You and another vehicle reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same moment on crossing roads. Which driver must yield?
-
A.
Whoever arrived earliest at the corner goes first.
-
B.
The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Correct
-
C.
The vehicle on the larger or main road has the right-of-way.
The answer is "The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right."
When two drivers reach an uncontrolled crossing at the same moment, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Choice C is the trap: it applies a main-road-over-side-street rule some other states use to decide who yields, which California's tie-breaker does not.
The traps in the wrong answers
A. Whoever arrived earliest at the corner goes first.
The first-to-arrive rule cannot resolve a tie by definition, so a same-moment arrival falls through to the right-side rule instead. This answer reads the general first-to-arrive line at the top of the section and stops before the same-moment exception that follows it.
C. The vehicle on the larger or main road has the right-of-way.
California's uncontrolled-intersection tie-breaker looks at position, not road size or importance. This answer carries over a main-road-over-side-street tie-breaker from another state, which California's manual does not use here.
This question tests your knowledge of Right of Way in California. Source: California Driver Manual, "Right-of-Way Rules: Who Goes First?, Intersections without STOP or YIELD signs," p.39..
Related California questions
- At an intersection with no STOP or YIELD signs, you arrive before another vehicle. Who has the right-of-way? →
- What does the traffic term 'yield' require a driver to do? →
- An ambulance is behind you using its siren and red lights, and you are not in an intersection. What are you required to do? →
- You are on a road that ends at a T-intersection with no stop or yield signs. Who has the right-of-way? →
- As you approach a roundabout, what does California require you to do? →
You just took one California question apart. The book does it for the whole test.
The California book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.
$18.99 paperback, free companion included.