You curse, you kick, you cry. "Is there one single person in this city who understands the right of way?" you mutter to yourself.
First things first: Florida law doesn't technically give anyone the right of way, but rather says who should yield in a given situation.
But, to paraphrase Smokey Bear, only you can prevent vehicular idiocy. The state's driver handbook (which, we assume, no self-respecting Floridian has read) says drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists "must do everything possible to avoid a crash."
In that spirit, it helps to know who's supposed to yield in a variety of scenarios, if only to be able to smugly congratulate yourself for being right. So here's a list to passive-aggressively share on your Facebook page. It's really not that hard, people.
The basics:
- The first car to arrive at a four-way stop has the right of way. If you don't understand and/or practice this, it's safe to say everyone hates you.
- If more than one car stops at the same time, the vehicle to the right has the right of way. (Deal with it.)
- If two cars traveling in the opposite direction arrive at a four-way stop at the same time, the vehicle going straight has the right of way.
- Cars on the larger, main roadway generally have the right of way over cars coming from a driveway, alley, or smaller road.
- Cars already inside a roundabout have the right of way, so don't even try it, buddy.
- Pedestrians or bicyclists in a marked crosswalk have the right of way, unless there's a traffic signal telling them not to cross.
- On the flip side, pedestrians and bicyclists must yield to cars when there's not a marked crosswalk. Frogger-style attempts to cross the street are frowned upon.
- Bicycles on the sidewalk — yes, bike hater, they are allowed on sidewalks if they have a bell — must yield to pedestrians.
- Emergency vehicles with their lights or sirens on always have the right of way. Don't be a dick.
- Buses trying to merge back into traffic always have the right of way. Again, don't be a dick.
- All drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists must yield to funeral processions. Seriously, it's been a bad enough day for those people.
- Cars always yield to trains, unless you have a death wish (but even then, not cool).
- A driver making a U-turn has the right of way over a driver attempting to turn right on red.