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Right-of-Way Rules, by State

Most right-of-way rules are the same everywhere. These are the ones that are not: whether you stop or merely yield for a pedestrian, whether a divided road excuses you from stopping for a school bus, whether a cyclist may roll a stop sign, and what a funeral procession is owed.

State Pedestrians in a crosswalk Stopping for a school bus An emergency vehicle approaching with lights or siren Move Over for a stopped emergency or service vehicle Turning right on red Funeral processions Cyclists at stop signs Meeting on a narrow or mountain road
Alabama Yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, slowing down or... Coming from either direction, bring your vehicle to a complete stop before you r... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle showing a lighted lamp and sou... On a road with two or more lanes going your way, vacate the lane closest to a st... yes Alabama does not grant funeral processions right of way by state law. Alabama does not allow the safety stop. On a road wide enough for only one line of traffic each way, each driver must gi...
Alaska Yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing in a marked or unmarked crosswal... Stop not less than 30 feet from a school bus with its red lights flashing, no ma... When an authorized emergency vehicle approaches showing a flashing red or blue l... Approaching a stopped emergency, fire, law-enforcement, tow, road-maintenance or... yes Alaska does not grant a funeral procession right of way by regulation. Alaska does not allow the safety stop. On a road wide enough for only one line of traffic each way, each driver must gi...
Arizona Yield the right-of-way to any pedestrian crossing in a marked or unmarked crossw... Stop before you reach a school bus that is loading or unloading with its alterna... When an emergency vehicle approaches using a siren, lights, or other warning dev... Approaching any stopped vehicle displaying flashing or warning lights on a road... yes Yield the right-of-way to every vehicle in a funeral procession that is being le... Arizona does not allow the safety stop. On a narrow road each driver must give the oncoming driver at least half of the...
Arkansas Yield to a pedestrian who is in a crosswalk or about to enter one, stopping if t... When a school bus stops and displays its alternating red warning lights to load... When an emergency vehicle approaches using a siren or air horn and a red or blue... Approaching any authorized vehicle stopped or parked on the road or shoulder sho... yes Arkansas grants funeral processions the right of way at intersections: once the... Arkansas does allow the safety stop. Arkansas names no driver who must back up when two vehicles meet on a road too n...
California Yield, not stop. Stop immediately before you reach a school bus that is stopped with its red ligh... When an emergency vehicle approaches using a siren and a red light, yield the ri... Approaching any stationary vehicle displaying warning lights on the roadside, ap... yes California grants a funeral procession right of way through the peace officer es... Not permitted. The vehicle going downhill yields.
Colorado Yield, not stop. Stop at least 20 feet before you reach a school bus that is stopped with its red... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using its siren or lights, yie... When you approach any stationary vehicle on the shoulder showing emergency, tow,... yes Colorado does not codify a funeral procession right of way. Permitted. The vehicle going uphill has the right of way.
Connecticut Grant the right of way, slowing or stopping if that is what it takes, to a pedes... Stop at least 10 feet from the front of a school bus you are approaching, or 10... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using its siren and flashing l... Connecticut's Move Over law reaches any vehicle stopped on the shoulder, not jus... yes Connecticut does not codify a funeral procession right of way. Not permitted. Connecticut does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Delaware Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that is what i... Stop before reaching a school bus that has its red stop lamps flashing, whether... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using its siren or lights, yie... Approaching any stopped vehicle displaying a warning signal, move into a lane no... yes Delaware does not give a funeral procession statutory right of way at intersecti... Delaware allows a limited safety stop, sometimes called the Delaware Yield. Delaware does not codify a downhill-yields or who-backs-up rule for a narrow roa...
District of Columbia Stop, not merely yield. Stop at least 15 feet from a school bus or multi-purpose school vehicle, approac... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signa... Approaching a stationary emergency vehicle with its lights or siren on, change i... yes Yes. Permitted. The District does not codify a narrow-road or steep-grade yield rule.
Florida Stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian crossing at any marked crosswalk or int... Stop from either direction for a school bus loading or unloading children, and s... Pull over to the closest edge of the roadway immediately and stop until the emer... Vacate the lane closest to a stopped emergency, sanitation, utility, wrecker, ro... yes Yield to a funeral procession led by a funeral escort or lead vehicle. Not permitted in Florida. Neither driver has a claim to the middle of a narrow road: each of you gives the...
Georgia Stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk. Stop before reaching a school bus, from either direction, when its red visual si... When an emergency or law enforcement vehicle approaches using siren and lights,... Approaching a stopped emergency, tow, recovery, highway maintenance, utility or... yes Yes. Georgia does not allow the safety stop. Georgia does not codify a downhill-yields or who-backs-up rule for a narrow road...
