Drivers have a responsibility to know the rules of the road and to operate their vehicles responsibly. This includes understanding how right of way works. Yielding properly helps prevent accidents and laws about who has the right of way help ensure everyone on the road has the same understanding of when they must yield to another driver, cyclist, or pedestrian.
When Do Drivers Need To Yield?
Arizona right of way laws indicate who must yield in specific situations on the road. If you fail to do so, you may face a ticket from law enforcement or worse, could cause an accident.
Some situations when a driver has to yield are fairly obvious, such as if they are at a yield sign. Others may be trickier, such as how to proceed at an uncontrolled intersection.
Some specific situations to be aware of:
Pedestrians
Drivers must yield to pedestrians at a crosswalk. This applies to both marked and unmarked crosswalks. An unmarked crosswalk refers to where the imaginary lines of a sidewalk cross the road. This means that pedestrians legally have the right of way at practically all intersections in Arizona.
Cyclists
If a bicyclist is on a sidewalk or in a crosswalk, they are legally considered a pedestrian and have the right of way. If they choose to ride on the roadway or shoulder, they must follow the same laws as drivers in most cases. In any event, drivers should be especially cautious around cyclists and be sure to look out for bikes at intersections.
Entering A Freeway
When you are merging onto a freeway from a ramp, you must yield to traffic that is already on the freeway. It’s your responsibility to only merge when it is safe to do so.
Intersections
“T” Intersections
A “T” intersection is when there is a road that meets another road in a T shape, i.e. the driver will need to turn left or right onto the road that goes across the top of the T. The driver on the bottom of the T must yield.
Four-Way Stops
At a four-way stop, drivers proceed based on when they arrived at the intersection. Drivers who arrive first have the right of way.
Uncontrolled Intersections
If an intersection is uncontrolled, meaning it doesn’t have a sign or light, it works the same way as a four-way stop. Drivers proceed in the order they arrived at the intersection.
Yield To The Driver On The Right
You may have heard the rule that you should yield to the driver on your right. This applies if you and another driver both arrive at an intersection, such as a four-way stop, at the same time. In this case, the driver on the right has the right of way.
Were You Injured In An Accident?
A driver failing to yield the right of way can cause a serious accident. If you were injured in a crash due to another driver’s negligence, Grabb & Durando can help you.
