Intersections: controlled, uncontrolled and roundabouts
The risk of a traffic accident is greatest at intersections, so it is very important to learn how to determine road users’ right of way and understand the other rules for driving through intersections. This article examines the different types of intersections and provides explained examples of how to drive through them.
Definition of an intersection: an intersection is a place at the same level where roads cross, join or branch, including the open areas formed by such crossings, junctions or branches. Places where a vehicle leaves a road for an adjacent territory, or enters a road from an adjacent territory, are not intersections.
Figure: a) intersection; b) crossing of carriageways; c) territory adjacent to the road
Types of intersections:
a) Uncontrolled:
- Intersections of roads of equal priority;
- Intersections of roads of unequal priority.
b) Controlled:
- By traffic lights;
- By a traffic controller.
By design, at-grade intersections may be:
- three-way;
- four-way;
- multi-leg;
- roundabouts.
Intersections may also be grade-separated. At these intersections, roads join at different levels and ramps carry traffic from one road to another.
Grade-separated intersection
What is an intersection of roads of equal priority?
It is an uncontrolled intersectionwhere the intersecting roads are not marked with priority signs and have the same type of surface. At an intersection of roads of equal priority, a driver must give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
Such intersections usually connect low-traffic roads with relatively similar traffic flows.
1. How can you tell what type of intersection you are approaching?
You are at an intersection of roads of equal priority if:
- there are no priority signs at the intersection (“Main road” or “Side road”);
- there is no “Stop” sign or corresponding road marking at the intersection;
- the intersecting roads have the same type of surface.
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2. Do you have the right of wayat an intersection of roads of equal priority?
At such an intersection, follow the right-hand rule: if a vehicle is approaching on the road to your right, you may not proceed.
3. You may proceed through an intersection of roads of equal priority if:
- You are driving straight ahead and there is no vehicle approaching from your right.
- You are turning right and there is no vehicle approaching from your right.
- You are turning left and there is no vehicle approaching from your right or from ahead.
4. You may not proceed through the intersection if:
- You are driving straight ahead and a vehicle is approaching from your right. You may proceed only after it has passed.
- You are turning right and a vehicle is approaching from your right. You may turn only after it has passed.
- You are turning left and a vehicle is approaching from your right. You may enter the intersection and stop in the middle—but may not turn left—only after that vehicle has passed.
- You are turning left and no vehicle is approaching from your right, but one is approaching from ahead. Enter the intersection and wait in the middle without obstructing oncoming vehicles. Turn left only after the oncoming vehicle has passed.
What is an intersection of roads of unequal priority?
It is an uncontrolled intersection where the intersecting roads are marked with priority signs and/or have different types of surface.
At an intersection of roads of unequal priority, a driver on a side road must give way to vehicles approaching on the main road. When turning left or making a U-turn, a driver must also give way to vehicles travelling straight ahead or turning right from the opposite direction on a road of equal priority.
1. You are at an intersection of roads of unequal priority if:
- there are priority signs at the intersection (“Main road” and/or “Side road”);
- there is a “Stop” sign and/or corresponding road marking at the intersection;
- the intersecting roads have different types of surface—for example, one is paved and the other is gravel.
2. You are at an intersection of roads of unequal priority where the main road changes direction if:
- there is a priority sign showing a main road that changes direction.
Where the main road changes direction, drivers on roads of the same priority—whether main or side roads—must follow the rules for intersections of roads of equal priority in relation to one another. They must therefore give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
In the situation below, the blue car proceeds first because it is on the main road. The green car is also on the main road, but when turning left its driver must give way to the blue car approaching from the opposite direction on a road of equal priority, because the blue car is to the driver’s right. The red car proceeds last because it is on a road marked with a “Give way” sign.
Important! If a driver cannot determine the type of road surface and there are no priority signs, the driver must act as though travelling on a side road. This can happen because of weather conditions—for example, when snow covers the road and makes it impossible to tell which road is the main road and which is the side road.
3. Do you have the right of wayat an intersection of roads of unequal priority?
Yes, if you are on the main road. No, if you are on a side road and vehicles are travelling on the main road.
You are on the main road if:
- There is a “Main road” sign before the intersection.
- You are on a paved road crossed by a gravel road.
You are on a side road if:
- There is a “Side road” sign before the intersection.
- You are on a gravel road crossed by a paved road.
Attention! If you cannot tell whether you are on the main road or a side road, act as though you are on a side road.
