Oklahoma · Handbook chapter 4 · 4 min read

Chapter 4: Right-of-way

Who yields in Oklahoma: children, blind pedestrians, funeral processions, four-way stops, left turns, driveways, emergency vehicles, school and church buses, and the Move Over law.

Why this chapter matters

Right-of-way questions appear on every permit test. The rules decide who goes first and who is at fault in a crash. Remember the guiding idea: right-of-way is something you give, not something you take.

The basic idea

Right-of-way laws apply to everyone, including bicyclists. If another driver does not follow the rules, yield anyway whenever that prevents damage or injury. If you have the right-of-way and the other driver yields, go right away. Make eye contact so you know the other driver sees you.

Special people you must yield to

• Children: drive with extreme caution near schools, playgrounds and homes. Children chase balls and pets without looking.
• Blind pedestrians, carrying a white, white-and-red-tipped or chrome cane or using a guide dog: stop immediately, stop outside the crosswalk, and stay at least 15 feet away.
• Funeral processions: once the lead vehicle enters an intersection, the rest of the procession may follow through it regardless of signals. Do not cut into the line.

When you must yield

• Entering a highway with no signs or signals: stop and yield to approaching traffic.
• At a STOP sign: stop before the crosswalk, then yield to pedestrians and to vehicles in or approaching the intersection.
• At a YIELD sign: slow down and be ready to stop for vehicles or pedestrians.
• Pedestrians: yield in marked and unmarked crosswalks.
• Turning left: yield to all oncoming traffic.
• Leaving a private road, alley, driveway or building: come to a stop before you reach the sidewalk or crosswalk.
• Emergency vehicles with siren or flashing lights: pull to the right edge of the road, clear of intersections, and stop until they pass. In heavy traffic, clear a path. You do not have to yield to an emergency vehicle without lights or siren.
• An officer signals you to stop while you are in the left lane: still pull over to the right shoulder.

Intersections without signals

At a four-way stop, or an intersection with no signs or signals, the vehicle that entered first goes first. If two arrive together, the driver on the right goes first and the driver on the left waits.

Crossing an intersection

More crashes happen at intersections than anywhere else. Look both ways and left again, slow before you enter, then keep moving: do not slow down while turning or crossing. If your view is blocked, slow so you can stop. If traffic is backed up across the intersection, stop before the crosswalk and wait; never block the intersection.

School and church buses

When a bus shows flashing red lights or a STOP arm, stop. Stay stopped until the bus starts moving, the driver waves you on, or the lights go off and the arm is pulled back.

You do not have to stop when:

• The bus is on a different roadway.
• The bus is in a loading zone beside a controlled-access highway where pedestrians may not cross.
• You are coming from the other direction on a divided highway.

Failing to stop for a loading school bus means mandatory revocation of your license for one year, and it carries 4 points.

Move Over law

When you approach any stopped vehicle with flashing lights at the roadside, including police, emergency, maintenance, tow trucks or cars with hazard lights:

• On a road with two or more lanes in your direction, move over to a lane not next to the stopped vehicle if it is safe.
• If you cannot change lanes safely, or you are on a two-lane road, slow down and drive carefully.

At a traffic incident scene, stay alert, follow responders' directions and do not rubberneck. Gawking causes secondary crashes.