Right-of-Way Unit 1

What is Right of Way? Legally granted access.

What is Right-of-Way?  Letting others go first. NEVER assume that you automatically have the right-of-way.  Right-of-way is always given (yielded) by someone.  Laws are clear about who should yield.  Letting others go first. NEVER assume that you automatically have the right-of-way.  Right-of-way is always given (yielded) by someone.  Laws are clear about who should yield.

Right of Way Designed to help drivers understand who should be granted the privilege of proceeding first when more than one vehicle approaches an intersection at about the same time.

Rules of the Road  Question 1: Can you “take” the right-of-way?  Question 2: Why should you never assume another driver will give you the right-of-way?  Question 1: Can you “take” the right-of-way?  Question 2: Why should you never assume another driver will give you the right-of-way?

Exercising Due Caution All drivers are required to exercise due care to avoid a collision. When two or more drivers approach a situation where someone is supposed to yield the right-of- way, all drivers should be prepared to yield. All drivers are required to exercise due care to avoid a collision. When two or more drivers approach a situation where someone is supposed to yield the right-of- way, all drivers should be prepared to yield.

Principles of Right-of-Way The purpose of right-of-way laws is to prevent conflicts resulting from one driver failing to yield to another. The right-of-way is always given; it is not something a highway user should take for granted. The purpose of right-of-way laws is to prevent conflicts resulting from one driver failing to yield to another. The right-of-way is always given; it is not something a highway user should take for granted.

Right-of-Way: Basic Rules You must yield to emergency vehicles—police, fire, and rescue—using a siren and/or flashing lights. Move to far right and stop. If on the other side of a multi-lane highway, move to right to give vehicle more space to get through. If traffic is heavy and you cannot vacate lane, move over within lane to give vehicle space. If lights/siren are not on, it’s just an ordinary vehicle. You must yield to emergency vehicles—police, fire, and rescue—using a siren and/or flashing lights. Move to far right and stop. If on the other side of a multi-lane highway, move to right to give vehicle more space to get through. If traffic is heavy and you cannot vacate lane, move over within lane to give vehicle space. If lights/siren are not on, it’s just an ordinary vehicle.

Special Situations: Police Cars Move Over or Slow Down Law If a policeman has someone pulled over… you are required by law to vacate the right lane of the highway unless it is impossible for you to do so. if it’s impossible, you must slow down until you have passed the policeman. Move Over or Slow Down Law If a policeman has someone pulled over… you are required by law to vacate the right lane of the highway unless it is impossible for you to do so. if it’s impossible, you must slow down until you have passed the policeman.

Right-of-Way: Basic Rules You must yield the right-of-way to school buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading children and its signal devices aren’t functioning properly. Exception: If you are traveling on a road separated from where the bus is stopped by a median If bus is not loading/unloading students, it’s an ordinary vehicle. You must yield the right-of-way to school buses with flashing red lights and an extended stop sign. You must also stop if the bus is loading or unloading children and its signal devices aren’t functioning properly. Exception: If you are traveling on a road separated from where the bus is stopped by a median If bus is not loading/unloading students, it’s an ordinary vehicle.

Right-of-Way: School Buses Traffic in both directions must stop. Only traffic going the same direction as the bus must stop due to the presence of a median. At an intersection, all traffic must stop. If bus is loading or unloading students :

Right-of-Way: Trains  Trains can’t stop quickly.  Trains can’t turn.  Always yield to trains.  Trains can’t stop quickly.  Trains can’t turn.  Always yield to trains. Rail Road Safety Video: Train Smashes Car Video :

Right-of-Way: Funeral Processions  It’s courteous to yield to funeral processions.  Never cut through or join a procession.  Participants in the procession should have on their low-beam headlights or flags on their vehicles.  It’s courteous to yield to funeral processions.  Never cut through or join a procession.  Participants in the procession should have on their low-beam headlights or flags on their vehicles.

Right-of-Way: Basic Rules Must yield to…  Blind persons carrying a white cane or using a guide dog.  Any pedestrian in a crosswalk. Must yield to…  Blind persons carrying a white cane or using a guide dog.  Any pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Right of Way: Pedestrians When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation: The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway: Within a crosswalk on the same side of the road. When the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger. When traffic-control signals are not in place or not in operation: The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway: Within a crosswalk on the same side of the road. When the pedestrian is approaching so closely from the opposite half of the roadway as to be in danger.

Right-of-Way: Basic Rules Sometimes, you should just yield the right-of- way.

