Who has the right of way in Florida? It depends on the specific circumstances at the time. The law only dictates who must yield the right of way—it is the responsibility of everyone who shares the road to do what they can to avoid an accident and stay safe.
Here are a few examples of right of way scenarios that commonly arise and what the law says in Florida.
- Stop signs: At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop should proceed first. If multiple vehicles reach the intersection simultaneously, the driver to the left yields to the driver to the right. If vehicles reach stop signs across from each other, the driver to arrive first will proceed first.
- Roundabouts: Roundabouts are becoming increasingly common in the United States as a means of improving traffic flow and reducing accidents. Most roundabouts do not require any drivers to stop to ensure a continuous flow of traffic, but drivers should still obey all posted signs to determine right of way.
- Uncontrolled intersections: An uncontrolled intersection is an intersection without any stop sign or signal. Yield in this situation if there is already a vehicle in the intersection, you’re crossing or entering a highway from a secondary road, you are entering a paved road from an unpaved road or your intention is to turn left and there is a vehicle coming from the other direction.
Drivers should always be mindful of the rules of the road and yield the right of way whenever appropriate to ensure the safety of everyone. For more information about right of way laws and how they affect accident cases, contact an experienced Bradenton, FL personal injury attorney at Goldman, Babboni, Fernandez & Walsh.