At the Nava Law Group, P.C., our car accidents attorneys in Houston know that it only takes one false move for a disastrous collision to occur on our Texas roadways, which is why all drivers need to maintain their focus when behind the wheel.
Unfortunately, even when drivers are doing everything they can to maintain safe travels, one driver can change the complexion of the traffic pattern and cause a serious crash when failing to yield the right of way to another driver or multiple vehicles.
Either through inexperience, aggressive driving, or lack of concern for others, failing to yield is a serious issue that can be easily remedied by recognizing your position in how the traffic flows.
Here are a few tips for practicing safe driving by yielding the right of way.
What Does Yielding the Right of Way Mean?
Yielding the right of way means a driver allows other motorists to move forward freely, without interrupting their flow.
A simple example would be when a motorist appears at a stop sign, and the cross traffic does not stop, he or she must allow the other traffic to clear before pulling into the intersection.
The cross traffic has the right of way, and their flow should not be impeded by the vehicle that must yield to their movements.
While that example is easy to interpret, and seemingly a reflex, yielding the right of way does not just refer to instances at controlled intersections.
What are the Best Tips for Determining Which Motorist Has the Right of Way?
Unfortunately, failing to yield the right of way can end in more than a traffic ticket.
Motorists and their passengers can be catastrophically injured when collisions occur because of this type of negligence.
There are a few simple tips that will allow you to yield the right of way to drivers who have it, so you can avoid a collision.
They include:
- Following traffic signals closely, including proceeding when the stoplight turns green or fully stopping when it is red, even when making a left or right turn into the intersection.
- In uncontrolled intersections, which are those with no stoplights or signs, yield to any cars that are already at the intersection.
- If you arrive at an intersection at the same time as another vehicle, yield to the vehicle on the right.
- When approaching an intersection with one or more lanes, or a lane that intersects with a larger road, all drivers on the smaller road must yield to cars that are on the larger or multi-lane road.
- When approaching a T-intersection, where one road ends, the driver on the dead-end road must yield to traffic on the other street.
- Pedestrians in a crosswalk, persons that are using a seeing-eye guide dog, and persons that are using a white cane must be given the right of way.
Never assume the other drivers will follow the rules of the road, as it is up to you to keep yourself and your vehicle’s occupants safe while driving.
Sometimes letting the other car go first is the safest approach, even if it is your right to go first.
If you have been hurt in an accident caused by a driver failing to yield the right of way, or who was exhibiting another form of driver negligence, contact our experienced Harris County personal injury lawyers at the Nava Law Group today by calling 713-218-2400 to discuss the details of your injuries during a free consultation.
