According to the rules of right of way if you arrive at a 4 way stop intersection

Almost every driver has had this experience: You arrive at a four-way stop at the same time another car arrives at the stop from a different direction, and a moment of confusion ensues for each driver as they ask themselves, “who has the right of way at a four way stop?” The correct answer is: Drivers should yield to the car on the right.

What if the other car is directly across from you? There’s a rule for that, too, and it’s discussed in most driver’s education courses. But, over time, drivers may forget the principles they learned as a new driver. Following is a “refresher course” on right of way rules.

Right of Way at Stop Signs and Roundabouts

The first car to arrive at a stop sign always has the right of way. If two cars arrive at a four-way stop at the same time and are across from each other, right of way depends on direction of travel:

• If both drivers are going straight or turning right, they can both proceed.
• If one driver is signaling a turn and one isn’t, the driver who is traveling straight has the right of way (the same rule applies at two-way stops, where a side street intersecting a main road has a stop sign on both sides.)
• If one driver is turning right and one is turning left, the right-turning driver has the right of way.

Left Turn Right of Way

If both drivers are turning left, they might be able to proceed at the same time, if the intersection is large enough to safely do so; otherwise, visual communication with the other driver can establish who will proceed first. The same rule applies when four cars arrive at a four-way stop at the same time – use caution, and make eye contact with other drivers.

Roundabouts follow a simpler rule: Yield to any cars already in the roundabout, and proceed when the way is clear. In roundabout crosswalks and at stop signs, pedestrians have the right of way.

Left Turn Accidents Related to Drivers Who Don’t Understand Right of Way

About 53 percent of intersection crashes involve left-turning drivers, and that statistic is one reason UPS has a policy prohibiting its drivers from turning left, unless there’s no alternative.

Turning left is one of the riskiest maneuvers a driver makes – unless there’s a dedicated traffic signal giving left-turning drivers the right of way, drivers must enter an intersection and wait for an opening before turning left. When already in the intersection, the left-turning driver has the right of way when the traffic signal turns yellow. But oncoming drivers may try to race through the yellow light, so left-turning drivers should proceed with caution (also, left-turning drivers should not enter the intersection on a yellow signal).

Right of Way Rules for Pedestrians and Cyclists

Bicycles are considered vehicles, so they must generally follow the rules that apply to drivers. Cyclists may ride on the right road shoulder or in the right-most travel lane of a road, and they may leave the right lane when making a left turn, overtaking another vehicle, or avoiding an object.

Motorists must allow four feet when passing a bicyclist (the bicyclist is not required to move further to the right).

Many accidents that injure pedestrians and cyclists occur at intersections, when drivers turning right on red are looking to the left and fail to make sure the intersection is clear before executing their turn. Drivers should always be alert to pedestrians and cyclists at intersections.

We Can Help with Injuries in Accidents Caused by Right of Way Violations

A driver who violates right of way rules and causes a car crash may be liable for any injuries that occur. For almost 40 years, the attorneys at Wapner Newman have been the trusted advocates for countless personal injury victims and their families throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. We offer risk-free consultations and work on a contingency basis, which means that we do not require you to pay any fees until we have secured a recovery on your behalf. We encourage you to contact us today by calling (800) 529-6600 or filling out a free case evaluation form.

Is it true that you must give way to the right in all situations?

That's not always the rule.

At an unsigned crossroad, you must give way to all vehicles approaching from your right. But if you want to turn right, you must give way to all oncoming vehicles too.

If you're driving on a road that ends in a T-intersection, you must give way to all vehicles on the continuing road.

And naturally, if you come to a stop sign or a give way sign, you must give way to all other vehicles as well.

So what happens at an intersection with both a stop and a give way sign? Contrary to popular belief, a stop sign is not more powerful than a give way sign. The signs effectively cancel each other out and normal give way rules still apply. Both must give way to all vehicles, then because car A is turning right, it must give way to car B.

Finally, if you're planning to do a U-turn, you must give way to all other vehicles before turning.

Knowing the give way rules helps you drive safely and avoid crashes.

Disclaimer: This information is general in nature only. While Budget Direct has endeavoured to ensure the information we’ve relied on is accurate and current, we do not guarantee it. Budget Direct accepts no liability for this information.

Knowing who gives way while driving can be tricky, not just for new drivers but also for experienced drivers as well.

In 2016, 25% of the road accidents that occurred in Australia happened as a result of drivers failing to give way. This tells us that it might be time to refresh our knowledge of driving safely.

We’ve put together a comprehensive guide, complete with illustrations of all the different ways you need to give way on Australia’s roads.

See all of Budget Direct's road-safety guides

Drivers must give way to all vehicles already travelling on the roundabout, not just those to the right of them. If two drivers arrive at the same time, the car to the right goes first.

At an uncontrolled (no signs) crossroad you must give way to traffic travelling in the opposite direction when the other car is travelling straight and turning left.

If you’re driving on a road that ends in a T-intersection you must give way to all vehicles travelling on the road continuing through the intersection (except for those doing a U-turn).

You must signal that you’re giving way to all vehicles and pedestrians in advance, even if they are facing a give way or stop sign.

At an intersection with both a stop and give way sign, drivers arriving at the intersection must give way to all vehicles on the road before giving way to each other. You must give way to vehicles turning right across your path if you are facing a give way sign.

When the speed limit is 70km/h or less you must give way to a bus that has a give way sign on the back of it. This includes when a bus is re-entering traffic from a bus stop or from the side of the road.

Parked cars looking to enter traffic must give way to all other moving traffic and signal for a minimum of 5 seconds before they plan to merge/enter.

When merging on a road that comes to an end, you must give way to traffic that is already travelling. This is particularly important if there are lanes marked on the road. If there are no lanes marked on the road, the car that is ahead has right of way and the car behind must merge.

When leaving or entering a road you must give way to all cyclists, pedestrians and vehicles travelling on the footpath and roads.

Trucks and larger vehicles can often need more space on the road. When giving way to larger vehicles ensure that they have enough room and don’t travel too closely to them.

Part of driving safely is also having insurance. Investing in Budget Direct’s comprehensive car insurance will help you to rest easy while you’re driving on our roads. 

See all of Budget Direct’s road-safety guides