Right of way rules determine who proceeds first when paths cross. They apply at four way stops, T intersections, roundabouts, on ramps, and crosswalks. Right of way is something you give, not something you demand.
What the exam tests
Right of Way is one of the topic areas every state DMV exam pulls from. Expect roughly two to five questions per exam from this category, depending on your state. The questions test both your recognition of the underlying rule and your ability to apply it to a specific scenario such as a four way stop, a yellow advisory speed sign, a school bus with extended stop arm, or an emergency vehicle approaching from behind.
Core rules to remember
Who goes first at intersections, merges, and crosswalks. The exam will phrase the question with a concrete scenario, then offer four answers that include the correct rule, a plausible distractor, an incorrect generalization, and a clearly wrong option. Read every choice before answering. Eliminate the obviously wrong options first, then choose the most precisely correct of the two that remain.
Practice questions on right of way
Below is a sample of practice questions from this topic across multiple states. Each links to a long-form explanation page that walks through the rule, the safety reason, the most common driver mistake, and a study tip.
- You arrive at a four way stop in Alabama at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Alabama
- You arrive at a four way stop in Alaska at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Alaska
- You arrive at a four way stop in Arizona at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Arizona
- You arrive at a four way stop in Arkansas at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Arkansas
- You arrive at a four way stop in California at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — California
- You arrive at a four way stop in Colorado at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Colorado
- You arrive at a four way stop in Connecticut at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Connecticut
- You arrive at a four way stop in Delaware at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Delaware
- You arrive at a four way stop in Florida at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Florida
- You arrive at a four way stop in Georgia at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Georgia
- You arrive at a four way stop in Hawaii at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Hawaii
- You arrive at a four way stop in Idaho at the same time as another vehicle on your right. Who has the right of way? — Idaho
Browse all 50 state practice tests →
Why this topic matters
Right of Way questions are not the kind of trivia you can guess your way through. Get this topic wrong on the road and you risk a crash. Get it wrong on the exam and you delay your permit by at least a day, often a week. The rules in this category are written for the situations that historically cause the most fatalities, so the exam takes them seriously and so should you.