Who has the right of way in these situations?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by expedite_it, Nov 21, 2021.

  1. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

    5,060
    12,722
    Feb 19, 2012
    CC, TX
    0
    In Texas, the law never says who has the right of way, it dictates who must yield ROW to others.

    As a practical matter, in diagram #1 the blue truck must yield ROW to the red truck because the red truck stopped too far forward and now its cab is blocking the blue truck's ability to turn left on to the public roadway. If the driveway is narrow, this could backfire on the driver of the red truck because he may have to pull forward and then cut hard back to the left in order to not clip the front end of the blue truck with his trailer.

    When I find myself approaching a situation like the red truck is in, I always stop far enough back so that the other vehicle can make their turn first, that way I don't have to worry about my trailer potentially coming into contact with the other vehicle.

    Common courtesy and defensive driving go a long way toward making everybody's day easier.
     
    Mototom Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    No. In diagram #1, the blue truck has to yield ROW to the red truck because the blue truck is on private property and the red truck is on the public street, not because the red truck stopped too far forward.

    If the red truck stopped a little bit further back, the red truck would still have the right of way over the blue truck. A vehicle on the public streets always has the right of way over a vehicle on private property.
     
    kylefitzy and Rideandrepair Thank this.
  4. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

    3,553
    10,231
    Feb 1, 2011
    Dallas, TX
    0
    It's the GREEN TRUCK.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  5. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    There is no green truck in either of the diagrams.
     
    Rideandrepair Thanks this.
  6. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    17,321
    56,197
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    Where’d the green Truck go?
     
  7. aussiejosh

    aussiejosh Road Train Member

    4,709
    5,409
    Aug 28, 2009
    Airlie Beach QLd
    0
    In diagram #1 the driver on private property ( blue truck) should give way to all vehicles when exiting, however the red truck turning off the road would have be the most inexperienced driver to be not be able to turn into that drive way and take out the exiting truck. Provided that the blue truck waits till the red one has turned, this is why positive comms always come in handy. In diagram #2, If the blue truck at the stop sign gives way to all other traffic after stopping at the stop sign this should not be an issue its only an issue if he ignores the stop sign and continues onwards into oncoming traffic.
     
  8. RockinChair

    RockinChair Road Train Member

    5,060
    12,722
    Feb 19, 2012
    CC, TX
    0
    Legally speaking, you are correct. But perhaps you noticed I began with "as a practical matter," meaning that I was speaking not in terms of the law but in terms of the circumstances of the situation as it was presented.
     
    expedite_it Thanks this.
  9. expedite_it

    expedite_it Road Train Member

    1,646
    863
    Sep 8, 2012
    0
    Fair enough
     
    RockinChair Thanks this.
  10. Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

    4,240
    4,049
    Dec 27, 2007
    Elkhart, IN
    0
    In situations like #1 the red truck could choose to yield right of way to the blue guy if he knows or suspects there will be a space conflict, if he hasn't pulled too far forward already. Usually on left turns like that there will be plenty of space to let the red truck make his move first, which would be the norm. (Yield gets to go before Stop.)

    #2 would be a fairly dangerous intersection for the blue truck (or anybody) if there were no traffic controls at all in the North/southbound directions and traffic was moving at 50 or better. The red truck has an imaginary flashing yellow arrow and the blue truck has a stop, so again the stop loses.
     
    Last edited: Apr 6, 2022
    expedite_it Thanks this.
  11. LtlAnonymous

    LtlAnonymous Road Train Member

    6,084
    21,041
    Dec 23, 2016
    0
    If I am in the red truck and the blue truck has pulled so far forward that I feel my ability to turn into the private drive is impeded, I can CHOOSE to wave him and tell him to go.

    His demeanor will dictate the expression on my face as he passes. If he has a "boy I ####ed up" look on his face, he'll get a smile and a don't worry shrug.

    If he looks unpleasant, I'll raise my eyebrows and tell him way to go.
     
    expedite_it and MACK E-6 Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.