Questions and Answers for the UK drivers

Who has priority at an unmarked crossroads?

28/10/2013

At an unmarked crossroads no one has priority. If there are no road signs or markings do not assume that you have priority. Remember that other drivers may assume they have the right to go. No type of vehicle has priority but it’s courteous to give way to large vehicles. Also look out in particular for cyclists and motorcyclists.

44 Comments

Vinay Patel

6/1/2015 00:30:34

1 St Priority White Car
2 nd Priority Magenta Car
3 rd Priority Blue Car

zizi

14/11/2016 17:02:21

Gavin Wellman

15/5/2017 03:31:26

No Priority....Proceed with caution. White must give way to right (Magenta). Magenta must give way to right (Blue). Blue must give way to white as he is crossing it's path. Therefore everyone should be giving way to someone, so a stalemate has developed. Throw the rule book out the window for this one and hope for the best. ;)

Golfman

8/7/2018 16:39:19

R u stupid or is English not yr mother tongue.
!st priority White!!!!!!!! Then magenta, then blue.
The only thing STALE is yr brain MATE

Lilly

16/6/2020 07:50:41

In my country where we drive on other side in this case would be right hand law who ever is on your right had goes first.

Could we call here left had law as we drive here on the other side?? "

T.Ackroyd

22/5/2021 09:45:02

True and I've seen the same stalemate at busy mini roundabouts when streams of slow moving traffic have arrived at each entrance at the same time and are giving way, as they should, to the right.

Mamo

18/6/2022 15:51:59

Golfman, you sound confident about your own stupidity.

U.M.Premalal

1/3/2019 08:02:57

Sachin Frayne

19/1/2020 14:22:05

What if two of the roads have brick crossings but there are no other signs?

Jennifer Dillon link

31/7/2015 13:47:42

Crossing main road at crossroads One car going straight on from minor road to minor road, another car turning right from minor road onto main road. When main road is clear which of cars on minor roads has priority, the one going straight on or the car turning right?

Tony DW

22/8/2015 13:18:36

I was taught, many years ago now, that the vehicle going straight across the junction has priority over the vehicle turning on to the main road, but I cannot find such direction in the Highwapy Code.

Si bike learner

5/9/2015 03:51:14

Hi there my bike instructor claims traffic from the right has right of way similar to a roundabout but this was contradicted by another instructor later, it is not clear in the highway code either but it's safer everyone assuming no-one has right of way apparently.

sian

25/9/2016 16:46:12

Hi, I found this on the driving theory website as I had an altercation today where a driver wanted to cross in front of my path as I was going straight over.

Where differences do occur is when vehicles in the opposite side road need to cross your path or follow the same path. Who has priority in these examples is the same as if the two minor side roads were one major road. However do not assume that the other driver will comply.
Hope this helps.

James Mack

2/8/2020 22:04:29

A minor road, major road is just an opinion and often the cause of collisions.
Look at the road markings and road signs. If there are road markings and/or signs act in accordance with the priority. If there are no road markings no driver has priority, all must give way.
I've seen too many collisions where a driver 'though' it was a major road and thetefore had priority. Wrong!

Mad driver

20/8/2016 12:49:57

It is a shame in this country about this problem, it's really a problem. In my opinion it should be like, to give priority to the vehicle coming from the right.

Ols

4/2/2017 08:19:39

It is typically British. They haven't sort this out because it is sorted in almost every single country. So they can't do the same as the others. In 99% countries in you drive on a left had side the car on the left has a priority, if you drive on the right side, the cars from your right has a priority.... easy and simple

T.Ackroyd

22/5/2021 09:32:03

Not so sorted In France - Roundabouts, give way to left. Elsewhere give way to right except where indicated which is the majority of places. Generally if you're going straight on the major road you have right of way over anyone coming on to the road from the right and there is signage to that affect but occasionally there's no signage and it's give way to the right unless its a private road.

