There are various myths circulating among drivers regarding the legislation, rights and obligations that drivers have. One of these is the one related to the obligation to give priority to those who signal the change of lane. So you are obliged to let another driver enter your lane if he has signaled?
The rules for giving priority at an intersection are pretty clear to most drivers.
They are established, in order, according to certain situations.
How to determine the order of passage at an intersection
The order of passing at an intersection is determined, in this order, by:
- Policeman’s signals;
- Light and sound signals of emergency vehicles (police, fire brigade, rescue, etc.);
- Light signals of traffic lights;
- Light or sound signals (at a railway crossing, for example);
- Road signs;
- Road markings;
- Traffic rules (vehicles in the roundabout have priority, for example).
So, when there is a policeman directing traffic at the intersection, drivers must only follow his directions.
But if drivers encounter a police or emergency vehicle and the intersection is not directed by a police officer, they are required to give priority to the emergency vehicle.
Most of the time, however, drivers will encounter a traffic light at intersections. Depending on its color, they must:
- stop – if it is red or yellow;
- to pass – if it is green;
- to pass after giving priority to pedestrians and vehicles that have the right of way – if it is flashing green or flashing yellow.
In non-traffic intersections, priority is established by signs. If there are no signs, then drivers must orient themselves according to the road markings on the asphalt.
And in situations where there is no policeman, no traffic lights, no signs or markings, the right-hand priority rule applies. Which means all drivers must give way to vehicles coming from the right.
Are you forced to let another driver pull in front of you if they signal?
According to the Highway Code updated in 2024, switching from one lane to another is done with compliance with certain obligations.
„Vehicle drivers are obliged to signal the change of direction of travel, overtaking, stopping and starting. The intention of motor vehicle drivers to change the direction of travel, overtaking and stopping is signaled by turning on the flashing light of the traffic lights at least 50 m in the towns and 100 m outside the towns, before performing the maneuvers“, it is stated in Art. 145 of the Highway Code.
So those changing from one lane to the other are required to signal their intention. However, they can only execute the maneuver after giving priority to those who are already traveling in the lane they want to enter.
Which means that you are not obliged to let another driver enter the lane in front of you when they signal a change of direction. But he has the obligation to allow you to pass and only then can he change the lane.
„On a public road with at least 3 lanes per direction, when the drivers of two vehicles are driving in the same direction, but on different lanes, and intend to enter the free lane between them, the one driving in the right lane is obliged to allow the coming from the left to occupy that lane”, provides Art. 106 (1) of Law 195/2002.
So, those driving in lane 3, for example, have priority to enter lane 2 over those driving in lane 1. But, they are obliged to allow the passage of those already driving in lane 2 before entering.
Source: www.promotor.ro
