Right-of-way laws and regulations are in place to ensure cooperation among drivers and to assist in a smooth, safe flow of traffic on private and commercial roads. People who know, understand, and apply these rules in their driving tend to be more courteous and able to use common sense in dangerous traffic conditions.
Sadly, failing to yield to a person with the right-of-way is the number 1 cause of vehicular liability claims for Oklahoma municipalities insured by OMAG.
Defining Failure to Yield – When a driver, bicyclist, or pedestrian has the right-of-way, it simply means they have the right to proceed before another vehicle. We encounter situations every day in which we yield to vehicles with the right-of-way at four-way stops, intersections, stop signs, left turn lanes, crosswalks, yield signs, traffic circles, and more. Failure to yield is when a driver does not allow a vehicle with the right-of-way to proceed and this sometimes results in an accident.
If a driver fails to yield to you when you have the right-of-way, you should do everything in your power to avoid a collision. You can prevent failure to yield accidents and exercise proper caution by knowing the traffic laws, staying alert to your surroundings, and practicing courteous driving even when others make a mistake.
Ways to Prevent Failure-to-Yield Accidents – The best way to avoid causing or falling victim to a failure-to-yield accident is to know the laws and do your part to prevent them. You can stay out of harm’s way by:
Slowing down – this gives you more time to react to someone failing to yield. Reduce your speed when approaching an intersection, crosswalk, or yield sign.
Check the intersection before entering – even when you have the right-of-way, look before you enter because you can’t always trust other drivers to yield to you.
Drive defensively – be aware of the cars in front of you, behind you, to the sides, and even the vehicles in the immediate vicinity on other roads. If you are keeping an eye on other drivers, you can spot the ones that aren’t driving safely and actively avoid them.
Don’t run red or yellow lights – when approaching an intersection always slow down and cover your brake; avoid being tempted to accelerate and run through an intersection when the light turns yellow.
Allow the intersection to clear before entering when the light turns green – many times vehicles will be turning left still or running through a yellow light, so don’t be tempted to jackrabbit out into the intersection as soon as you get a green light.
Eliminate all distractions while driving – leave your cell phone alone, turn down the music, and stay focused on your driving responsibilities.
Driving is a very dangerous and complex activity. When you are behind the wheel you are responsible for not only your safety, but the safety of everybody else. Stay alert and focused on this very necessary but often taken for granted skill – it could be what keeps you or someone else alive.
