In the Aug. 17 edition of Road Rules, Target Zero Manager Doug Dahl answered a question about an intersection commonly found across Clark County: a traffic intersection with dueling yields.
The question reads, “Who has the right-of-way if one direction of traffic has a “right turn yield” and the opposite has “left-hand yield on green”? People always act like they have the right-of-way going in both directions, often nearly causing crashes.”
“Here we have an intersection mostly controlled by traffic lights, with one right-turn lane managed by a yield sign. I’d like us to consider a couple scenarios, but before we do, keep in mind that the law requires a driver approaching a yield sign to yield the right-of-way to any vehicle in the intersection,” Dahl stated in his article about the graphic.
The first provided scenario was if both of the cars in the diagram arrive at the intersection at about the same time. If the two cars approach the intersection from opposite directions, intending to turn west, and both arrive at the intersection at the same time, there’s enough distance between the two that if they both go there shouldn’t be a conflict; the driver at the yield sign will enter the westbound lane, followed by the driver at the green light, who can see the right-turning car and adjust their speed appropriately. It should all mesh together like clockwork as they both safely carry on their way, Dahl explains.
The second provided scenario: The car turning left arrives and enters the intersection first. If we refer back to the law, it’s clear that the car turning right has to yield to the left-turning car already in the intersection, Dahl said.
For those that disagree with Dahl’s answer he explains that he hopes everyone will agree with a higher goal, “doing what it takes to avoid a crash.”
“Besides, when you’re pulling up to the intersection, my interpretation matters a lot less than what the person coming the other direction thinks,” Dahl stated. “When you’re approaching an unfamiliar or possibly confusing intersection, you don’t have time to look up the law, or even read an article trying to explain the law.”
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