Right of way
Right of Way and Stopping Obligations
- A person required to yield the right of way must not obstruct the vehicle that has the right of way. They should moderate their speed in advance and, if necessary, stop before the junction.
- The “Stop” signal requires the driver to stop and give way to vehicles on the road they are approaching.
Right of Way at Junctions and Traffic Signs
- The “Stop” signal must be observed at junctions with traffic lights only when traffic is not controlled by those lights.
- The additional sign “Direction of the Main Road” attached to the “Stop,” “No Right of Way,” and “Main Road” signals indicates the direction of a main road that is changing. When combined with the “Stop” and “No Right of Way” signals, it alerts drivers that they must yield to vehicles on or leaving the main road. The wide line represents the main road.
Main and Minor Roads
- Right of way applies to main roads over secondary roads.
- On main roads, town signs with white writing on a blue background indicate the “Start of Town on Main Roads.” After this sign, vehicles are on a main road within the city.
- Similarly, town signs with white letters on a blue background for “End of Town on Main Roads” indicate that the vehicle is now on a main road outside the city.
- On minor roads, town signs with black letters on a white background denote the “Start of Town on Minor Roads.” This indicates entry into a minor road within the city.
- Town signs with black letters on a white background for “End of Town on Secondary Roads” indicate the vehicle is now on a minor road outside the city.
Special Considerations
- Streetcars must be given the right of way. However, if the streetcar is on a minor road, it must yield to vehicles on the main road.
- Users of highways have the right of way over vehicles on the access roads.
- Outside junctions, such as at property entrances, drivers must give way to cyclists when crossing cycle paths or lanes. If a cycle path runs within 2 meters of a motor vehicle lane, the same priority rules apply to cyclists as to motor vehicles at junctions. Drivers must yield to cyclists when turning.
Right of Way and Traffic Circle Rules
- Before entering a traffic circle, the driver must reduce speed and give way to vehicles approaching from the left.
- The “No Right of Way” signal requires the driver to yield to vehicles on the road they are approaching. This must be observed at junctions with traffic lights only when traffic is not controlled by those lights.
- The “Branching with Right of Way” signal indicates a junction on secondary roads where the legal right of way applies. This signal is set up when:
- The driver cannot recognize the road joining from the right in time.
- After several junctions marked with the “junction with road without right of way” signal, a junction follows where the right of way applies.
- The driver with the right of way must consider road users who reached the junction before they can see them.
- At road junctions, the vehicle coming from the right has the right of way. Vehicles on marked main roads have the right of way, even if they come from the left.
- Traffic regulations set by signals or the police still apply.
Turning and Merging
- Before turning left, the driver must yield to oncoming vehicles.
- When merging into traffic, turning, or reversing, the driver must not hinder other road users, who have the right of way.
- Right of way must be given to traffic in parallel columns, even if the nearer column is at a standstill.
Special Considerations
- Drivers of non-motorized vehicles, cyclists, and riders of large animals have the same right of way as motor vehicle drivers.
- In unregulated situations, such as when vehicles arrive at a junction from all directions simultaneously, drivers must proceed with caution and communicate about the right of way.
- If the main road changes direction and side roads enter, the driver leaving the main road must yield only to oncoming traffic on the main road.
Right of Way at Merging Roads
If two or more roads marked with the “Stop” or “No Right of Way” signals merge into a road with the right of way, the users of the merging roads must yield to each other.
Drivers entering a main or secondary road from factory yards, garages, field paths, bicycle paths, parking lots, gas stations, or sidewalks must yield to users of those roads. If the situation is unclear, the driver must stop and, if necessary, call an assistant for supervision.
The signal “Main Road” indicates roads with the right of way and informs the driver that the legal right of way is canceled at the upcoming junctions. Special traffic rules for main roads apply on these roads.
The signal “End of Main Road” signifies that the right of way is canceled, and the legal right of way applies again at junctions.
The signal “Branching with Road Without Right of Way” indicates to drivers on secondary roads that they have the right of way at the next branching.
Drivers wishing to insert their vehicle into traffic, turn, or reverse must not hinder other road users, as they have the right of way.
