In California, if a driver fails to yield the right-of-way to you when required to by law, he or she could cause a serious car accident. Right-of-way laws are critical for preventing life-threatening crashes, such as T-bone accidents and pedestrian-vehicle collisions. Understanding California’s right-of-way laws is necessary to ensure you make safe, sound decisions on the road.
What Does the Right-of-Way Mean?
In California traffic law, if someone has the right-of-way, they have the legal right to proceed (typically at an intersection). They are allowed to move forward without having to yield to other traffic; in other words, it is their turn to go.
Right-of-way laws apply to all road users: motorists, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians. These laws keep different lanes and types of traffic organized to prevent people from being in the wrong place at the wrong time and colliding with each other.
Do Pedestrians Always Have the Right-of-Way in California?
No, pedestrians do not always or automatically have the right-of-way. State law does not universally grant pedestrians the right-of-way. Instead, whether or not a pedestrian has the right to cross the road depends on the location and the circumstances.
According to California Vehicle Code (CVC) §21950, “No pedestrian may suddenly leave a curb or other place of safety and walk or run into the path of a vehicle that is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard.” Pedestrians have a responsibility to remain in a safe place until it is safe to step into the roadway.
When a pedestrian is in a marked crosswalk or unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, drivers must yield the right-of-way to the person crossing the road. A driver must come to a complete stop and allow the pedestrian to completely cross the road before continuing.
Right-of-Way Laws in California
Who Has the Right-of-Way at an Intersection?
Intersections in California have their own rules when it comes to determining which party has the right to proceed. At an uncontrolled intersection, meaning one that does not have a traffic control signal, the driver who approached the intersection first has the right-of-way. However, they must yield to any pedestrian traffic. If more than one driver approaches at the same time, the driver to the right has the right-of-way.
At a controlled intersection, the traffic signal determines who has the right to enter the intersection and proceed to their destination. A motorist may only proceed when faced with a steady green light. If the traffic light shows a red light, the driver facing the signal must stop and yield to those with the green light or arrow.
Left-hand turns have special rules at many intersections in California. If the intersection does not have a designated green arrow for traffic turning left, those drivers must remain stopped and yield to oncoming traffic. They may only execute the left turn when there are no oncoming cars approaching closely enough to constitute an immediate hazard.
Right-of-Way Rules for Emergency Vehicles
Finally, there are unique rules when it comes to California’s emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks and ambulances. If an emergency vehicle is approaching an intersection with its siren and at least one light activated, surrounding traffic must immediately pull to the right side of the road and yield the right-of-way to the emergency vehicle (CVC §21806). All roadway users must remain stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed.
If a driver violates California’s right-of-way laws and crashes into you at an intersection, their automobile insurance can be used to cover your losses. Contact the San Francisco car accident attorneys at Jacoby & Meyers for a free consultation about your case.