Right of way at intersections, rotaries and driveways

Key points

1. At a four way stop, yield to vehicles that stopped before you; vehicles arriving after you yield to you.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “Once stopped, you must yield to all other vehicles that were stopped prior to your arrival at the stop sign.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

2. If two vehicles arrive at a four way stop at the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right.

   Source: Handbook p. 31

   “If two vehicles arrive at the intersection at the same time, you must yield the right of way to the vehicle on your right.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 31

3. Treat an uncontrolled intersection as if there were a yield sign.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “When approaching uncontrolled intersections, motorists must treat the intersection as if there were a yield sign present.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

4. A driver entering a rotary must yield to all vehicles already in the rotary.

   Source: Handbook p. 40

   “the driver of a vehicle about to enter a rotary, regardless of the direction from which the vehicle is approaching, shall yield the right-of-way to all vehicles already in the rotary.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 40

5. Leaving a driveway, stop at the sidewalk to check for pedestrians, then stop again at the curb line.

   Source: Handbook p. 33

   “When entering the roadway from a private road or driveway, you must stop at the sidewalk before continuing to the curb line where you are mandated to stop again.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 33

6. When turning left, the vehicle coming toward you and the vehicle approaching on your right have the right of way.

   Source: Handbook p. 28

   “Both the motor vehicle directly approaching you and the vehicle approaching on your right has the right-ofway.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 28

7. Never take the right of way for granted: the law grants it, but the other driver may not.

   Source: Handbook p. 35

   “Never take the right-of-way for granted. The law grants right-of-way, but the other driver may not.”
   Rhode Island Driver's Manual, Handbook p. 35

3 questions from the Rhode Island practice test

1. 1. At a Rhode Island four-way stop, two vehicles arrive at the same time. Which driver yields?

   1. The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right
   2. The driver on the right yields to the vehicle on the left
   3. The vehicle with the larger engine has priority
   4. Both drivers proceed together
   Show answer

   The driver on the left yields to the vehicle on the right. At a four-way stop, arrival order normally settles priority, but equal arrival creates a special tie rule. The vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on its right. The choice “The driver on the right yields to the vehicle on the left” reverses that relationship and would give priority to the wrong approach. A larger engine has no bearing on right-of-way, and moving together would create a conflict in the intersection. Make a complete stop first, identify which vehicle is to your right, and let that vehicle proceed before entering.

2. 2. At a Rhode Island rotary, who has the right-of-way over a vehicle approaching the entrance?

   1. The vehicle traveling at the highest speed
   2. The vehicle entering from the right
   3. Vehicles already in the rotary
   4. The vehicle that sounds its horn first
   Show answer

   Vehicles already in the rotary. A vehicle approaching a rotary must yield to all vehicles already circulating in it. The entering driver therefore waits for a safe gap instead of assuming that an approach from the right creates priority. Speed and horn use do not establish right-of-way. Reduce speed, identify circulating traffic, and enter only after yielding. This rule also explains why an apparently open entry can still require patience when a vehicle is approaching within the rotary.

3. 3. When entering a Rhode Island roadway from a private driveway, where must the driver stop before reaching the curb?

   1. At the sidewalk
   2. Only after the front wheels cross the curb
   3. In the traffic lane beyond the curb
   4. At the nearest intersection
   Show answer

   At the sidewalk. A driver leaving a private road or driveway must stop at the sidewalk first, then continue to the curb line and stop again. The first stop creates a chance to detect pedestrians using the sidewalk. The second stop provides a separate view of approaching traffic. Waiting until the vehicle crosses the curb reverses the safety sequence, and stopping in the lane exposes the driver to a collision. Use the two-stop routine whenever a driveway crosses a sidewalk before joining the roadway.

Source: the Rhode Island Driver's Manual, III. Basic Driving Skills and Safety Rules. 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.