Rules of the Road & Right of Way
Right-of-way rules tell drivers who should go first, keeping intersections and shared roadways orderly and safe.
Intersections and stops
At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop proceeds first; when two arrive together, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. At an intersection without signs or signals, yield to vehicles already there and to traffic on your right.
Turns and merging
When turning left, yield to oncoming traffic and to pedestrians crossing your path. When entering a highway from an on-ramp, adjust your speed to match traffic and merge into a safe gap; drivers already on the highway generally have the right of way.
Emergency vehicles
When an emergency vehicle approaches using lights or a siren, pull to the right edge of the road and stop until it passes. Tennessee's Move Over law requires you to move over a lane or slow down for stopped emergency, utility, and other authorized vehicles.