Georgia DMV Permit Test: Right of Way, Pedestrians, and Emergency Vehicles Concepts
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Overview
Right of way is about who should go first, and it is always something to give, not take. This chapter covers intersections, driveways, pedestrians, school buses, emergency vehicles, and Georgia's Move Over law.
At an intersection with no signs or signals, when two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At a four-way stop, vehicles go in the order they arrived, and if two arrive together, yield to the one on your right. When you turn left, yield to oncoming traffic. When you enter a road from a driveway or private road, stop and yield to everyone already on the road or sidewalk. In a roundabout, yield to traffic already circling.
Pedestrians in a crosswalk must be given the right of way. Stop and stay stopped when a pedestrian is on your half of the road or within one lane of it, and never pass a car that has stopped at a crosswalk. Always yield to a person with a white cane or guide dog.
When a school bus shows flashing yellow lights, get ready to stop. When its red lights flash and the stop arm is out, stop, unless you are on the other side of a highway divided by a median. For an emergency vehicle with lights and siren, pull to the right and stop. For a stopped emergency, sanitation, or utility vehicle with flashing lights, move over a lane or slow down below the speed limit.
Key concepts
Uncontrolled intersection
An intersection with no stop signs, yield signs, or signals. If two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.
Memory tipSame time, no signs: yield to the right.
Four-way stop
All drivers yield to pedestrians, then go in first-to-arrive, first-to-go order. If two vehicles arrive at about the same time, yield to the vehicle on your right.
Memory tipFirst to stop, first to go; tie goes to the right.
Pedestrians in crosswalks
Stop and stay stopped when a pedestrian in a crosswalk is on your half of the road or within one lane of it. Do not pass a vehicle stopped at a crosswalk. On a multi-lane road, stop at least 10 feet before the crosswalk.
Memory tipYour half of the road means every lane going your way.
Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Sharing the Road) · as of 2026
School bus
Flashing yellow: the bus is about to stop. Red lights and stop arm out: you may not pass. On a highway divided by a median, only traffic going the bus's way must stop. Stay stopped until the bus moves or its signals go off and children have cleared.
Memory tipRed lights on a bus: stop, unless a median divides you.
Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Sharing the Road) · as of 2026
Emergency vehicles
When an emergency vehicle uses its lights and siren, move to the right shoulder or as far right as you can and stop, without blocking an intersection. Do not follow a fire truck answering an alarm closer than 200 feet.
Memory tipLights and siren: pull right and stop.
Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Traffic Laws) · as of 2026
Move Over law
For a stopped emergency, tow, sanitation, or utility vehicle with flashing lights, move over to the next lane if you safely can. If you cannot, slow down below the speed limit and be prepared to stop.
Memory tipFlashing lights on the shoulder: move over or slow down.
Source: Georgia DDS Drivers' Manual (Move Over law) · as of 2026
Often tested
- When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic.
- Leaving a driveway or private road: stop and yield to everyone on the road and sidewalk.
- A pedestrian with a white cane or guide dog always has the right of way.
- In a roundabout, yield to traffic already circling.
- Across a median, you need not stop for a school bus on the other side.
- Move over a lane, or slow below the limit, for stopped vehicles with flashing lights.
Easy to confuse: When you must stop for a school bus with red lights flashing
| Road | Same direction as the bus | Opposite direction |
|---|---|---|
| Road with no median | Stop | Stop |
| Highway divided by a median | Stop | No need to stop, but watch for children |
3 sample questions
Verified practice questions from this unit.
Question 1. Two vehicles reach an intersection with no signs or signals at about the same time. Who must yield?
- ① The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left
- ② The driver going faster yields
- ③ The larger vehicle always goes first
- ④ The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
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Answer: ④ The driver on the left yields to the driver on the right
Key point: No signs, same time: left yields to right
At an intersection with no stop signs, yield signs, or signals, when two vehicles arrive at the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
Wrong choices
- The driver on the right yields to the driver on the left: This is backwards. The driver on the right goes first.
- The driver going faster yields: Speed does not decide who goes first.
- The larger vehicle always goes first: Vehicle size does not give anyone the right of way.
Question 2. You are turning left at an intersection. A car is coming straight through from the opposite direction. Who has the right of way?
- ① Whichever driver honks first
- ② You, because you got to the intersection first
- ③ The oncoming car going straight
- ④ You, because you have your turn signal on
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Answer: ③ The oncoming car going straight
Key point: Left turn: yield to oncoming traffic
When you turn left at an intersection or into a driveway or alley, you must yield to all traffic coming from the opposite direction, including bicycles, and to pedestrians crossing.
Wrong choices
- Whichever driver honks first: Honking never decides the right of way.
- You, because you got to the intersection first: Arriving first does not let you turn across oncoming traffic.
- You, because you have your turn signal on: A turn signal shows what you plan to do. It does not give you the right of way.
Question 3. An ambulance with flashing lights and a siren is coming up behind you. What should you do?
- ① Speed up to stay ahead of it
- ② Stop right where you are, even in the middle of an intersection
- ③ Keep going at the same speed in your lane
- ④ Pull over to the right side of the road and stop, without blocking an intersection
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Answer: ④ Pull over to the right side of the road and stop, without blocking an intersection
Key point: Emergency vehicle: pull right and stop
When an emergency vehicle uses its lights and siren, slow down, move to the shoulder or as far right as you can, and stop. Do not stop in a way that blocks an intersection or the vehicle's turn.
Wrong choices
- Speed up to stay ahead of it: Racing ahead of an emergency vehicle is dangerous and illegal.
- Stop right where you are, even in the middle of an intersection: Stopping in an intersection can block the emergency vehicle's path.
- Keep going at the same speed in your lane: You must get out of its way, not keep driving normally.
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