Right of way

Key points

1. Yield to the driver who is at or arrives at the intersection before you.

   Source: Section 4

   “The driver who is at or arrives before you at an intersection.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

2. When turning left, yield to drivers in the opposing lane.

   Source: Section 4

   “Drivers in the opposing traffic lane when you are making a left turn.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

3. If you arrive at a four-way intersection at the same time, yield to the driver on your right.

   Source: Section 4

   “The driver on your right at a four-way intersection if both of you arrive at the intersection at the same time.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

4. Yield to highway traffic when entering from a driveway or private road.

   Source: Section 4

   “Drivers on a public highway if you are entering the highway from a driveway or a private road.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

5. On an entrance ramp, yield to drivers already on the highway.

   Source: Section 4

   “Drivers already on a limited access or interstate highway if you are on the entrance or acceleration ramp.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

6. Yield to pedestrians, bicyclists and drivers still in the intersection, to public safety vehicles and to funeral processions.

   Source: Section 4

   “Pedestrians, bicyclists, and other drivers who are still in the intersection (See Section 9 Sharing the Road). Public safety vehicles (emergency, police, fire). Funeral processions.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

7. Yield to pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk.

   Source: Section 4

   “You must yield the right-of-way to pedestrians entering or in a crosswalk.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4

8. When coming out of an alley, driveway or private road, stop at the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians.

   Source: Section 5

   “At a sidewalk, or if there is no sidewalk, at a point prior to entering the roadway, when emerging from an alley, driveway, or private road in a business or residential district.”
   Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 5

3 questions from the Ohio practice test

1. 1. Two vehicles reach an uncontrolled four-way intersection at the same time. Which vehicle has priority?

   1. The vehicle traveling faster
   2. The vehicle on the left
   3. The vehicle on the right
   4. The larger vehicle
   Show answer

   The vehicle on the right. When two drivers arrive at a four-way intersection simultaneously, Ohio assigns priority to the driver on the other vehicle's right. The driver on the left must yield, even if that vehicle is larger or moving faster. Arrival at the same moment is the important condition, so this rule is different from the first-arrival rule. Before entering, scan both sides and identify whether another vehicle is to your right. If so, let that vehicle proceed first, then continue only after checking that the intersection is clear.

2. 2. At an intersection, another driver is already there before you arrive. Who should you yield to?

   1. The driver turning right
   2. The driver who sounds the horn
   3. The vehicle carrying more passengers
   4. The driver who is at or arrives before you
   Show answer

   The driver who is at or arrives before you. Ohio's right-of-way list tells drivers to yield to the driver who is already at the intersection or arrived before them. This is an arrival-order rule, not a preference for right turns, larger passenger loads, or horn use. A vehicle that got there first may be preparing to cross or turn, so approaching traffic should wait and watch its movement. Use a simple sequence at an uncontrolled intersection: identify who arrived first, yield to that vehicle, then proceed when the path is open.

3. 3. Who must you yield to when entering a public highway from a private road or driveway?

   1. Only vehicles turning left from the highway
   2. Drivers already using the public highway
   3. The last vehicle that entered the driveway
   4. No one if your vehicle is moving slowly
   Show answer

   Drivers already using the public highway. Ohio treats traffic already on the public highway as having priority when another driver enters from a driveway or private road. A driver leaving private property must wait for a safe opening before joining traffic. The choice about only left turning vehicles is too narrow because the rule covers drivers on the highway generally, not just one movement. A useful cue is the change from private property to public travel lanes: pause, scan both directions, and enter only when highway traffic has room.

Source: the Ohio Driver Manual, Digest of Motor Vehicle Laws, Section 4: 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.