Right of way, turns and intersections in Ohio
Right of way decides who goes first when two road users want the same space. In Ohio, as everywhere, the law tells you who must yield, but it never gives anyone the right to cause a crash.
Intersections are where most of these decisions happen. This page covers yielding, turning left and right, turning on red and using roundabouts the way the Ohio Driver Manual describes.
By the end of this topic you can
- You can decide who goes first at a four-way stop.
- You can make a left turn while yielding correctly to oncoming traffic.
- You can make a legal right turn on red and know when a left turn on red is allowed.
- You can enter, drive and leave a roundabout safely.
- You can yield correctly when joining a road from a driveway or a freeway ramp.
What you need to know and understand
- Yield to the driver who reached the intersection first. If two drivers arrive together at a four-way intersection, yield to the driver on your right.
- When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic.
- Right on red is allowed after a complete stop unless a sign forbids it; yield to crossing traffic and pedestrians.
- Left on red is allowed only from the far-left lane of a one-way street onto another one-way street, unless a sign prohibits it.
- Traffic in a roundabout moves counterclockwise, and entering traffic yields to traffic already circulating.
- Treat a traffic light that is not working like a stop sign.
- Always yield to emergency vehicles and funeral processions.
Who yields to whom
- The driver already at the intersection, or who arrived before you.
- Oncoming traffic when you are turning left.
- The driver on your right if you arrive at a four-way intersection at the same time.
- Traffic on the road when you pull out of a driveway or private road.
- Traffic already on a freeway when you are on the entrance ramp.
- Pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers still in the intersection.
- Police, fire and emergency vehicles, and funeral processions.
Turning left and right
For a right turn, stay close to the right side and turn into the right-most part of the new road without swinging wide. For a left turn, start from the left-most part of your lane and finish just to the right of the center line of the new road. On a green light with heavy oncoming traffic, you may move the front of the car slightly past the stop line, then turn when there is a safe gap.
Never block an intersection. If traffic on the far side is backed up, wait behind the stop line even if your light is green. And do not pull out just because an oncoming car is signaling; it may not actually turn.
Using a roundabout
- Check the signs as you approach to pick the right lane. You cannot change lanes once inside.
- Slow down and yield to traffic already in the roundabout, looking left.
- Enter when the lane is clear and travel counterclockwise without stopping.
- Signal right and leave at your exit: first exit to turn right, second to go straight, third to turn left, fourth for a U-turn.
Common mistakes
- Rolling through a right turn on red without a full stop.
- Turning left on red from a two-way street. It is only legal from one one-way street onto another.
- Stopping or changing lanes inside a roundabout.
- Pulling out in front of a car whose turn signal is on, assuming it will turn.
Test yourself: Right of way, turns and intersections in Ohio
Answer each question, then read the explanation. Questions come in a random order each time.
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Sources: Ohio Driver Manual: Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4 Rules of the Road (Ohio Department of Public Safety); Ohio Driver Manual: Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 5 Learning to Drive (Ohio Department of Public Safety). Independent guide, not affiliated with any licensing agency. Always check the latest official rules with the Ohio licensing agency.