Right of way

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at an all-way stop.
• You can apply the rule for uncontrolled intersections.
• You can yield correctly when turning, leaving a driveway or at a crosswalk.
• You can respond correctly to an emergency vehicle.

What you need to know and understand

• At an all-way stop, yield to the first vehicle to come to a complete stop. If two stop at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.
• At an uncontrolled intersection, yield to a vehicle that arrives first. If you arrive at the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right.
• When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in or approaching your path.
• When entering a road from a driveway or private road, yield to vehicles on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalk.
• Signalling does not give you the right of way.
• When an emergency vehicle approaches with lights or siren, pull as close as practical to the right edge and stop, clear of intersections.
• At a school crossing guard's stop sign, stop and wait until everyone has fully crossed.

Working out who goes first

1. Check for signs or signals. They decide first.
2. At an all-way stop, note the order in which vehicles stopped.
3. If two vehicles stopped together, the one on the left lets the one on the right go.
4. At an uncontrolled intersection, the first to arrive goes first. If you arrive together, yield to the right.
5. Look for pedestrians and cyclists before you move.
6. If anyone is unsure, make eye contact and let them go. Safety beats being first.

Emergency vehicles

When an ambulance, fire truck or police vehicle approaches with flashing lights or a siren, check your mirrors, signal and pull smoothly to the right edge, then stop. Do not stop in an intersection. If you are already in one, go straight through when safe, then pull over. In Ontario, if an emergency vehicle, a tow truck or a road work vehicle is stopped with lights flashing, slow down and, where there are two or more lanes in your direction, move over to a lane away from it if it is safe.

Pedestrians and cyclists

• Yield to pedestrians crossing at intersections, even on your green light.
• At a pedestrian crossover, wait until pedestrians have completely crossed (Ontario).
• Before turning right, check your blind spot for cyclists in a bike lane.
• Watch sidewalks and trails for children, who may not know the rules.

Common mistakes

• Assuming your signal gives you priority.
• Waving another driver through when it is not safe for them.
• Going out of turn at an all-way stop because you are in a hurry.
• Stopping in the middle of an intersection for an emergency vehicle.
• Forgetting to check for cyclists before a right turn.

Test yourself: Right of way

Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.