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Intersection Etiquette for Safer Driving

Negotiating intersections properly is a very important part of driving. Wherever traffic crosses paths, the potential for serious accidents is higher than elsewhere. This is why it is so important to know the proper etiquette for crossing an intersection. That way, traffic can move along smoothly and without delays.

To safely and efficiently drive through intersections you must understand the right-of-way laws. These laws determine who may proceed first and who must wait when more than one vehicle arrives at an intersection. What follows is an explanation of the most common right-of-way laws.

First and foremost, anytime you see an emergency vehicle with its lights flashing it has the right-of-way. Remain stopped until it passes through the intersection even if it is your turn to proceed. If you are directly in its path, try to pull out of the way as much as possible. Lives may depend on this. If it is your relative whose life it is en route to save you'll be glad you did not impede its progress.

Secondly, pedestrians have the right-of-way. Some are smart and will not walk out in front of a vehicle that could easily dispatch them from this life, but others, for whatever reason, will step right out in front of you expecting you to yield. Make sure you do.

STOP SIGNS. Common sense tells us a stop sign means stop. Yield the right-of-way to those approaching without stop signs, after which you may proceed through the intersection when it is safe to do so. In the real world, a rolling stop of a couple miles an hour is acceptable (although some police officers may not agree with this), but you must be sure to give yourself enough time to look in all directions and stop if there is traffic.

FOUR WAY STOP SIGNS. I don't know how these work everywhere in the world but in Minnesota and most other states it's like this: Whoever stops first at the intersection has the right-of-way. If two or more vehicles arrive at the intersection at the same time there is a procedure to follow. A vehicle to your right has the right-of-way. You then, have the right-of-way over a vehicle to your left. As for a vehicle across the intersection, you will not cross paths unless one of you is turning left. The vehicle not turning left has the right-of-way.

YEILD SIGNS. A yield sign works exactly like a stop sign except you do not have to come to a full stop unless there is traffic.

TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I would hope that every driver understands the right-of-way at traffic lights. However, some intersections with lights can be confusing and you should consult a driving manual if you do not fully understand them.

UNMARKED INTERSECTIONS. If an intersection has no signs, treat it like a four way yield sign. The same rules as a four way stop apply except you do not have to stop unless there is traffic. Use caution though as some people drive through these without paying any attention.

To observe proper intersection etiquette, it is just as important that you proceed without hesitation when you have the right-of-way as it is to yield when others have it. This is necessary for traffic to move smoothly. However, you should avoid an accident at any cost. You may have the right-of-way, but if someone pulls in front of you, yield to them. It may not be fair, but your day will get much worse if you have a crash, even if you're not at fault.

If you learn these right-of-way laws, you will be well on your way to understanding proper intersection etiquette and be able to proceed through each intersection safely and confidently.

Learn more about this author, James Dreamer.
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