Right of way, turns and intersections in Idaho

By the end of this topic you can

• You can decide who goes first at four-way stops and uncontrolled intersections.
• You can make legal right and left turns, including on red.
• You can drive through a roundabout correctly.
• You can signal at the right time and distance.

What you need to know and understand

• At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
• The same left-yields-to-right rule applies at uncontrolled intersections with no signs or signals.
• At an uncontrolled T intersection, the driver who must turn yields to traffic from the other two directions.
• Turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and pedestrians unless a signal gives you a protected turn.
• Signal at least 100 feet before turning in business or residential areas, and at least 5 seconds before on freeways and highways.
• If a traffic signal is not working, treat the intersection as a four-way stop.

Turning on red in Idaho

After a complete stop and yielding to cross traffic and pedestrians, you may turn right on a steady red light unless a sign prohibits it. You may also turn left on red onto a one-way street after stopping and yielding, unless a sign prohibits it. The handbook describes the usual case of turning from one one-way street onto another, but Idaho law allows it from any street as long as the street you turn onto is one-way. You may never turn left on red onto a two-way street. A steady red arrow means no turn in that direction until a green or yellow signal allows it.

Roundabouts

1. Slow down as you approach and follow the signs and lane markings.
2. Yield to pedestrians and bicyclists at the crossings.
3. Yield to traffic already in the circle, coming from your left.
4. Enter to the right and travel counterclockwise, keeping your speed low.
5. Turn on your right signal as you approach your exit, then watch for pedestrians as you leave.

U-turns and newer intersection designs

U-turns are illegal where signs prohibit them, on curves or near a hilltop where approaching drivers cannot see you within 500 feet, and in no-passing zones. Stop and yield to all traffic first.

Idaho also uses some designs that confuse new drivers. At a thru-turn, you cannot turn left directly: go straight, make a U-turn at the next signal and come back to turn right. Single point urban interchanges and diverging diamond interchanges use signals and lane markings to guide you, so stop at the stop line and follow your lane.

Common mistakes

• Swinging wide on right turns. Stay close to the right curb and turn into the right lane.
• Cutting the corner on left turns instead of turning into the nearest lane going your way.
• Rolling through a right turn on red without a full stop.
• Entering an intersection on green when there is no room to clear it on the other side.

Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in Idaho

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

Go deeper

• Moving to Idaho
• Idaho GDL Rules and the Supervised Instruction Permit
• Idaho Permit Test