Rules of the road

Right of Way

Who goes first at uncontrolled intersections, all-way stops, and yield signs.

Identify the control, arrival order, and every road user in your path before proceeding.

Right of way is about knowing when you must wait. The safest way to learn it is to identify the control, compare arrival order, and check every path for vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Key facts

At an uncontrolled intersection, when two vehicles arrive from different roads at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Turning drivers must check for pedestrians and cyclists.

At the same time and with no signs or lights, identify which vehicle is on the right.

Uncontrolled intersections and all-way stops

At an intersection without signs or lights, yield to a vehicle that arrived before you. If two vehicles arrive from different roads at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

At an all-way stop, the first vehicle to make a complete stop goes first. If two vehicles stop at the same time, use the same left-yields-to-right rule.

Turns and driveways

A driver turning left must wait for approaching traffic to pass or turn, and for pedestrians in or approaching the turn path to cross. A right-turning driver must also wait for pedestrians in or approaching the path and check for cyclists approaching from behind.

When entering from a driveway or private road, yield to vehicles already on the road and to pedestrians on the sidewalk. A signal shows intention; it does not create right of way.

Pedestrian crossovers and guarded school crossings

At a pedestrian crossover or a school crossing with a crossing guard, wait until pedestrians have completely crossed the road. Scan both sides before moving, even after the person has passed your lane.

A crossing guard’s hand signal at a school crossing carries the same weight as the crossover marking itself: stop and remain stopped until the guard has returned to the curb and lowered the sign, not just once the visible group of children has crossed.

Common mistakes

Treating a turn signal as permission to move.
Using “the larger road goes first” at an uncontrolled intersection instead of arrival order and the right-side rule.
Watching only oncoming cars during a turn and missing pedestrians or cyclists in the turn path.
Rolling through an all-way stop before establishing who stopped first.