What Does Yielding the Right of Way Mean in Philadelphia?
Ryan Zavodnick | March 12, 2022 | Car Accidents
Understanding the rules of the road in Philadelphia, including when you have the right of way and when you need to yield, doesn’t just keep you from getting a traffic citation. It can also help prevent accidents.
Failure to yield is one of the most common causes of accidents on Pennsylvania roadways.
What Does Yielding the Right of Way Mean?
Yielding the right of way means knowing when it’s okay to proceed and when you need to stop or slow down to allow another driver to go.
On the other hand, failure to yield means that you continue to go when you shouldn’t, potentially causing an accident that could hurt you and others.
If you’ve been involved in an accident, determining who had the right of way often establishes who was to blame for the accident. Whether it’s two vehicles or a car and a pedestrian or cyclist involved in the accident, knowing when to yield keeps everyone safer.
How Do I Yield the Right of Way?
There’s a right of way rule for every type of road, from controlled intersections (those with stoplights or signs) to a T-junction in a rural area. You can get a ticket if you disregard posted signage, such as a yield or stop sign, and you should expect a citation if you run a red light.
Even if there isn’t a sign posted to indicate the right of way, you can still receive a citation.
How Do I Determine the Right of Way?
Pennsylvania traffic statutes cover every instance pertaining to who has the right of way on the state’s roads. Some are easy: If you’re approaching a controlled intersection, simply obey the signal facing your lane.
When approaching an uncontrolled intersection, you should stop and wait for any cars already there to proceed. If you and another driver or cyclist arrive at an intersection simultaneously, the person on the right goes first.
When merging from a single-lane road to a multi-lane highway, or when lanes converge, there’s a right of way protocol. The drivers on the smaller-laned road yield to all drivers on the multi-lane highway.
However, when you’re exiting a highway to an access road via an off-ramp, you have the right of way to the access road. Drivers on that road need to slow down or move over to allow you to exit the highway safely.
Finally, pedestrians using a white cane or seeing-eye dog, or those in a crosswalk, always have the right of way to cross a street. Don’t assume that a pedestrian will wait for you to wave them across–they may just walk in front of you, so always be prepared by stopping in time and paying attention.
Defensive Driving Includes Proper Right of Way Yielding
Even if you know that you legally have the right of way, always use caution when driving in Pennsylvania.
Other drivers may not be paying attention to controlled intersections or may drive through a red light. Or, they may not know who has the right of way at an unmarked intersection or when merging, and will proceed even when traffic laws say it’s your turn.
Don’t risk getting involved in an accident if it appears that someone else isn’t correctly yielding the right of way.
If you have been involved in a car accident, call the police right away. Their report will determine whether the other driver failed to yield the right of way and may include a preliminary assessment of which party is responsible for the accident.
If you’ve been injured in an accident caused by another driver’s failure to yield the right of way, call a reliable car accident attorney to discuss your case. You may be entitled to compensation.
Contact Our Car Accident Law Firm in Philadelphia Today To Get Help With Your Case
To learn more and get the help you deserve, call Zavodnick & Lasky Personal Injury Lawyers at (215) 875-7030 or contact us online.
You can also visit our law firm at 123 S Broad St #1220, Philadelphia, PA 19109.