Peter link

8/9/2016 01:08:45

Nobody has priority crossing a Unmarked Cross Road....Clear for new roads....what happens if its an old road that's been altered due to Refurbishment....is it wise to have a period of adjustment

Tomtom

9/9/2016 14:22:56

I done me theory test and the question came up of who has priority in this situation. Answers given where, motorcycle, car, cyclists or large vehicles. Is this just a trick question?

Stu

29/5/2018 21:14:00

The answer is large vehicles.
They have priority but it's generally depending on if ppl know this which mostly they don't.

zizi

14/11/2016 17:05:33

No 2

Catherine Barker

17/12/2017 07:06:08

I want to know who has priority at a junction??

Mike

10/1/2018 22:46:20

Why is this "no priority" rule not in the Highway Code proper? What status do these Q&As have in terms of the law?

fetch

27/4/2020 23:23:54

It is in the Highway Code (at least the current at time of posting gov.uk version), but is well hidden and I can't blame anyone for not noticing it. Rule 146:
"(...) in side roads and country lanes look out for unmarked junctions where nobody has priority"
It really does seem like an afterthought honestly though.

Wojciech

25/2/2018 08:52:42

On the continent you would be giving the way to the wehicle on your right, hence the confusion. In UK most junctions have either signs or painted lines indicating priority. On this type of junction Higway Code states that no-one has priority. You will see this unmarked junction only on minor roads so perhaps that's why there's a fairly relaxed approach to priority .. do it English way-look around and be courteous :)

BIG STEVE

11/6/2018 15:00:36

Just everyone go at the same time see what happens

Phil

16/4/2019 19:47:59

I like Big Steve

Jacquie Robertson

18/6/2018 09:10:03

I was asking the question of what happens if the traffic lights are not working, the highway code says treat as an unmarked junction, which at the particular set of traffic lights i am referring to is ridiculous as it is near schools and very busy in all four directions in the morning and afternoon. In South Africa if traffic lights are out, it is treated like a four way stop, who gets their first, stops, and then has the right of way, which in my mind is much simpler, as everyone gets a turn to cross and is much quicker then people piling up behind you and then beeping starts etc. and it just becomes a bit of a nightmare!

JOHN MICHAEL

1/12/2018 11:25:12

How can the above all argue about priority when the rule is that there isn't any? It's not difficult. Stop, look, and sort it out, preferably using a little courtesy. Those people who think they have priority in a situation like this had better hope the opposing drivers agree with them. The common law position is that you must take the highway as you find it.

Michael Maynard

12/7/2019 14:50:57

Because there are no markings we should treat this as “shared” space. Therefore there is no priority the drivers themselves are left to decide their actions on the assumption that each of them wishes (a) to do no harm (b) not be harmed.

Personally I would proceed on the basis that that remaining stationary until it is clear what the other two drivers are doing will achieve both aims. If I am already in motion I find it is probably safer to continue at same speed and course so as not to confuse other drivers about my intention but may be ready for an immediate stop. I also assume that indicators mean what they say.

Taking the above situation - if I was driving white I would slow to assess what magenta is doing. I would be ready to give way to him since the general principle is to give way to the right. I would give no indication to blue that I would give way to him but be ready to stop immediately. If blue I would come to a halt and wait for both white and magenta clear the junction. If magenta I would do the same as white but assuming he would give way to me.

So, they order in which the car would clear the junction may well be magenta, white, blue. Any other order is also possible and provided no accident no problem no blame we all get on with our day.

13/9/2019 17:51:28

Surely you have a lesser priority if you are changing direction ie. turning right?!

MaxPrimal

1/10/2019 08:55:47

Insurers always settle on a split basis. No one has priority. Doesn't matter where you are turning or going.

Mike O

24/2/2020 19:27:50

Being from the continent, I find it absolutely terrifying that this is not sorted and that there seems to be so many conflicting opinions about what to do. Here you have to give way (there is no "priority") to traffic from the right (when no other signs/indications are present). Which actually falls in line with driving in the right hand side of the road and the oncoming traffic passes you on the left.

This would correspond to giving way to traffic from the left in the UK.

