Right of way: who goes first

Key points

1. At an intersection without STOP or YIELD signs, the vehicle that arrives first has the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Without STOP or YIELD signs: The vehicle that arrives to the intersection first has the right-of-way.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 39

2. If another road user arrives at the same time as you, yield to the one on your right.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “if a vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist gets to the intersection at the same time as you, give the right-of-way to the vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist on your right.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 39

3. At a T intersection without signs, traffic on the through road has the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “T intersections without STOP or YIELD signs: Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road (continuing to go straight) have the right-of-way.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 39

4. Never assume other drivers will give you the right of way. Give it up when that helps prevent a collision.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “Never assume that other drivers will give you the right-of-way. Give up your right-of-way when it will help prevent collisions.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 39

5. It is against the law to block an intersection when you cannot fully cross before the light turns red.

   Source: Handbook p. 39

   “It is against the law to stop or block an intersection where there is not enough space to completely cross before the traffic signal light turns red.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 39

6. In a roundabout, yield to all traffic already circling and enter heading to the right.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “Yield to all traffic already in the roundabout. 3. Enter heading to the right when there is a big enough gap in traffic to merge safely.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 40

7. Pedestrians have the right of way in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

   Source: Handbook p. 41

   “Pedestrians have the right-of-way in marked or unmarked crosswalks.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 41

8. Pedestrians using guide dogs or white canes have the right of way at all times.

   Source: Handbook p. 42

   “Pedestrians using guide dogs or white canes have the right-of-way at all times.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 42

9. On a steep narrow road where neither vehicle can pass, the vehicle facing uphill has the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 42

   “If two vehicles meet on a steep narrow road and neither vehicle can pass, the vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way.”
   California Driver's Handbook, Handbook p. 42

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the California practice test

1. 1. At an uncontrolled intersection, you and another vehicle arrive at the same time. Who should yield?

   1. The vehicle going straight must stop first
   2. The larger vehicle must always yield
   3. Yield to the vehicle on your left
   4. Yield to the vehicle on your right
   Show answer

   Yield to the vehicle on your right. At an uncontrolled intersection, simultaneous arrivals require you to give way to the vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist on your right. The left-side option reverses the California rule. Vehicle size does not decide priority, and going straight does not cancel the right-side rule. Your cue is arrival timing: first to the intersection goes first, but a tie is resolved by yielding to the road user on your right.

2. 2. At a California T intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs, who has the right-of-way?

   1. The vehicle on the right in every case
   2. Whoever reaches the intersection first
   3. The driver turning from the dead-end street
   4. Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road
   Show answer

   Vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road. At a T intersection without STOP or YIELD signs, the handbook gives the right-of-way to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road, meaning the road that continues straight. A driver coming from the road that ends must wait for a safe gap. Arrival order and the vehicle-on-the-right rule apply at ordinary four-way uncontrolled intersections, not here. Look for the shape of the junction: if your road ends at the cross street, you yield to everything already moving along it.

3. 3. Two vehicles meet on a steep narrow road where neither can pass. Which driver should back up?

   1. The uphill-facing driver because gravity helps them stop
   2. The downhill-facing driver until the uphill vehicle can pass
   3. The driver closest to the centerline
   4. The larger vehicle, regardless of direction
   Show answer

   The downhill-facing driver until the uphill vehicle can pass. On a steep narrow road where only one vehicle can pass, the vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way. The vehicle facing downhill should back up because it has more control backing uphill. The larger-vehicle choice ignores the direction rule. A cue is the grade: if your vehicle is facing downhill and there is no passing room, back carefully until the uphill vehicle can get through.

Source: the California Driver's Handbook, Section 7: Laws and Rules of the Road. This lesson is a plain English summary, not the law itself; where it differs, the manual and the statute govern. Last checked 2026-09-27.