Missouri · Handbook chapter 2 · 4 min read

Chapter 2: Rules of the road

Missouri right-of-way rules, passing, emergency vehicles, the Move Over law, school buses, signals, turns, U-turns, two-way left-turn lanes, roundabouts and J-turns.

Why this chapter matters

Your highest duty as a driver is to drive carefully and prudently. The law says who must yield; it never gives anyone the right-of-way. These rules supply many written test questions.

Intersections

• Yield to pedestrians crossing legally.
• When crossing a sidewalk or using a driveway, alley or parking lot, yield to pedestrians. Driving on a sidewalk is illegal except to cross it.
• Turning left, yield to oncoming traffic going straight.
• At a four-way stop, the first driver to arrive goes first after stopping.
• Entering from a driveway, alley or roadside, yield to traffic on the main road.
• With no sign or signal (except at roundabouts), yield to vehicles coming from the right.

Passing

On the right, only when the vehicle ahead is turning left, on a city street wide enough for two or more lines in each direction, on a one-way street, or on a rural highway marked for four or more lanes. Never pass on the shoulder.

On the left, never:

• near the top of a hill or on a curve where your view is blocked;
• within 100 feet of a bridge, viaduct or tunnel when your view is blocked;
• within 100 feet of an intersection or railroad crossing;
• where there is a solid yellow line on your side.

Speeding or passing in a work zone on state roads brings a fine of at least $250 for a first offense and $300 for later ones. Give pedestrians and cyclists the same care as cars when passing.

Emergency vehicles

Yield to police, fire, ambulance and other emergency vehicles using a siren or air horn and red or blue lights. Pull to the right edge and stop until they pass. If you are in an intersection, drive through it first, then pull over. More emergency vehicles may follow.

Move Over

When you approach a stationary emergency vehicle with red or red and blue lights, change to a lane not next to it if the road has at least two lanes in your direction and it is safe; otherwise slow down to a safe speed.

School buses

Amber lights flash 500 feet before the bus stops. When the red lights flash and the stop arm is out, traffic in both directions must stop before reaching the bus on a two-lane road. You do not have to stop when:

• you are going the other way on a highway divided so that each direction is on a separate road;
• you are going the other way on a highway with four or more lanes;
• the bus is in a school loading zone where students do not cross the road.

Stay stopped until the bus moves or the driver signals you on. Failing to stop costs 5 points and a suspension (90 days for a first offense, 90 days for a second within five years, 180 days for a third).

Signals and turns

Signal at least 100 feet before turning, by turn signal or hand signal. Get into the proper lane early. Without lane markings, turn from the lane closest to where you want to go, into the nearest lane.

• Right turns: do not swing wide.
• Left turns: do not cut the corner, but leave room for oncoming left-turners.
• One-way onto two-way: start in the left lane and enter to the right of the yellow line.
• Multiple left-turn lanes: stay in your matching lane through the turn.
• U-turns: never on a curve or near a hilltop, never where a NO U-TURN sign is posted, and never where a signal or an officer controls the intersection.
• Two-way left-turn lanes: enter only to slow or stop for a left turn; never travel in one for more than 500 feet, and do not use it when entering from a side street.

Roundabouts

Slow down, look left, and yield to traffic in the circle, bicyclists and pedestrians. Never turn left to enter. Travel counterclockwise, stay right of the island, do not stop, change lanes or pass inside, and signal right to exit. If you miss your exit, go around again. If an emergency vehicle approaches, do not enter; if you are already in, exit and pull right. The paved truck apron in the center is for large trucks only.

J-turns

On some four-lane highways, instead of crossing fast traffic, you turn right, merge to the far left lane, then turn left (a U-turn) to go the way you want.