Hawaii Stop for a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, and stay stopped until the pedest... When a school bus on a highway or a residential road has its red signal lamps fl... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using both siren and lights, y... Approaching an emergency vehicle stopped with its emergency lights flashing, slo... yes Funeral processions and convoys have the right of way at intersections in Hawaii... Hawaii does not allow the safety stop. Hawaii does not codify a downhill-yields or who-backs-up rule for a narrow road...
Idaho Yield to a pedestrian crossing in any crosswalk, marked or unmarked, slowing dow... Stop for a school bus flashing its red lights and remain stopped until the red l... When an emergency or police vehicle approaches with siren or flashing lights, yi... For a police car, emergency vehicle, tow truck, or highway incident response veh... yes Yield the right of way to every vehicle in a funeral procession that is led by a... Idaho is the state the safety stop is named after. Idaho does not codify a downhill-yields rule for two vehicles meeting on a narro...
Illinois Illinois requires a full stop, not just a yield. Stop for a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm out, from either... When an emergency vehicle approaches using lights or siren, yield and immediatel... Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle or emergency scene with lights flashing,... yes Yield the right of way to every vehicle in a funeral procession running headligh... Illinois does not allow the safety stop. Illinois does not codify a downhill-yields rule for two vehicles meeting on a na...
Indiana Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, slowing down or stoppi... Stop for a school bus whose stop arm is extended, from either direction, and sta... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle running a siren or flashing re... Change lanes away from any stopped vehicle showing emergency, amber, or hazard l... yes A funeral procession headed by a lead or escort vehicle with headlights lit has... Indiana does not allow the safety stop. Indiana does not codify a downhill-yields rule for two vehicles meeting on a nar...
Iowa Yield to a pedestrian or a person riding a bicycle crossing in a marked or unmar... Meeting a school bus with amber lights flashing, slow to no more than 20 mph and... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle showing red, or red and blue,... Approaching any stopped vehicle with flashing lights, including an ordinary car... yes Yes. Iowa does not allow the safety stop. Iowa does not codify a downhill-yields or who-backs-up rule for a narrow road or...
Kansas Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, slowing down... Stop for a school bus flashing red lights and remain stopped until the stop sign... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle with siren and lights, or a po... Move over for anything stopped on the shoulder with warning lights on, including... yes Kansas gives a funeral procession the right of way at intersections regardless o... Kansas does not allow the safety stop. Kansas does not codify a downhill-yields rule for two vehicles meeting where onl...
Kentucky Yield to a pedestrian crossing the roadway, slowing down or stopping if that is... Stop for a school or church bus stopped to load or unload with its stop arm out... When an emergency vehicle approaches with red or blue lights flashing or a siren... Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle, public safety vehicle, or any disabled... yes Yes. Not permitted. Kentucky does not codify the downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule.
Louisiana Stop and yield, not merely yield. Stop not less than thirty feet from a school bus stopped to load or unload child... On the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle using audible or vi... When any vehicle lawfully displaying visual warning signals, including alternate... yes Yes. Not permitted. Louisiana does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule, and has no...
Maine Yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk, or to... Stop before you reach a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing,... When an emergency vehicle approaches showing an emergency light and sounding a b... Passing a stopped emergency vehicle showing an emergency light, or a stopped pub... yes Maine does not grant a funeral procession right of way by statute. Maine does not allow the safety stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop. When you meet an oncoming vehicle and the road is too narrow to pass without int...
Maryland Stop, not merely yield. Stop at least twenty feet from a school vehicle that has stopped on the roadway... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signa... Maryland's Move Over law reaches any vehicle stopped, standing or parked on a hi... yes Partly. Not permitted. Maryland does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule, and has no...
Massachusetts Yield, slowing down or stopping if that is what it takes, to a pedestrian in a m... Come to a full stop before reaching a school bus that has stopped to load or unl... On the approach of fire apparatus, a police vehicle, an ambulance or a disaster... Approaching a stationary emergency response vehicle, highway maintenance vehicle... yes Yes. Not permitted. Massachusetts does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule, and ha...
Michigan Yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping... Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is stopped and displaying two alter... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle showing a flashing red or blue... Approaching a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, slow to at lea... yes Michigan grants a funeral procession the right of way over all other vehicles ex... Michigan does not allow the safety stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop. Michigan does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Minnesota Stop, do not merely yield. Stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is stopped and displaying flashing... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle showing a red light and soundi... Approaching a stopped vehicle with emergency, flashing or warning lights on, mov... yes Yes. Minnesota does allow the safety stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop. Minnesota does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Mississippi Yield the right of way to any pedestrian in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, slo... Stop at least ten feet from a school bus with its red lights flashing or its sto... When an ambulance, fire engine or police car approaches with red or blue lights... When an emergency vehicle is stopped on the side of a four-lane highway with its... yes Mississippi does not give a funeral procession the right of way by law. Mississippi does not allow the safety stop. Mississippi does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Missouri Yield to a pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk who is on your half of t... Stop before you reach a school bus that has stopped to load or unload children a... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle sounding a siren or showing a... Approaching a stationary vehicle showing red, red and blue, amber, or amber and... yes Yes, and strongly. Missouri does not allow the safety stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop. Missouri does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Montana Yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, marked or unmark... Stop at least 30 feet from a school bus that has stopped with its red lights fla... When a law enforcement or emergency vehicle approaches using its siren or emerge... Approaching a stopped law enforcement, emergency or highway worker vehicle showi... yes Yes. Montana does not allow the safety stop. Montana does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule.