4. You may proceed through the intersection if:
- You are on the main road and are driving straight ahead or turning right.
- You are on the main road, are turning left and there is no oncoming vehicle.
- You are on a side road, are driving straight ahead or turning right, and there are no vehicles on the main road.
- You are on a side road, are turning left, and there are no vehicles on the main road or approaching from ahead.
5. You may not proceed through the intersection if:
- You are on a side road and there are vehicles on the main road.
- You are on a side road, are turning left and vehicles are approaching from ahead.
Attention! In every case, you must give way to pedestrians crossing at pedestrian crossings in any direction.
Controlled intersections
When traffic is controlled by traffic lights, a driver must obey the traffic-light signals regardless of any road signs indicating priority.
If the traffic lights at an intersection are switched off or display a flashing yellow signal, the driver must follow the road signs because the intersection is uncontrolled at that time.
If traffic at the intersection is directed by a traffic controller, the driver must obey the controller’s signals.
You are at a controlled intersection if:
- there are operating traffic lights at the intersection; lights that continuously flash yellow are not operating as traffic-control signals;
- a traffic controller holding a baton is standing in the middle of the intersection.
Pedestrians at intersections
Before entering an intersection, it is important to assess not only approaching vehicles but also pedestrians who have entered the carriageway.
When turning left or right at an intersection, a driver must give way to pedestrians crossing the lanes of the carriageway into which the driver is turning.
When turning onto a road with one lane in each direction, a driver must give way to pedestrians crossing any lane of the carriageway into which the driver is turning.
When driving in the direction shown by an arrow illuminated in an additional traffic-light section, a driver must give way to vehicles and pedestrians moving from other directions on a permissive signal.
How do you make a U-turn at an intersection controlled by traffic lights?
The Road Traffic Rules state in point 115 that when vehicle paths cross and the order of movement is not specified in the Rules, the driver with a vehicle approaching from the right must give way. Accordingly, a vehicle making a U-turn should give way to a vehicle turning right, because the latter approaches it from the right.
Point 163 of the Road Traffic Rules states that a driver travelling in the direction shown by an arrow illuminated in an additional traffic-light section together with a yellow or red signal must give way to road users moving from other directions on a permissive signal, except in the case specified in point 163.1 of the Rules.
Under point 163.1 of the Road Traffic Rules a driver making a U-turn at an intersection controlled by traffic lights must give way to road users moving from other directions on a permissive signal.
Exception. A driver making a U-turn has priority in only one rare case: when another driver is turning right on a prohibiting red signal at which a green-arrow plate is installed. The driver turning right must then give way to every road user whose path the driver crosses.
How do you drive through a roundabout?
Learner drivers often fear roundabouts, but this fear is unfounded. Roundabouts are safer than four-way intersections.
There is no left-turn manoeuvre at a roundabout and no risk of colliding with a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction. Speeds are also low, so even when a traffic accident occurs, it generally causes only property damage and has no serious consequences.
Entrances to roundabouts are usually marked with road signs No. 203 “Give way” or No. 204 “Stop”. Vehicles entering such roundabouts therefore do not have priority and must give way to vehicles already circulating on the roundabout.
There may, however, be cases where the entrance to a roundabout is marked with road sign No. 201 “Main road” or has no priority sign. In these cases, vehicles entering the roundabout have priority.
If the only sign before the roundabout is road sign No. 410 “Roundabout”, with no priority signs, follow the rules for uncontrolled intersections of roads of equal priority and give way to vehicles approaching from the right.
It is important to choose the correct lane when entering a roundabout. Enter the first lane from the first lane, and the second or third lane from the second lane. If the approach has three lanes in the same direction, enter the first lane from the first, the second from the second and the third from the third.
Do not signal when entering a roundabout, but always signal before leaving it. Exit only from the first lane unless road signs indicate permitted directions for the individual lanes.
When is entering an intersection prohibited?
You must not enter the crossing of carriageways if an obstruction on or beyond it would force you to stop in the intersection and obstruct other vehicles.
When turning left, you may enter the intersection and stop there while giving way to oncoming vehicles.
More traffic situations and explained intersection examples are available on this driving-theory lessons page.
It is also useful to test your theoretical knowledge by completing intersection tests. The intersections in KETBILIETAI® tests reflect real traffic situations. Practising will help you not only pass the test on your first attempt but also drive safely in real traffic.
Try the free KET test. It consists of 30 questions. After completing it, you can review your mistakes, the relevant points of the Road Traffic Rules and additional explanations.