Right of way, turns and intersections in District of Columbia

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at a four-way stop.
• You can make a safe, legal right turn on red where it is allowed.
• You can enter and leave a DC traffic circle correctly.
• You can yield properly when turning left across traffic.
• You can stop correctly for pedestrians at marked and unmarked crosswalks.

What you need to know and understand

• DC law requires you to stop and stay stopped for a pedestrian crossing in a marked crosswalk, or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, when they are in your lane, or within one lane of it, including the lane you are turning into.
• If another vehicle has stopped at a marked crosswalk at an intersection without signals, you must stop too and not pass it until pedestrians and cyclists are safe.
• At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
• When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians in the crosswalk you are turning across.
• A right turn on red is allowed only after a full stop and only where no sign forbids it. Many DC intersections post NO TURN ON RED.
• Failing to yield to a pedestrian is a 3-point violation in DC.

Four-way stops and uncontrolled intersections

1. Stop fully behind the stop line or crosswalk.
2. Note which vehicles stopped before you. They go first, in order.
3. If you arrive at the same time as a car on your right, let it go first.
4. Check the crosswalks again before moving, since pedestrians may step out late.

Turning on red: what to do and what not to do

DC passed laws in recent years to restrict turns on red more widely, but the DC Code shows those changes as not yet funded or in effect. Signs at each intersection are what count, so read them every time.

• Do come to a complete stop and look left, right and at the crosswalks.
• Do yield to all cross traffic, pedestrians and cyclists before turning.
• Don't turn if a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted, even if the road looks empty.
• Don't roll through the stop. A rolling turn on red is still running a red light.

Traffic circles

DC has many traffic circles, from small neighborhood circles to large multi-lane ones. Slow down on approach, yield to traffic already in the circle and to pedestrians at the crosswalks, choose your lane early using the signs, and signal right as you pass the exit before yours. Some large circles also have traffic signals inside them, so obey every signal you meet.

Common mistakes

• Yielding to pedestrians only after they reach your lane. DC law requires you to stop when they are approaching from the next lane too.
• Overtaking a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. It is usually stopped for someone you cannot see.
• Turning left on a green light without checking for oncoming cars and crossing pedestrians.
• Changing lanes inside a busy traffic circle without checking mirrors and blind spots.

Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in District of Columbia

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

Go deeper

• DC Permit Practice Test