Nebraska Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk by coming to a complete stop. Slow to 25 mph when a school bus is flashing yellow warning lights, and come to... When an emergency vehicle approaches using its siren or lights, yield the right... Move over a full lane for any stopped vehicle with someone in or near it on a co... yes Nebraska does not give funeral processions right of way by statute. Nebraska does not allow the Idaho stop. Nebraska does not codify who backs up when two vehicles meet on a narrow mountai...
Nevada Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that... Stop immediately for a school bus that is stopped with its red lights flashing,... When an emergency vehicle approaches with its flashing lights on, yield the righ... On approaching any traffic incident, and unless a law enforcement officer direct... yes Do not drive between the vehicles of a funeral procession that is in motion and... Not permitted in Nevada. Nevada does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule for meeting on a narr...
New Hampshire Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that is what i... Stop at least 25 feet from a school bus that has stopped to pick up or drop off... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using its siren or lights, yie... New Hampshire's move-over duty is unusually broad: it covers any stopped or stan... yes Yes. New Hampshire does not allow the Idaho stop. New Hampshire does not codify who backs up when two vehicles meet on a narrow mo...
New Jersey In a marked crosswalk you must stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian who is i... Stop at least 25 feet from a school bus stopped with its red light flashing, whe... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle sounding a siren, drive at onc... Change lanes away from any stopped emergency vehicle, tow truck, highway mainten... yes New Jersey does not give funeral processions the right of way. New Jersey does not allow the Idaho stop. New Jersey does not codify who backs up when two vehicles meet on a narrow grade...
New Mexico Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that is what i... Stop at least 10 feet before you reach a school bus that has stopped on the road... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle with flashing lights or a sire... When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle, or a tow, recovery or repair vehi... yes New Mexico does not give funeral processions the right of way by statute. Yes. New Mexico does not codify who backs up when two vehicles meet on a narrow mount...
New York Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk on the roadway you are traveling o... Stop for a school bus showing flashing red lights no matter which direction you... When an emergency vehicle approaches with its red lights on and its siren or air... Slow down for any emergency or hazard vehicle stopped with its emergency, amber,... yes New York does not grant a funeral procession right of way by statute. Not permitted in New York. New York does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule for two vehicles me...
North Carolina Yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, marked or unmark... Stop for a school bus displaying its stop arm or flashing red lights when you ar... When a law enforcement, fire, ambulance or rescue vehicle approaches showing its... When an emergency vehicle or a public service vehicle is stopped within 12 feet... yes North Carolina codifies funeral processions, but it does not give the procession... North Carolina does not allow the safety stop. North Carolina does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule, despi...
North Dakota Yield the right of way to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping... Stop before you reach a school bus that is stopped on the highway with its red l... On the immediate approach of an authorized emergency vehicle showing a flashing... On the interstate, or on a multilane highway outside city limits, when an emerge... yes Yes. Yes, in a limited form. North Dakota does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule.
Ohio Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that... Stop at least ten feet from the front or rear of a school bus stopped to load or... When a public safety vehicle approaches with a flashing light and a siren, bell... Approaching any stationary public safety, emergency, road service, waste collect... yes Yes. Not permitted in Ohio. Ohio does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule for meeting on a narrow...
Oklahoma Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, slowing down... Stop before you reach a school bus that is stopped to load or unload children wi... When an emergency vehicle approaches using its siren and lights, yield, drive im... Under the Bernardo-Mills Law, when you approach any stationary vehicle displayin... yes Yes. Permitted in Oklahoma. Oklahoma does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule for two vehicles me...
Oregon Stop and remain stopped for any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk in... Stop in both directions on undivided roads; no stop required if you are on the o... Pull as close as you safely can to the right edge of the road, clear of any inte... Oregon's move-over law applies to any motor vehicle stopped with its lights flas... yes Yield to a funeral procession and never drive between its vehicles or join it. A bicyclist may treat a stop sign or flashing red signal as a yield: slow to a s... Oregon does not codify a narrow-road yield rule; use courtesy and judgment.
