The right-of-way is one of the fundamental rules of the road in Maryland.
It determines who is entitled to make the first move through an intersection.
Every motorist in the state should know when they have the right of way and when they need to yield it to other drivers, as police can cite a driver who enters an intersection when they do not have the right of way, and other drivers can hold them financially responsible in the event of a collision.
Right-of-Way Rules at Intersections in Maryland
The following explains how the right-of-way works in various common scenarios.
Uncontrolled Intersections
Uncontrolled intersections are those that do not have any lights or signs indicating which vehicles must stop or yield the right of way.
Drivers should slow down in these circumstances and proceed with caution. Maryland Transportation Code § 21-401 gives the right of way to the first driver who arrives at an intersection. When multiple drivers arrive at the same time, drivers on the left yield to drivers on the right.
Four-Way Stops
Four-way stops have stop signs at every entry point. Maryland Transportation Code § 21-401 applies to this situation as well. Drivers have priority in the order they arrive at the stop signs. When drivers arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
T-Intersections
T-intersections are those in which one road ends at a roughly 90-degree angle where it meets a cross street, like a capital T. Maryland Transportation Code § 21-401.1 requires drivers on the terminating road to yield to drivers proceeding straight through the cross street.
Left Turns and Oncoming Traffic
Maryland Transportation Code § 21-402 requires drivers who want to make a left-hand turn when there is no sign or light giving them the priority to wait until there is a sufficient break in oncoming traffic to complete their turn without risking a collision.
The same rule applies to drivers making U-turns.
Emergency Vehicles
Maryland Transportation Code § 21-405 gives the right of way to any emergency vehicle that has its lights and sirens activated. Other drivers should move to the side of the roadway if possible and wait until the emergency vehicle has passed.
Pedestrians and Cyclists
Pedestrians nearly always have the right of way when walking through marked or unmarked crosswalks.
An unmarked crosswalk extends from one corner of an intersection to the other when there are no painted lines on the pavement. The exception is when a crossing signal forbids the pedestrian from entering the roadway.
Bicyclists, on the other hand, must generally follow the same right-of-way rules at intersections as drivers. Treat them as you would other vehicles.
What Happens If You Fail to Yield the Right of Way in Maryland?
Maryland police can issue you a traffic ticket if you fail to yield the right of way when the law requires you to do so. You will likely also be held responsible if your failure to yield causes an accident.
When to Talk to a Car Accident Lawyer in Baltimore, MD
The best time to talk to a car accident lawyer in Baltimore is as soon after the collision as possible.
At Greenberg Law Offices, we offer free, no-obligation consultations, so it won’t cost you anything to get the answers you need. Reach out to us today for your fully confidential case review.
