way rules determine who must yield and who has the legal right to proceed in various traffic situations. These rules are not about asserting rights, but about preventing conflicts. A driver should always be prepared to yield to prevent a crash, regardless of who has the technical right-of-way.

• Uncontrolled Intersections: At an intersection with no signs or signals, the rule is to yield to the vehicle on your right. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• All-Way Stops: At intersections where all directions have a stop sign (a 3-way, 4-way, or all-way stop), the first vehicle to arrive and come to a complete stop is the first to proceed. If two or more vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• Entering a Roadway: Drivers entering a road from a driveway, alley, or private road must stop and yield the right-of-way to all approaching traffic and pedestrians on the main road.
• Merging: When merging onto a highway or interstate, the driver entering the roadway must yield to traffic already on the main thoroughfare. The merging driver is responsible for finding a safe gap and adjusting their speed to match the flow of traffic.
• Pedestrians: Drivers must yield to pedestrians in all marked and unmarked crosswalks. When turning, drivers must always check for pedestrians crossing the street. Pedestrians using a guide dog or carrying a white cane have absolute right-of-way.
• Emergency Vehicles: Upon the approach of an emergency vehicle (police, fire, ambulance) using its siren and/or flashing lights, all drivers must immediately pull over to the right-hand edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop. Drivers must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.