April 11, 2025 | Car Accidents
The “right of way” is a fundamental defensive driving concept, yet it can seem ambiguous at times. When you’re navigating busy city streets in Chicago, there’s no time for guesswork if you want to keep your commute safe and legal.
Yielding the right of way is about knowing what your responsibility is to other people on the road. Understanding which road user should go first in specific situations can help you prevent car accidents, both for yourself and others.
Yielding the Right of Way Helps Prevent Accidents
So, what does yield mean? Driving responsibly is at the core of this concept. Rather than granting privileges, yielding works to establish a clear, predictable order for traffic movement, especially at intersections or points where paths might cross.
Illinois law, just like traffic law in other states, dictates situations where a driver or pedestrian has to yield or give precedence to someone else on the road. When drivers don’t yield appropriately, the flow breaks down, increasing the risk of collisions dramatically. In fact, failure to yield is consistently one of the leading causes of traffic accidents.
When To Yield: Right-of-Way Rules To Know
Knowing when to yield is just as important as knowing how. Illinois Rules of the Road outlines many scenarios where drivers must yield. Here are some of the most common situations calling for yielding you might encounter on your daily commute:
Stop Signs and Yield Signs
At a stop sign, you must come to a complete stop and yield to all cross-traffic and pedestrians before proceeding. Similarly, at a yield right-of-way sign, you must slow down or stop if necessary to give way to vehicles and pedestrians already in or approaching the intersection.
Uncontrolled Intersections
At intersections without traffic signs or signals, drivers must yield to vehicles already in the intersection. If two cars arrive at approximately the same time, the driver on the left must yield to the driver on the right.
Turning Left
When making a left turn at an intersection, onto a private road, or into a driveway or alleyway, you should yield the right of way to any oncoming vehicle that is close enough to constitute an immediate hazard.
Pedestrians
Illinois law requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in marked crosswalks. At intersections without marked crosswalks, drivers must also yield to pedestrians crossing the roadway.
Merging Traffic
When merging onto a highway or changing lanes, you have to yield to traffic already established in the lane you intend to enter.
Emergency Vehicles
Illinois law requires drivers to yield the right of way to any actively engaged emergency vehicles. If you hear sirens or see flashing lights, make sure to pull over and let the vehicle pass.
Funeral Processions
Drivers should yield the right of way to vehicles participating in a funeral procession.
Construction Zones
Always yield the right of way to highway construction workers and vehicles in a marked construction zone. You’ll also want to follow posted signs and directions from flaggers carefully.
Why Should You Yield? Right of Way Laws Protect Everyone
Whether you’re entering an intersection, making a turn, or attempting to merge, yielding at the right time is essential for staying safe on the road. When you keep the rules of the road in mind and actively use defensive driving practices, you can have a much better chance to enjoy a blissfully uneventful drive — in Chicago and beyond.
Contact our Car Accident Law Firm at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
If you’ve been injured in an accident in Chicago, IL, don’t navigate the legal process alone. Our dedicated team is here to provide the expert guidance you need to secure the compensation you deserve. Contact our experienced attorneys at Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers for a free consultation.
We serve Cook County and its surrounding areas:
Powell and Pisman Injury Lawyers
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Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 635-5400
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