Driving through intersections
official source:web
Intersection Awareness
Always scan for pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles before entering an intersection.
Check sidewalks, paths, and trails — children or cyclists may appear unexpectedly.
Stay alert for signs (yield/stop) and traffic lights; be prepared to adjust your speed or stop.
Controlled Intersections
Traffic lights, stop signs, or yield signs regulate these intersections.
Red light: Come to a complete stop and wait for the green signal before proceeding.
Green light: Proceed with caution at a steady speed; if the light has been green a while, be ready to stop as it may change to amber.
Amber (yellow) light: Stop if you can do so safely; if you are too close to stop in time, proceed with caution.
Stop sign: Come to a complete stop and drive through only when the way is clear.
Yield sign: Slow down or stop if necessary, and proceed only when the way is clear.
If the intersection ahead is blocked by traffic, do not enter. Wait until it clears.
Uncontrolled Intersections
These intersections do not have signs or traffic lights.
If two vehicles arrive around the same time, the vehicle on the left must yield to the vehicle on the right.
Approach with extra caution and be prepared to stop if needed.
Yielding the Right-of-Way
Yield means allowing another user to go first when it’s their legal right to do so.
At intersections without signs or lights, yield to any vehicle that arrives before you; if you arrive at the same time, yield to the one on your right.
At four-way stops, yield to whoever stops first; if two vehicles stop simultaneously, the one on the left yields to the one on the right.
When turning left, wait for oncoming traffic to pass or turn before proceeding.
When turning right, check for and yield to pedestrians and cyclists (especially in a bike lane or crossing on the sidewalk).
When entering a road from a private driveway, yield to traffic on the road and pedestrians on the sidewalk.
At pedestrian crossovers or school crossings, wait for pedestrians to completely clear the road.
Key Takeaways
Controlled intersections have explicit signals or signs; uncontrolled intersections do not.
When in doubt, yield to avoid collisions — the safety of all road users is paramount.
Signaling your intentions does not automatically grant you the right-of-way.