3.2 Right-of-Way Rules, Intersections & Funeral Processions

What Right-of-Way Means

Right-of-way rules say when you should yield, which means letting other vehicles, bicyclists or pedestrians go first. The manual's most important warning: never assume you automatically have the right-of-way. You must always consider the situation, because the other driver may not yield.

The Nine Yield Situations in the Manual

You should yield the right-of-way to:

1. The driver who is at, or arrives before you at, an intersection.
2. The driver on your right, if you both arrive at the same time.
3. The driver on your right at a four-way intersection with stop signs (when you arrive together).
4. Pedestrians, bicyclists and other drivers still in the intersection.
5. Drivers already on the road when you stop at a "T" intersection.
6. Other drivers when a yield sign faces you.
7. Drivers in the opposing lane when you are turning left.
8. Drivers on a road you are entering from a driveway or private road.
9. Drivers already on a highway, when you are on the entrance or acceleration ramp.

Four-Way Stops

1. Every driver makes a complete stop.
2. The first to stop goes first.
3. If two drivers stop at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
4. If two drivers facing each other arrive together, a driver turning left yields to the one going straight or turning right (rule 7).
5. If you are unsure, wave the other driver on. Courtesy is safer than a collision.

T-Intersections

The road that ends, the stem of the T, has the stop or yield. Drivers on it must yield to traffic already on the through road in both directions, then turn when there is a safe gap.

Left Turns

A left turn crosses the path of oncoming traffic, which makes it one of the riskiest maneuvers. On a green ball, or when no signal controls the turn, yield to oncoming vehicles and to pedestrians crossing the street you are entering. Look twice for motorcycles; their small size makes their speed hard to judge (see Section 6.5). While waiting, keep your wheels straight, so that if you are hit from behind you are not pushed into oncoming traffic.

Driveways, Private Roads and Ramps

• Driveways and private roads: traffic on the public road has priority. Yield to pedestrians on the sidewalk and to approaching vehicles, then enter when there is a safe gap.
• Entrance ramps: use the acceleration lane to match speed, then merge into a gap. Drivers already on the highway have the right-of-way (see Section 4.6).

Pedestrians and Bicyclists

When the light turns green, pedestrians or bicyclists may still be in the intersection, and you must let them finish. When turning on a green light, or turning on red after stopping, yield to pedestrians. Bicyclists have the right-of-way when you are turning, and you must yield to bicyclists in a bike lane or on a shoulder when you cross it (see Sections 6.1 and 6.2).

Funeral Processions

The manual's rules (Section 5.K):

• Vehicles in a funeral procession turn on their headlights and flashing hazard lights so other drivers yield to them.
• A vehicle that is part of the procession, with its lights on, may go through a red traffic signal to stay with the procession.
• Other drivers must yield to the procession even if they have a green signal, until all its vehicles have passed, unless they can proceed safely without crossing the procession's path.

Emergency Vehicles (Preview)

Police, fire and ambulance vehicles using sirens and flashing lights have the right-of-way. Pull to the edge of the road, stay out of intersections and stop until they pass. Section 6.4 covers these rules and Maryland's Move Over law in detail.

Why Yielding Matters for Points

Failing to yield is a moving violation. Under the MVA point system, any moving violation that contributes to a crash carries 3 points, and failing to yield is one of the offenses that can count toward an aggressive driving charge (see Section 5.4).

Scenario Check

• You and a driver on your left reach a four-way stop at the same moment. You go first; the other driver yields to you.
• You are leaving a mall exit onto a busy road with a green light for traffic on the road. You yield to that traffic.
• A hearse and cars with hazard lights are entering your intersection while your light is green. Yield until the procession has passed.