Oregon Right-of-Way Rules

Question 1

Stopping for a pedestrian in a crosswalk

Accepted Answer

Stop and remain stopped for any pedestrian in a marked or unmarked crosswalk in your lane, the lane next to yours, or the lane you are turning into.

Every public-road intersection in Oregon has a crosswalk, marked or not. You must stop and remain stopped for a pedestrian crossing in any crosswalk when the pedestrian is in your lane, in the lane next to yours (including a bike lane), or in the lane you are turning into. A pedestrian counts as crossing the moment any part of them, or an extension like a cane, wheelchair, or bicycle, moves onto the road. When you are turning at an intersection with a traffic light, the pedestrian must be at least six feet clear of the lane you are turning into before you may begin the turn. At an intersection without a traffic light, the pedestrian must be past your turning lane and the next lane before you go. Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk; the driver may be waiting for someone to cross.

Question 2

Stopping for a school bus with red lights flashing

Accepted Answer

Stop in both directions on undivided roads; no stop required if you are on the opposite side of a divided highway separated by an unpaved median or barrier.

When a school bus is stopped on the road with its red lights flashing, you must stop before reaching the bus and remain stopped until the driver turns off the flashing red lights. Amber flashers mean the bus is about to stop; prepare to stop. The only exception is a divided highway where the two directions are separated by an unpaved median strip or a barrier, and you are on the opposite side from the bus. A painted median or a turn lane does not divide the road for this rule, so all lanes still have to stop.

Question 3

Yielding to an approaching emergency vehicle

Accepted Answer

Pull as close as you safely can to the right edge of the road, clear of any intersection, and stop. Stay stopped until the emergency vehicle has passed; if you proceed behind it, stay at least 500 feet back.

When an emergency vehicle approaches from any direction with lights or siren on, immediately drive as close as you safely can to the right side of the road and stop. Do not stop in an intersection, and do not stop or drive in a way that interferes with emergency vehicles. Stay stopped until the vehicle has passed or until an officer tells you to move. If you then proceed behind an emergency vehicle responding to an emergency, stay at least 500 feet back. In a roundabout, do not stop inside the circle: keep moving, exit, then pull to the right. The duty applies to oncoming traffic too: the manual states the rule for emergency vehicles approaching from any direction and, unlike the school-bus rule, gives it no divided-highway exception.

Question 4

Move-over law

Accepted Answer

Oregon's move-over law applies to any motor vehicle stopped with its lights flashing: emergency vehicles, tow trucks, road maintenance, and disabled passenger vehicles alike. On a road with two or more lanes going your way, change lanes away from the stopped vehicle. If a lane change is unsafe or impossible, slow to at least 5 mph below the posted speed limit and pass with as much room as you safely can.

An emergency vehicle that is moving toward you with lights or siren on is a different duty: pull as close as you safely can to the right side of the road and stop until it has passed, then stay at least 500 feet behind it.

Question 5

Right on red allowed unless posted

Accepted Answer

Right turns on red are allowed by default after a complete stop and a yield to traffic and pedestrians, unless a NO TURN ON RED sign is posted. Left turns on red onto a one-way road are also permitted after stopping and yielding, whether you approach from a one-way or a two-way road. The only left on red Oregon prohibits is a turn onto a two-way road.

Question 6

Yielding to a funeral procession

Accepted Answer

Yield to a funeral procession and never drive between its vehicles or join it. When the procession is accompanied by a funeral escort or lead vehicle, you must stop before entering any intersection it is crossing and remain stopped until it has passed.

The Oregon Driver Manual states the rule simply: funeral processions are exempt from certain rules of the road, and other vehicles must yield right of way to them. The statute behind it, ORS 811.802, attaches a trigger: when a procession is accompanied by a funeral escort vehicle or funeral lead vehicle, you must yield to the procession, stop before entering any intersection it is crossing, remain stopped until the entire procession has passed, and obey any direction given by the funeral escort driver. The duty applies to anyone who knew, or with reasonable care should have known, a procession was in progress. Whether or not an escort is present, it is illegal to drive between vehicles in a procession or to join one you are not part of (ORS 811.810). Vehicles in the procession may follow their lead vehicle through an intersection without stopping, regardless of the signal, as long as the lead vehicle entered the intersection lawfully (ORS 811.804).

Question 7

Cyclist stopping at a stop sign (safety stop)

Accepted Answer

A bicyclist may treat a stop sign or flashing red signal as a yield: slow to a safe speed, yield to traffic and pedestrians with the right of way, then proceed without a full stop.

Oregon allows the safety stop, sometimes called the Idaho stop, for bicycles. A person riding a bicycle who approaches an intersection controlled by a stop sign or a flashing red signal may slow to a safe speed and proceed without coming to a full stop. The cyclist still has to yield to any traffic lawfully in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard, yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk, obey police officers and flaggers, and exercise care to avoid a collision. The rule covers stop signs (ORS 814.414) and flashing red signals (ORS 814.416); a steady red light still requires a full stop. As a driver, expect cyclists to roll through stop signs and flashing reds at low speed rather than place a foot down, and yield to them when they have the right-of-way.

Question 8

Yielding on a narrow mountain road

Accepted Answer

Oregon does not codify a narrow-road yield rule; use courtesy and judgment. The general rule is that the downhill driver yields by backing to a wider section, since reversing uphill is harder.

Oregon has no statute or driver-manual entry that assigns right of way when two vehicles meet on a narrow road or single-lane mountain grade with no room to pass. In states that do codify the rule, the vehicle traveling downhill yields by backing to a wider section, since reversing uphill is harder to control. Oregon drivers should follow that convention as a matter of courtesy and judgment, and should look for pull-outs in advance on any single-lane forest or coast-range road.

Oregon Right-of-Way Rules

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