Understanding when you have the right of way — and when you don’t — can reduce your risk of getting in a car accident. It can even save your life. However, given the sheer number of situations you encounter each day as a driver, it can be a challenge to remember who has the right of way in different scenarios. Here’s a look at Georgia’s right-of-way rules.
Georgia law outlines who has the right of way in nearly every situation. However, it’s important to note that not all drivers understand and follow traffic laws. If you have the right of way in a given situation — but another car is breaking traffic laws and in the way — you should yield the right of way to avoid a crash.
While not an exhaustive list, below are some of the most common situations where it’s important to understand who has the right of way.
Backing Up Right of Way Rules
Georgia law specifies that you should not back a vehicle up if you can’t do so safely or without interfering with traffic. Always check for drivers, pedestrians, or cyclists before backing out of a driveway.
In a similar vein, parking lot right-of-way rules state that the cars traveling in the lanes between parking spots generally have the right of way. However, this isn’t always true. For example, if you are carefully backing out of a parking spot and a driver hits you while speeding through the parking lot, that driver might be at fault.
Making Left Turns
If you are making a left turn at an intersection (or onto a driveway from the road), you should always yield to traffic coming from the other direction. Wait to turn until you’re certain it’s safe to do so.
The exception here is if you’re at an intersection and have a green arrow for a left turn. However, you should still make sure your path is clear before turning.
Right of Way Rules At Four-Way Stops
If an intersection has stop signs on all sides (or if it has no traffic signals whatsoever), it should be treated as a four-way stop.
In this instance, the following rules apply:
- All vehicles should yield to pedestrians and cyclists
- Generally, the car that arrives first should proceed through the intersection first
- If two vehicles get to the intersection at about the same time, the vehicle on the right goes first
Some drivers can get confused at these stops. If someone proceeds through the intersection when you technically have the right of way, you should yield to avoid an accident.
Right of Way Rules When Merging
Merging can be challenging, especially on congested highways.
If you are on a road and drivers are merging, you should follow these steps:
- If you can do so safely, move into an adjacent lane
- If you can’t move, adjust your speed to allow other drivers to merge
When merging, always use common sense. Providing other drivers enough space to merge is important, especially if doing so can reduce the risk of getting into an accident.
School Bus Right of Way Rules
In Georgia, school bus drivers will activate yellow lights when preparing to stop. This is a sign that you should slow down and get ready to stop as well. As soon as the bus extends a stop sign from the side, it becomes illegal to drive past the bus.
If you’re on a road divided by a median and you’re on the opposite side, you don’t have to stop. However, you should still drive carefully and be on the lookout for children.
The Importance of Right of Way Rules
Even if you drive on a daily basis, it’s possible to forget the right-of-way rules that apply in some situations. Just taking a few minutes to refresh your memory can go a long way when it comes to keeping yourself and others safe.
