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Georgia Traffic Laws Governing Right-of-Way
Right-of-way identifies who has the lawful authority to enter a roadway, change lanes, make a turn, travel through an intersection, or make any other traffic-related movement. Georgia traffic laws establish right-of-way in all situations. This includes not only right-of-way rules for motors vehicles, but also bicyclists and pedestrians. To avoid collisions, drivers and pedestrians need to understand the rules related to right-of-way, and also be able to recognize situations in which to yield the right-of-way.
Common Right-of-Way QuestionsDetermining right-of-way is something that comes up almost every time you get behind the wheel. Here are some of the most common situations in which questions of right-of-way arise in daily driving.
- If you come to a stop sign (or stoplight) at an intersection, and traffic traveling on the other roadway does not have a stop sign, you must stop and yield the right-of-way to other vehicles before proceeding.
- If an intersection does not have any traffic signals, and you come to the intersection at the same time as another vehicle, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
- At four-way intersections with stop signs for all drivers, vehicles should proceed in the order of first to arrive, first to proceed. If you come to a four-way at the same time as another vehicle or vehicles, yield to any vehicle on your right.
- Yield the right-of-way to all traffic coming from the opposite direction when making a left turn.
- Slow down and prepare to stop when approaching a yield sign. Stop, if necessary, and only proceed when it is safe to do so.
- When merging into other traffic, adjust your speed and vehicle position to merge into the new lane safely. If another vehicle is merging into your lane, move over a lane, or adjust your speed and position to allow the vehicle to safely merge.
- Even at intersections with traffic lights, make sure the intersection is clear of traffic before entering, even if you have the green light.
- If emergency vehicles are approaching with their lights and sirens on, safely maneuver out of the way by slowing down and moving to the shoulder of the road. If that is not possible, move as far to the right as you can, and come to a stop.
- In construction zones, yield to all highway maintenance vehicles and workers.
Even if a driver has the right-of-way in any given situation, he or she still has a duty to exercise caution to avoid an accident. If a driver can see a threat of an imminent accident, he must reduce his speed and otherwise operate his vehicle with diligence to avoid a collision.
If you have been involved in a right-of-way accident, contact the legal team at Katz Personal Injury Lawyers. We can help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries and damages. By calling (404) 460-0101, you will start the process of ensuring you are treated fairly by the at-fault driver, all insurance companies, and the legal system.