Pennsylvania Yield to a pedestrian crossing at any intersection without a traffic light, whet... Stop at least 10 feet from a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop ar... Pull over to the curb or the side of the road and stop, parallel and as near to... Move into a lane that is not next to an emergency response area or a disabled ve... yes Yield to a funeral procession and let it pass. Not permitted in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania does not assign priority by grade; neither the uphill nor the downh...
Rhode Island Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that... Stop for a school bus with red lights flashing whether you are meeting it or fol... When an emergency vehicle approaches showing red, blue, or white lights and soun... Approaching any vehicle stopped within 12 feet of the roadway with warning light... yes Yes. Not permitted. Rhode Island does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
South Carolina Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, slowing down or stopping if that is what i... Stop before reaching a school bus whose red lights are flashing, whether you are... On a two-lane road, yield to an approaching emergency vehicle using lights and s... When you approach a stopped emergency vehicle with its lights flashing, you must... yes South Carolina does not grant a funeral procession right of way by statute. South Carolina does not allow the Idaho-style safety stop. South Carolina does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
South Dakota Yield to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk. Stop at least 15 feet from a school bus with red lights flashing and stay stoppe... When an emergency vehicle approaches using its siren or lights, drive immediatel... South Dakota goes further than most states. yes Yes. Not permitted. South Dakota does not assign a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule.
Tennessee Yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk, marked or unmarked, when the pedestrian is... Stop for a school bus or church bus with red warning lights flashing and the sto... When an emergency vehicle approaches with a siren, air horn, or red or blue flas... Approaching any stationary emergency, utility, highway maintenance, solid waste,... yes Yes. Not permitted. Tennessee does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs-up rule.
Texas Stop and yield the right of way to a pedestrian crossing in a crosswalk when the... Stop before reaching a school bus that is stopped on the highway to load or unlo... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using its siren and lights, yi... Approaching a covered vehicle stopped on the road, most of them showing warning... yes Texas does not grant funeral processions right of way by statute. not permitted Texas does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs rule.
Utah At an ordinary crosswalk Utah requires you to yield, slowing down or stopping if... Stop immediately before reaching a school bus that is flashing alternating red l... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible or visual signal... Approaching any stationary vehicle stopped beside the highway with warning light... yes Utah does not grant funeral processions right of way in its traffic code. Permitted. On a narrow mountain road, the vehicle traveling downhill yields to the vehicle...
Vermont Where no traffic light is operating, yield the right of way, slowing down or sto... Stop immediately when you meet or overtake a school bus that has stopped on the... When a law enforcement or emergency vehicle approaches from any direction soundi... Approaching a stationary law enforcement vehicle with blue lights, a stationary... yes Vermont does not grant funeral processions right of way by statute. Not permitted in Vermont. Vermont does not codify a downhill-yields-and-backs rule, and its Driver's Manua...
Virginia Virginia requires a full stop, not merely a yield. Stop for a stopped school bus that is loading or unloading passengers, no matter... When an emergency vehicle approaches using siren and flashing lights, drive to t... On a highway with at least four lanes and at least two going your way, you must... yes Yield to a funeral procession. Not permitted in Virginia. Virginia does not codify a narrow-road or mountain-grade yield rule.
Washington Stop, not merely slow, and remain stopped for a pedestrian or bicyclist crossing... Stop before you reach a school bus that is displaying flashing red lights and an... As soon as an emergency vehicle approaches with lights or siren going, yield, pu... Approaching any stopped emergency, police, tow, roadside assistance, constructio... yes Washington does not grant a funeral procession right of way by statute; a proces... Washington allows the safety stop. On a road only wide enough for one line of traffic each way, both drivers must m...
West Virginia Yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if you need to in order to yiel... Stop before reaching a school bus that has its red lights flashing to load or un... When an emergency vehicle approaches with siren and flashing lights, yield, driv... Approaching any stationary vehicle showing warning lights, hazard flashers, flar... yes Yes. Not permitted. On a road only wide enough for one line of traffic each way, both drivers pass t...
Wisconsin Yield the right of way to a pedestrian, bicyclist or scooter rider crossing in a... Stop not less than 20 feet from a school bus that is flashing its red warning li... When an emergency vehicle approaches sounding its siren, yield, drive at once as... Approaching a stopped emergency, tow, highway maintenance or utility vehicle wit... yes Yes. Not permitted. On a road wide enough for only one line of traffic each way, both drivers pass t...
Wyoming Yield the right of way, slowing down or stopping if you need to, to any pedestri... Stop before reaching a stopped school bus that has its flashing red lights on, w... On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible or visual signal... When an emergency vehicle is parked with its lights on, or a municipal, public u... yes Yes. Not permitted. On a road wide enough for only one line of traffic each way, both drivers pass t...

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