Chapter 6: Navigating the Roads

Knowing how to properly navigate intersections, turns, and passing situations is the foundation of safe, defensive driving. These rules create a predictable environment, allowing drivers to anticipate the actions of others and make decisions that prevent conflict and collisions. Mastering the principles of yielding the right-of-way, executing maneuvers correctly, and understanding when it is unsafe to pass is crucial for passing the road skills test and for a lifetime of safe driving.

Right-of-Way

The term “right-of-way” refers to the legal principle of which driver, in a specific situation, is allowed to proceed first. However, the law never grants a driver the right-of-way; it only tells a driver when they must yield it. If another driver fails to yield, a driver should give up the right-of-way to avoid a crash.

• Uncontrolled Intersections: At an intersection with no signs or signals, the first vehicle to arrive at the intersection goes first. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
• All-Way Stops: The rules for a four-way or all-way stop are the same as for an uncontrolled intersection. The first to stop is the first to go. If two or more vehicles stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
• Driveways and Private Roads: A driver entering a public street from a driveway, alley, or private road must stop and yield the right-of-way to all pedestrians and vehicles already on the public road.
• Merging: When merging onto a highway from an on-ramp, a driver must yield to traffic already on the main roadway. The merging driver is responsible for accelerating to the speed of traffic and finding a safe gap.
• Pedestrians: Drivers must yield to pedestrians in any marked or unmarked crosswalk. Drivers turning at an intersection must also yield to pedestrians crossing the street they are turning onto.
• Emergency Vehicles: When an emergency vehicle (police, fire, ambulance) approaches using its siren and flashing lights, drivers must immediately yield. They must pull over to the right edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop until the emergency vehicle has passed. On an undivided highway, traffic moving in both directions must stop.
• Stationary Emergency/Work Vehicles (Move Over Law): When approaching a stationary vehicle with flashing red, blue, or amber lights (emergency vehicles, tow trucks, highway maintenance vehicles), drivers must proceed with caution. If possible, they must make a lane change to a lane not next to the stationary vehicle. If a lane change is unsafe or not possible, the driver must slow down to a safe speed. As of July 1, 2023, this law applies to any stationary vehicle displaying hazard lights.

Common Mistake:
At a four-way stop, many drivers become confused when multiple cars arrive simultaneously. The rule is simple: always yield to the driver on your immediate right. If you have a car on your right, you wait. If there is no car on your right, you may proceed after stopping.