Right of Way: Consideration  Legally, bicycles are vehicles just like cars/trucks.  Bicyclists are supposed to follow all traffic laws.  Protect yourself  Always watch them extra closely.  Legally, bicycles are vehicles just like cars/trucks.  Bicyclists are supposed to follow all traffic laws.  Protect yourself  Always watch them extra closely.

Right-of-Way Concepts  Sometimes, drivers have to wait for other drivers.  Principles based on giving (yielding) the passage to others while you wait your turn.  Cannot be taken: it’s not a “right”.  Sometimes, drivers have to wait for other drivers.  Principles based on giving (yielding) the passage to others while you wait your turn.  Cannot be taken: it’s not a “right”.

Intersections  Two types: Controlled Uncontrolled Signal or sign controls traffic flow. Nothing controls traffic flow. Must know your right-of-way rules

Controlled Intersections  The traffic signal determines who must yield.  If you are stopped at a red light, you are yielding.  If you have a green light, you have the right of way.  The traffic signal determines who must yield.  If you are stopped at a red light, you are yielding.  If you have a green light, you have the right of way.

Uncontrolled Intersections  Require drivers to remember right of way rules.  First Car Rule  Same Time Rule  Require drivers to remember right of way rules.  First Car Rule  Same Time Rule NTSA Video:

First Car Rule  Vehicles approaching an intersection must yield to vehicles already in the intersection.  Whoever gets there first goes first.  Vehicles approaching an intersection must yield to vehicles already in the intersection.  Whoever gets there first goes first. These cars are already in the intersection proceeding forward. This car must yield.

First Car Rule: Consideration  Car A = 1 st, Car B = 2 nd, Car C = 3 rd.  A gets to go first.  Because A is using that road, C can also go at the same time.  Keeps intersection from getting backed up.  Car A = 1 st, Car B = 2 nd, Car C = 3 rd.  A gets to go first.  Because A is using that road, C can also go at the same time.  Keeps intersection from getting backed up.

T-Intersections: Driveways/Alleys/Private Roads  Must stop and yield to traffic in the roadway (just like First Car Rule). These cars are already in the roadway. This car must yield.-

Traffic Flow (2-Way Stop)

Same Time Rule When two or more vehicles approach an intersection at approximately the same time, the driver of the vehicle on the left shall yield the right-of-way to the vehicle on the right. This car is on the right because the other car is to the left of it; it may proceed. This car is to the left of the other car; it must yield. **Not on the left of the picture; on the left as viewed from the driver’s seat.

Same Time Rule This car is on the right because the other car is to the left of it; it may proceed. This car is to the left of the other car; it must yield. **Not on the left of the picture; on the left as viewed from the driver’s seat.

Same Time Rule  What if 4 drivers pull up at the same time?  Communicate with each other by waving each other on.  Only happens on a rare occasion  What if 4 drivers pull up at the same time?  Communicate with each other by waving each other on.  Only happens on a rare occasion

Right of Way: Left Turns Vehicles turning left must yield to oncoming traffic – unless there is a lead green arrow. This car must yield. **When turning left, you must wait to turn until it is safe and clear for you to do so. If a car pulls up behind the top car, the bottom car must also wait for it to go before turning.

Right of Way: Signal Usage  Signaling is your most effective way to let other drivers know what you want to do.  If drivers want to turn and do not signal, it messes up the order of who should go next.  ALWAYS use your signal when turning or changing lanes.  Signaling is your most effective way to let other drivers know what you want to do.  If drivers want to turn and do not signal, it messes up the order of who should go next.  ALWAYS use your signal when turning or changing lanes.

Traffic Flow: 4 Way Stop

Traffic Circles/Roundabouts/Rotaries  Circular intersection  Yield to traffic already in the circle.  Circular intersection  Yield to traffic already in the circle. This car must yield. This car is already in the circle.

Traffic Flow (Traffic Circle) URY7BX0

Right-of-Way: Remember  The most common violations in traffic accidents are “Failure to Yield the Right-of- Way” or “Improper Yield of Right of Way”.  Know your rules.  Never assume others will yield properly.  It’s always safer to wait.  Always yield if it helps avoid danger.  The most common violations in traffic accidents are “Failure to Yield the Right-of- Way” or “Improper Yield of Right of Way”.  Know your rules.  Never assume others will yield properly.  It’s always safer to wait.  Always yield if it helps avoid danger.

For Fun: “Yield” App  FREE in App Store