California Driver Handbook: Right-of-Way and Sharing the Road

Right-of-Way Rules and Intersections

• General Principles of Right-of-Way:

  • Right-of-way rules are designed to dictate who proceeds first when vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists meet.

  • Primary Rule: The vehicle arriving at an intersection first has the right-of-way.

  • Requirement: Subsequent vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians must yield to the person who holds the right-of-way.

  • Precaution: Never assume other drivers will yield the right-of-way to you.

  • Safe Practice: Give up your right-of-way if it helps prevent a collision.

• Intersection Definitions and Safety:

  • An intersection is any location where one road meets another.

  • Controlled Intersections: Features traffic signal lights or signs.

  • Uncontrolled and Blind Intersections: These do not have signs or traffic signals.

  • Pre-Entry Protocol: Before entering, look left, right, and ahead for all road users; be prepared to slow down or stop.

  • Absolute Priority: Pedestrians always have the right-of-way.

• Right-of-Way Rules at Specific Intersections:

  • Intersections without STOP or YIELD signs: The first vehicle to arrive has the right-of-way. If multiple entities arrive simultaneously, yield to the vehicle, pedestrian, or bicyclist on your right.

  • Four-Way Stop Signs: Stop first, then follow the rule of yielding to the person on the right if arrival is simultaneous.

  • T-Intersections without STOP or YIELD signs: Right-of-way belongs to vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians on the through road (the road continuing straight).

  • Turning Left: You must check for pedestrians and yield to any pedestrian or approaching vehicle close enough to pose a danger.

  • Turning Right: Check for pedestrians crossing the street and for motorcycles or bicycles traveling next to you.

  • Green Traffic Signal Light: Proceed with caution; pedestrians still retain the right-of-way.

  • Entering Traffic: Proceed with caution and yield to traffic already occupying the lanes. It is illegal to enter and block an intersection if you cannot cross completely before the light turns red.

Roundabouts

• Functionality: Traffic travels in a single direction (counterclockwise) around a central island.

• Operational Steps:

  1. Slow down upon approach.

  2. Yield to all traffic (vehicles and bicyclists) already inside the roundabout.

  3. Enter heading right only when a sufficient gap in traffic allows for a safe merge.

  4. Follow all signs and lane markings.

  5. Travel counterclockwise; stopping or passing is prohibited.

  6. Signal when changing lanes or exiting.

  7. If an exit is missed, continue around the island until the exit is reached again.

• Multi-Lane Roundabouts: Lane choice depends on the destination:

  • Right Turn (Yellow Car): Choose the right lane; exit in the right lane.

  • Straight (Red Car): You may choose either lane; exit in the same lane used for entry.

  • Left Turn (Blue Car): Enter and continue driving around until reaching the exit in the desired direction.

Pedestrians and Vulnerable Road Users

• Definitions: Pedestrians and vulnerable users include:

  • People walking.

  • People using non-vehicle/non-bicycle transport such as roller skates or skateboards.

  • Individuals with disabilities using tricycles, quadricycles, standard wheelchairs, or electric wheelchairs.

• Interacting with Pedestrians:

  • Pedestrians must follow the rules of the road but always have the right-of-way.

  • Drivers must use caution, reduce speed, or stop to allow pedestrians to cross safely, whether at a crosswalk or not.

  • Passing Prohibitions: Never pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk, as a pedestrian may be obscured.

  • Eye Contact: If a pedestrian makes eye contact, they are ready to cross; yield to them.

  • Groups Requiring Extra Time: Seniors, people with small children, and people with disabilities should be granted additional time to cross.

• Crosswalks:

  • Definition: The portion of the road designated for safe pedestrian crossing.

  • Markings: Usually marked with white lines; school crossings may use yellow lines. Some crosswalks are unmarked.

  • Limit Lines: If present before a crosswalk, stop at the limit line to allow pedestrians to cross.

  • Flashing Lights: Always look for pedestrians and prepare to stop, regardless of whether the lights are flashing.

Special Pedestrian and Road Conditions

• Pedestrians Who Are Blind:

  • Those using white canes or guide dogs have the right-of-way at all times.

  • Hybrid and Electric Vehicles: Drivers must be especially cautious because these vehicles are quiet, and blind pedestrians rely on sound to detect nearby traffic.

  • Prohibited Actions: Do not stop in the middle of a crosswalk (forces pedestrians into traffic). Do not honk.

  • Gestures: If a blind person pulls in their cane and steps away, it usually signals that the driver may proceed.

• Mountain Roads:

  • Scenario: Two vehicles meet on a steep, narrow road where they cannot pass.

  • Right-of-Way: The vehicle facing uphill has the right-of-way.

  • Responsibility: The vehicle facing downhill must back up until the uphill vehicle can pass, because the downhill driver has better control while backing up the hill.

