Colorado · Handbook chapter 6 · 5 min read

Chapter 6: Right of way, speed and turning

Colorado right-of-way rules for pedestrians, cyclists, four-way stops, uncontrolled intersections, mountain roads, emergency and maintenance vehicles, snowplows and school buses; default speed limits; stopping distance; signaling and turns.

Why this chapter matters

The law says who must yield, but it never gives anyone the right of way outright, even on a green light. This chapter also has Colorado's default speed limits, including mountain highways, and its signaling distances.

Who yields

• Pedestrians: always yield. They have the right of way at all intersections and crosswalks, marked or not. Stop completely and let them pass, and watch for people with a white cane or guide dog.
• Cyclists: yield to a cyclist in a bike lane when you merge with or cross it to turn. Cyclists on a sidewalk or crosswalk have a pedestrian's rights.
• Four-way stop: the first to arrive goes first. If two arrive together, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.
• Uncontrolled intersection: the same rule: the vehicle on the left yields to the one on the right.
• Turning left: oncoming traffic, cyclists and motorcyclists included, goes first. The exceptions are a green arrow, or a four-way stop where you got there first.
• Changing lanes or merging: yield to vehicles already in the lane; do not move over if someone must slow for you.
• Backing: yield to all vehicles close enough to be a hazard.
• Narrow mountain road: when two vehicles meet where there is room for only one, the vehicle going downhill yields, backing up or stopping to let the uphill vehicle pass, unless it is easier for the uphill driver to reach a turnout.
• Transit buses: yield to a bus signaling to pull out when the yield sign on its rear is lit.

Emergency and service vehicles

• Yield to emergency vehicles using a siren, air horn or flashing red, blue, white or yellow lights: pull to the right edge and stop. If you are in an intersection, drive through it first.
• Passing an emergency vehicle stopped beside the road, try to leave one empty lane between you. If you cannot, slow to 25 mph where the limit is 45 mph or less, or to 20 mph below the limit where it is above 45 mph.
• Yield to maintenance vehicles working with flashing yellow and blue lights.
• It is illegal to pass snowplows working in a staggered (tandem) formation.

School buses

• Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus stopped with red lights flashing, whether it is on your side, the opposite side or at an intersection ahead.
• Stay stopped until the red lights stop flashing and the stop arm is retracted, then watch for children.
• You do not have to stop if a median or other physical barrier separates you from the bus.
• Yellow lights mean the bus is about to stop.

Work zones

Move away from workers, slow down and obey reduced speed limits. Fines are doubled in work zones, as in school zones.

Speed

• Speed is the greatest factor in how severe a crash is.
• Posted limits are for ideal conditions; slow down for bad weather, railroad tracks, pedestrians, cyclists, animals and school buses. Driving below a posted minimum is a violation unless conditions require it.

Unless otherwise posted:

Cities and towns may set lower limits.

Stopping distance

Stopping distance covers the time to notice, react and brake. The National Safety Council says a light passenger car at 55 mph can stop in about 200 feet.

Signaling and turning

• Failing to signal is a violation. Signal before any turn, lane change or pulling away from the curb.
• In urban areas, signal continuously for 100 feet. On four-lane highways with limits over 40 mph, signal for 200 feet. A rule of thumb is at least three seconds.
• If your signals fail, use hand signals, ending them before you turn so both hands are on the wheel.
• Turn right from the right-most lane, close to the curb; turn left from the left side of your lane. Finish in the nearest correct lane and avoid cutting corners or swinging wide.
• Waiting to turn left, stay at the stop line or crosswalk, and keep your wheels straight so a rear-end crash will not push you into oncoming traffic.
• U-turns are banned where signs forbid them or where they would endanger others.
• A three-point turnabout is only for two-lane roads too narrow for a U-turn; two-point turnabouts use a driveway or alley.