Right of way at intersections and roundabouts

Key points

1. After a complete stop, yield to traffic already in the intersection and to pedestrians and bicyclists.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “After a complete stop, you must yield the right-of-way to traffic already in the intersection and to pedestrians and bicyclists.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 62

2. If vehicles arrive at about the same time, each driver yields to the driver on their right.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “If vehicles arrive at approximately the same time, each driver must yield to the drivers on their right.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 62

3. At a two-way stop, the turning vehicle yields to the vehicle going straight.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “At a two-way stop, the turning vehicle yields to the vehicle going straight.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 62

4. Drivers entering from a driveway or alley yield to traffic on the main road and to people on the sidewalk or bike lane.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “Drivers entering a road from a driveway, alley, or roadside must yield to vehicles already on the main road, as well as to pedestrians and bicyclists on the sidewalk or in bike lanes.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 62

5. At an open intersection, yield if you enter a paved road from an unpaved one or turn left in front of oncoming traffic.

   Source: Handbook p. 62

   “you enter a paved road from an unpaved road; or ◆ you plan to make a left turn and a vehicle is approaching from the opposite direction.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 62

6. Roundabouts run one way, counter-clockwise, and entering drivers yield to traffic already in the roundabout.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “Roundabouts travel in a one-way, counter-clockwise direction. ◆ Drivers entering the roundabout must yield to traffic already in the roundabout.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 63

7. Do not change lanes or stop in a roundabout, and signal before you exit.

   Source: Handbook p. 63

   “Do not change lanes in the roundabout. ◆ Do not stop in a roundabout. ◆ Signal before exiting the roundabout.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 63

8. Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians must yield to funeral processions.

   Source: Handbook p. 84

   “Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians must yield the right-of-way to funeral processions.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 84

9. Yield to public transit buses signaling to reenter traffic from a pullout bay.

   Source: Handbook p. 88

   “All drivers shall yield the right-of-way to public transit buses traveling in the same direction that have signaled and are reentering the traffic flow from a specifically designated pullout bay.”
   Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Handbook p. 88

Recognize these signs

3 questions from the Florida practice test

1. 1. When vehicles reach an uncontrolled Florida intersection at different times, which vehicle proceeds first?

   1. The vehicle turning left
   2. The vehicle with the larger engine
   3. The vehicle that arrived first
   4. The vehicle that sounds its horn first
   Show answer

   The vehicle that arrived first. Florida says vehicles proceed through an intersection in the order they arrived, so the first vehicle to reach it should move forward first. The left-turn choice does not create priority, and engine size has no bearing on right-of-way. A horn also cannot establish legal precedence. If vehicles arrive at approximately the same time, the handbook directs each driver to yield to the driver on the right, which is a separate tie rule. On a test question, identify arrival order first, then use the right-side rule only when the arrivals are effectively simultaneous.

2. 2. Before entering a Florida street from a private driveway, to whom must the driver yield?

   1. Only vehicles approaching from the left
   2. Vehicles already on the main road and pedestrians and bicyclists on the side
   3. Only the largest vehicle on the road
   4. No one, because driveway traffic enters first
   Show answer

   Vehicles already on the main road and pedestrians and bicyclists on the side. A driveway is an entry point onto an already established road, so the driver coming out must wait for traffic using the main road. Florida also requires attention to pedestrians and bicyclists on the sidewalk or in bike lanes beside that road. The left-only choice ignores traffic from the other direction, and the largest-vehicle and enter-first choices have no support in the rule. Before moving from a driveway, scan the roadway and its edges, yield to the people and vehicles already there, and enter only after the path is clear.

3. 3. At a two-way stop, which vehicle has the right-of-way when one vehicle turns and the other goes straight?

   1. The vehicle making the turn
   2. The vehicle going straight
   3. The vehicle that arrived last
   4. Neither vehicle until both reverse
   Show answer

   The vehicle going straight. Florida states that at a two-way stop, the turning vehicle yields to the vehicle going straight. The straight-moving vehicle has the right-of-way through the conflict area, while the turning driver must wait for a safe opening. Arrival order does not override this specific two-way-stop rule, and neither driver should reverse simply because the other is present. Stop where required, check for pedestrians and bicyclists, confirm the path is clear, and let the vehicle continuing straight proceed before beginning the turn.

Source: the Official Florida Driver License Handbook, Driving Safety. 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.