How right of way can be wrong
One of the things that seems to confuse many people are the right of way rules. It was designed to be a basic law, but over time, it seems there is a little bit of entitlement in the minds of other drivers. Now, depending on the jurisdiction you live and drive in, there can be slight variances to this law, but the basics seem to be the same. So, before something terrible goes wrong for you, let’s review what you need to know about right of way.
In many jurisdictions for example, there are two basic rules for right-of way; the first person who arrives and stops their vehicle should be given the right of way. If two vehicles stop at the same time, the driver to the right should be given the right of way. This of course applies to those who drive on the right side of the road. For those reading this who drive on the left side, you know the rules are flipped. Pretty simple, right? Not for some people or for some situations.
Some drivers forget that cyclists are also vehicles of the road. They may arrive and stop at the intersection first so they should be allowed to go first. But that doesn’t always seem to be the case for some, but it should. Just because your vehicle can move quicker from a stopped position than a cyclist can, it doesn’t mean you should go first. The few seconds it may take the cyclist to move through the intersection is not going to make or break your travel time to allow you to reach your destination on time.
Notice how I word it “should be given the right of way”? That’s because regardless of whether I reach the intersection first, or happen to be on the right, the only way that I can go first is the other driver must let me. If they don’t, the only thing that will stop them is the side of my vehicle. So why not follow the guidelines so no one gets angry or cut off or their vehicle gets damaged? Oh yeah, you’re in a hurry. I forgot.
So how long does it take, typically, for someone to stop and then proceed through the intersection? Roughly 3 to 4 seconds. Is that really long enough to hold you up for getting to where you want to go? No, I didn’t think so. However, sometimes drivers do injustice to themselves when they lose their right-of-way. Here’s what I mean.
The basic rules also apply to drivers who stop opposite one another. First come first served comes first. If both drivers are going straight, no problem. If one driver is turning left and the other going straight, the driver going straight should be allowed to go first. If the driver turning left stopped first, they should be allowed to go first. First come first served.
Drivers who take too long to decide what to do after stopping appear to be letting the other driver proceed first. Since no one can hear the other driver speak, they just stare at each other, expecting a sign will pop up from their vehicle letting them know what should happen next. It doesn’t work that way. As a licensed driver, you should know what to do just prior to reaching the stopping position. That will allow you and all the other drivers approaching that intersection to know who should be going first.
It may be a good idea to review your jurisdiction’s right-of-way laws. It’s not so much that you may not know the rules. Think of it as verifying what you already know is the law. Making up our own rules of right of way never really works since everyone must be on the same page to make road safety a priority. Think of it as being on the same team. If everyone does their part, the game goes smoothly. Those who go against the rules, cause more problems for everyone else, including themselves at times.