Right of way accounts for a large share of the rules-of-the-road section, and the rule that applies changes with the kind of intersection you are at. Learning them as one list is what causes mistakes.
| Intersection type | Who proceeds first |
|---|---|
| Four-way stop | The vehicle that stopped first |
| Traffic circle (roundabout) | Traffic approaching from your right |
| Mini-circle | Whoever crossed a yield line first |
| Yield sign | All cross-traffic and pedestrians |
| Uncontrolled intersection | Traffic approaching from your right |
| Traffic officer directing | Whatever the officer signals, overriding all signs and lights |
Four-way stops — first to stop, first to go
Every vehicle must come to a complete standstill. The order of movement is then decided by who stopped first, not by who is on the right and not by who is biggest.
This only works if everyone genuinely stops. A rolling stop makes the arrival order ambiguous and is the single most common cause of confusion at these intersections. You also give way to pedestrians regardless of your place in the queue.
Where arrival is genuinely simultaneous, yield to the vehicle on your right — then work around the circle from there.
Traffic circles versus mini-circles
These look similar and follow different rules, which is exactly why the test asks about them.
- At a traffic circle (roundabout), yield to all traffic approaching from your right. Because traffic circulates clockwise in South Africa, those vehicles are already in the circle and about to cross your path.
- At a mini-circle, give way to any vehicle that crossed a yield line before you — first come, first served, the same principle as a four-way stop.
- At both, travel clockwise, keeping the circle on your right. You may not drive over a mini-circle marking, even going straight ahead.
Yield signs
A downward-pointing red triangle requires you to give way to cross-traffic and to pedestrians crossing or waiting to cross. You need not stop if the way is genuinely clear — that is the difference from a stop sign, which demands a complete halt regardless.
On approach the K53 sequence is to look right, then left, then right again, then straight ahead. Right comes first because in left-hand traffic the nearest danger is on your right.
Turning right — the case people get wrong
When turning right at an intersection you pass to the LEFT of a traffic island or a traffic officer directing traffic. This keeps every right-turning vehicle on the same arc, so two drivers turning right from opposite directions do not cross paths in the middle.
Turning right from a two-way road into another two-way road, you must finish on the left-hand side of the road you are entering, crossing its centre line as part of the turn.
Pedestrians outrank everyone
You must yield to a pedestrian on, or about to enter, a crossing on your side of the road. Never overtake a vehicle that has stopped at a crossing — it has almost certainly stopped for someone you cannot see.
If a vehicle collides with a pedestrian, the driver is prosecuted irrespective of who had right of way. The law puts responsibility on whoever is controlling the heavy, fast-moving object.
Frequently asked questions
Who goes first at a four-way stop?
The vehicle that stopped first. If two arrive together, yield to the one on your right.
Do I yield left or right at a traffic circle?
Right. Traffic circulates clockwise, so vehicles on your right are already in the circle.
Does a green light mean I can always go?
No. Green gives permission, not a clear path — you still give way to anyone lawfully still inside the intersection.
Who has right of way at an uncontrolled intersection?
Traffic approaching from your right. Approach slowly enough to stop, since the other driver may not know the rule.