Sharing the Road: Large Vehicles and Trucks

• Blind Spots (The No Zone):

  • Large vehicles have significant blind spots where cars can disappear from view.

  • Rule of Thumb: If you cannot see the truck's side mirrors, the driver cannot see you.

• Braking and Stopping Distances:

  • Large vehicles take longer to stop. Passenger vehicles at $55\,\text{mph}$ stop within $300\,\text{feet}$. Large vehicles at the same speed take up to $400\,\text{feet}$.

  • Weight Impact: A loaded truck takes longer to stop than an empty one. Never pull in front of a truck and stop suddenly.

• Turning and Maneuvering:

  • Rear wheels follow a shorter path than front wheels (off-tracking). Long vehicles must swing wide to turn.

  • Before passing, check turn signals; a truck swinging wide may look like it is turning one way while actually turning the other.

  • On 4-lane divided highways, trucks may drive in the two rightmost lanes.

  • Prohibitions Near Trucks: Do not change lanes directly in front of them to exit, do not drive alongside them longer than necessary (pass on the left), do not tailgate, and do not underestimate their speed.

Public Transit and Motorcycles

• Buses, Streetcars, and Trolleys:

  • Safety Zones: Designated spaces for waiting pedestrians, marked by raised markers or dotted white lines. Never drive through a safety zone.

  • Passing Rules: You may pass a stopped bus, streetcar, or trolley at a safety zone or traffic light at no more than $10\,\text{mph}$.

  • Left-Side Passing: Do not pass on the left unless on a one-way street, directed by an officer, or if tracks are too close to the right side.

• Light Rail Vehicles:

  • They have the same rights/responsibilities as other vehicles.

  • Check for blind spots (buildings/trees) and never turn in front of an approaching light rail vehicle.

  • Maintain distance and check for them before turning across tracks; they can interrupt traffic light cycles.

• Motorcycles:

  • Rights/Responsibilities: Same as other drivers.

  • Safety: Allow a safe $3\,\text{second}$ following distance. Give motorcycles the full lane width whenever possible.

  • Lane Splitting: It is legal to share lanes with motorcycles.

  • Prohibitions: Never pass a motorcycle in the same lane as you. Check for them before opening car doors.

Emergency and Slow-Moving Vehicles

• Emergency Vehicles:

  • Applies to law enforcement, fire engines, and ambulances using sirens and red lights.

  • Protocol: Drive to the right edge of the road and stop until they pass. Do not stop inside an intersection; clear it then pull over.

  • Stationary Vehicles: If an emergency vehicle is stopped with hazard lights, move over and slow down.

  • Authority: Follow orders from law enforcement or firefighters even if they conflict with signs.

  • Distance: It is illegal to follow within $300\,\text{feet}$ of an emergency vehicle with active lights/sirens.

• Slow-Moving Vehicles:

  • Recognized by an orange and red triangle on the back; usually travel at $25\,\text{mph}$ or less (e.g., road maintenance).

  • Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) and Low-Speed Vehicles (LSVs): Reach max speed of $25\,\text{mph}$. Restricted from roads with speed limits greater than $35\,\text{mph}$. Watch for signs like "NEV USE ONLY" or "NEV ROUTE."

• Animal-Drawn Vehicles:

  • Horse-drawn vehicles and riders have road rights. It is illegal to intentionally scare livestock. Slow down or stop if animals are near the road.

Bicycles: Rights and Equipment

• Rights/Capabilities: Bicyclists have the same rights as drivers. They may move left to avoid hazards, ride near the left curb of one-way streets, or use crosswalks as pedestrians.

• Bicyclist Responsibilities:

  • Must ride in the same direction as traffic and obey all signs/signals.

  • Yield to pedestrians.

  • Safety Gear: Helmets required if under $18\,\text{years old}$. Functional brakes are mandatory.

  • Positioning: Ride as near the right curb/edge as possible. Do not ride on sidewalks unless local laws allow.

• Bicycling at Night Equipment Requirements:

  • Front Lamp: White light visible from $300\,\text{feet}$.

  • Rear: Built-in red reflector, solid red light, or flashing red light visible from $500\,\text{feet}$.

  • Pedals/Feet: White or yellow reflectors on pedals, shoes, or ankles visible from $200\,\text{feet}$.

  • Wheels: Reflectors on front (white/yellow) and rear (white/red) wheels, or reflectorized tires.

• Passing and Interactions:

  • Bicyclists may leave the right edge to pass, turn left, avoid hazards, or when a lane is too narrow to share.

  • When passing: Change lanes if possible. If not, maintain at least $3\,\text{feet}$ of clearance. Do not pass until $3\,\text{feet}$ of space is available.

  • Turning: Merge into the bike lane safely no more than $200\,\text{feet}$ before starting a turn.