Texas Right-of-Way Rules 2026

Right-of-way questions trip up more first-time Texas DPS test-takers than almost any other category. The DL-7 covers eight specific scenarios in Chapter 4, and the test pulls from all of them. This guide walks through each — 4-way stops, T-intersections, roundabouts, paved/unpaved roads, pedestrians, emergency vehicles, frontage roads, and the white-cane rule.

4-Way (All-Way) Stops

Two simple rules:

1. First arrived, first to go. The vehicle that came to a complete stop first has priority.
2. Tie-breaker: yield to the right. If two or more vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

If you arrive at the same time as a vehicle directly across from you (both going straight), no conflict — proceed simultaneously. If one wants to turn left across the other's path, the left-turner yields.

T-Intersections

If you're traveling on the street that ends at the intersection (the bottom of the T), you must stop and yield to traffic on the through street. The through street has the right-of-way. This applies even if there's no stop sign — though in practice T-intersections almost always have one.

Uncontrolled Intersections

An uncontrolled intersection has no stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal in any direction. The rule:

• Yield to any vehicle that has already entered the intersection
• If two vehicles arrive simultaneously, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right

Paved vs Unpaved Roads

If you're driving on an unpaved road that intersects a paved road, you must yield to traffic on the paved road. This rule applies in rural Texas, where county roads cross farm-to-market routes regularly.

Two-Lane vs Divided Highway

A driver on a two-lane road that intersects a divided highway must yield to traffic on the divided highway. The same applies if the intersecting road has 3 or more lanes — the smaller-road driver yields.

Roundabouts

Texas roundabouts use a single rule: vehicles already in the circle have the right-of-way. As you approach:

• Slow down
• Yield to traffic in the circle
• Enter when there's a safe gap
• Travel counterclockwise (one-way movement)
• Signal right before exiting
• Don't change lanes inside the circle if there's no marked lane

Don't stop in the circle once you're in. Move continuously through and exit at your target leg.

Frontage Road and Highway Yield

This is a Texas-specific rule that many out-of-state drivers don't know. On a controlled-access highway with a frontage road (extremely common in Texas — I-35, I-10, I-45, US 290), the driver on the frontage road must yield to:

• Vehicles entering the frontage road from the highway
• Vehicles leaving the frontage road to enter the highway

Even if the frontage-road driver "had it first," the entering/exiting highway traffic has priority.

Three-Lane Same-Direction Merging

On a road with 3+ lanes moving the same direction, when two vehicles want to merge into the center lane simultaneously — one from your left, one from your right — the vehicle entering from the right must yield to the vehicle entering from the left. This rule decides Houston freeway merge conflicts daily.

Private Driveway and Alley

When entering a road from a private driveway, alley, building, or private road, you must stop before crossing the sidewalk and yield to all approaching vehicles and pedestrians. This rule comes up on the road test — examiners watch for the stop before the sidewalk.

Pedestrians

Pedestrians always have right-of-way at crosswalks and intersections. Specifically:

• Pedestrians with a WALK signal have right-of-way even if you have a green light to turn
• If a light changes after a pedestrian has stepped into the crosswalk, give them right-of-way to finish
• Yield to pedestrians at any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection

The White-Cane Rule

The DL-7 includes a specific rule: a driver shall take all necessary precautions to avoid injuring or endangering a pedestrian carrying a white cane (or accompanied by a guide dog), and shall bring the vehicle to a full stop if injury or danger can only be avoided by that action. This is heavily tested.

Emergency Vehicles

When you hear a siren or see flashing red or blue lights from an authorized emergency vehicle approaching:

• Pull as far to the right edge of the road as safely possible
• Stop until the emergency vehicle has passed
• If you cannot pull right (you're boxed in), slow down and leave a clear path
• Do not follow within 500 feet of an emergency vehicle responding to a call

Failure to yield to an emergency vehicle is a moving violation and can be charged at a higher level if a collision results.

Officer Directing Traffic (DL-7 Chapter 5)

DL-7 Chapter 5 covers traffic control by an officer. Always obey a law enforcement officer at all times when directing traffic, even if the officer's direction conflicts with a traffic signal. If an officer is waving you through against a red light, follow the officer's direction.

Slow Down or Move Over (DL-7 Chapter 8)

DL-7 Chapter 8 specifies the Slow Down or Move Over rule. When an emergency medical vehicle, law enforcement vehicle, fire truck, tow truck, utility service vehicle, or Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) vehicle is stopped on the road with its lights activated, the driver is required to either:

1. Reduce speed to 20 mph below the posted speed limit, OR
2. Move out of the lane closest to the stopped vehicle if the road has multiple lanes traveling in the same direction.

School Bus

School buses have a separate right-of-way rule covered fully in the school bus stopping rules guide. Short version: stop in both directions when alternately flashing red lights are on, except on a divided road with a physical barrier or raised median.