# Right of Way

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-of-way/22396>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 14, 2000, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-of-way/22396 "2000-06-14T20:33:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-of-way/22396/21 "2000-06-19T06:05:43Z")

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My pet peeve is this: I come to an intersection where I have a stop sign and I stop. The car going across does _not_ have a stop sign but he stops and motions me to go. NO, you idiot! that is not how it works! You are obliged to go before me!

Often both drivers motion each other a few times and then both go at the same time… guess who’s liable.

A friend of mine hit a pedestrian who had the right of way in a similar situation. Boy was he sorry. If you are in that situation, just sit tight until the guy who has the right to go goes.

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**Author:** ![epeepunk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f19dbf/32.png) [@epeepunk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epeepunk)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-of-way/22396/22 "2000-06-19T14:25:52Z")

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In Delaware, we were taught that the law does not **give** anyone the right-of-way, it specifies who must **yield** right-of-way.

And they also taught to avoid collisions first, follow right-of-way rules second.

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**Author:** ![2sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/2/e47774/32.png) [@2sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2sense)\
**Post date:** [June 19, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/right-of-way/22396/23 "2000-06-19T16:51:20Z")

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I would be cautious about practicing this philosophy. While the ped’s Right of Way may not do him/her any good due to their untimely demise, it will certainly do his/her family some good in the inevitable liable suit. Not having any money when you get out of jail would suck, I would think.

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