Failing to Yield Can Cause Serious Traffic Accidents
Driving is an immense responsibility, and one critical component of that responsibility is obeying the rules of the road, including yielding the right-of-way safely and appropriately. Drivers who do not safely cede the right-of-way as necessary make our roadways more dangerous for everyone.
Yield Defensively
Most of us adhere to the rules of yielding safely, but this does not apply to every driver. We have all seen drivers who simply refuse to yield – and they endanger all of us. If you sense such a driver in your midst, yield to that driver (even if you have the right-of-way); the life you save may well be your own.
Yielding Safely
The Insurance Information Institute identifies failure to yield as having been involved in seven percent of traffic fatalities in 2016. Yielding safely, however, is not always a straightforward process. Familiarizing yourself with the safety basics can help:
Obeying Yield Signs
When you see a yield sign, it is a warning that you do not have the right-of-way and that you should proceed with caution by merging into traffic as safely and smoothly as you can – without interfering with the right-of-way of other drivers.
Reentering Traffic
Whenever you pull into traffic from a stopped position (from a parking space or from the shoulder, for example), the traffic that is already on the road always has the right-of-way.
Merging from an On-Ramp
This is a tricky one; when you are merging into traffic from an on-ramp, you have the right-of-way, but it is imperative that you proceed with caution and merge smoothly with oncoming traffic – adjust your speed and driving accordingly.
Maneuvering Four-Way Stops
The first driver at a four-way stop has the right-of-way. If multiple drivers arrive at the same time, the right-most driver has the right-of-way.
Proceeding through Intersections
When two roads intersect without traffic signals or signs, the traffic on the more heavily traveled road maintains the right-of-way.
Proceeding Through Crosswalks
Pedestrians in crosswalks always have the right-of-way.
Entering a Roundabout or Traffic Circle
When you pull into a roundabout or traffic circle, you must cede the right-of-way to the traffic that is already in the circle.
Allowing for Special Situations
Emergency vehicles, stopped school buses, and funeral processions always have the right-of-way.
Knowing when to yield the right-of-way is paramount to staying safe on our roadways. It is important to recognize, however, that it is better to be safe than it is to be right. If you sense that another driver is about to usurp your right-of-way, let him or her have it. It is not worth a dangerous accident.
If You Have Been Injured by a Driver Who Failed to Yield, Consult with a Central Texas Personal Injury Attorney Today
If a negligent driver has injured you, Mr. Brett Pritchard at The Law Office of Brett H. Pritchard – serving Central Texas, including Belton, Temple, Gatesville, and Lampasas – is here to help. Mr. Pritchard has the experience and dedication to advocate for your case’s best possible resolution aggressively. For more information, please contact or call us at (254) 220-4225 today.