Mae McSway

27/8/2020 10:02:24

The highway chode more like

Kester Marsh

12/10/2020 10:40:17

I thought that there was a "convention" that in the event of no other markings or signs the vehicle on a continuous road ie same name had priority over those connected to it.

John Taylor

5/12/2020 11:53:04

I would hope that drivers would treat an unmarked junction similar to a mini roundabout and give way to traffic from the right. The accepted flow of traffic through a shared space should be a rotation, which one can join or leave without obstructing the flow. The exception would be traffic turning right across a junction against oncoming traffic. However, in a tight space like this, 'priority to the right' give Blue permission to enter the junction first, as he has nothing to his right. Magenta gives way to Blue. Blue being on the junction blocks Magenta but gives way to the oncoming White, which, as he is going straight through, has priority over a turning vehicle on a junction. Meanwhile Magenta waits blue to make his turn after white has passed. After Blue has turned, Magenta can follow across the junction. However, depending on the size of vehicles, priority should be given to whichever resolves the blockage. For example if any vehicle cannot exit the junction due to a blockage, they should wait until the exit is clear. Eye contact should be made, caution taken and polite hand signals used to invite another driver to proceed. The real solution is that every road should have a 'give way' road marking and every junction a yellow box.

James

5/12/2020 12:44:59

Given some of the answers, I hope some of the people commenting don't hold a valid driving licence!! 😐

John Taylor

5/12/2020 13:18:48

Really the point is that the builders and planners responsible for these junctions should do a better job of signing for the sake of safety and everyone's nerves. Sure, nobody wants to have less priority but the question needs to be cleared up by those charged with making our roads safe. Some drivers react to a lack of makings with caution, but the dangerous few will take it as a licence to take liberties and not give way, because they are not required to. These are the ones likely to cause accidents. Clear rules are necessary. Lack of clarity causes accidents.

Will Zarce

22/1/2021 17:09:04

All I can say is that I don't think that 95% of the people leaving comments on here should even be on the road at all. Honestly, you have no idea..!!! Just let me know when you are out in your cars and I'll make sure I stay at home!!

French

17/2/2021 17:59:03

Totally agree. Therest of world has a rule of right hand (give way to vehile from your right). Why in the UK government does not want to use this rule since they don,t have their own???

graham richard hayes

10/6/2021 12:17:14

Just questioning the ambiguity of the no markings crossroads rules...In the example there are three cars.two are travelling in straight line,(white and pink) blue is turning right across path of white....fail to understand why a simple 'give way to traffic from right' cannot be employed (the same as a roundabout) therefore pink would have first priority (travel in straight line) white would then be second (travel in straight line) then blue would be clear to move. (turning right).....In an ambiguous standoff situation blue would probably get fed up and turn left...........

mrgilbe1

10/6/2021 22:28:39

Those sort of rules *could* be employed, but in the UK Highway Code they haven't been.

It's not ambiguous - you make eye contact with the other drivers and figure out a way through without running into each other. Probably not ideal either though, but rules and laws rarely are.

In my country (NZ) there are more structured rules for unmarked intersections, but it takes very few cars to arrive at once for everyone to have to give way to everyone else anyway. You'd also be very brave to assume that the other drivers have the same understanding of priority that you do. So it reverts very quickly to 'make eye contact and just figure it out'.

Björn He Bergman

18/7/2022 14:35:14

I learned that in the U.K., it's always the so-called T junction rule that applies at T junctions:
A driver turning in a T junction must yield right-of-way for every vehicle approaching the junction (chiefly vehicles going straight ahead); when two vehicles turn at the same time in a T junction, a driver must (in left-hand traffic) yield for the vehicle turning to left or, if both vehicles turn right, for the vehicle approaching from the left-hand side.

Stuart

23/7/2022 17:43:13

I was sure that the highway code used to have instruction on this or I may have been told by an instructor that at an unmarked junction was the essentially the opposite of a round about so you gave way to the left. anyone turning left went first and so on. Though it is wise to let large vehicles clear the junction first.

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Who has priority at an unmarked crossroads?

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