Right of way — Illinois Permit Test

A driver must yield the right of way when making a right turn on a red light after coming to a complete stop.

The right turn on red is permission to go, not priority over anybody. The stop comes first and the yielding comes after it.

When making a right turn on a red light after a complete stop.

After stopping at an intersection with a stop sign or flashing red signal, a driver stops before the crosswalk where there is no stop line, and where there is neither, stops where all approaching traffic can be seen.

The stop line, the crosswalk and the view are three fallbacks in order. The last one is the point of all of them: stopping somewhere you can actually see.

After coming to a complete stop at an intersection with a stop sign or flashing red signal. If there is no stop line, stop before the crosswalk. If there is no crosswalk or stop line, stop at a place where all approaching traffic can be seen.

A driver may turn left at a red light from a one-way street onto another one-way street with traffic moving to the left, after stopping and yielding.

The turn is possible because nothing is coming the other way on either street. It still starts with a complete stop.

When making a left turn at a red light after stopping on a one-way street to another one-way street with traffic moving to the left.

At a four-way stop the first driver to stop is the first to go, and where two vehicles on different roadways arrive at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

First to stop, first to go settles most of it. The left-yields-to-right rule is for the tie, and it is the half drivers forget.

When more than one driver reaches a four-way stop intersection. The first driver to stop should be the first to go. When two vehicles on different roadways arrive at a four-way stop intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right.

Where two vehicles on different roadways reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time, the vehicle on the left yields to the vehicle on the right.

With no sign or signal there is nothing but this rule to settle it. Knowing which side yields is what stops both drivers edging forward.

When two vehicles on different roadways reach an uncontrolled intersection at the same time. The vehicle on the left should yield to the vehicle on the right.

A driver who has entered an intersection on a green light may finish a left turn even though the light has turned red.

A car stranded mid-intersection is worse than one completing the turn. The rule is what lets a driver clear the box rather than freeze in it.

When making a left-hand turn into oncoming traffic. If you enter an intersection while the light is green, you may finish the turn even though the light turns red.

A driver approaching a MERGE sign must yield to through traffic, increasing or decreasing speed to avoid a crash.

Merging is a speed problem, not a courtesy problem. You change your speed to fit the gap, because the through traffic cannot.

When approaching a MERGE sign with through traffic. You must increase or decrease speed to avoid a crash.

A driver must yield after coming to a complete stop when emerging from an alley, a building, a private road or a driveway.

Nothing on the road expects a car to appear from a driveway. The stop is what gives you time to see and them time to see you.

When emerging from an alley, building, private road, or driveway after coming to a complete stop.

A driver on the terminating highway of a T intersection with no signs or signals must yield to cross traffic.

The road that ends is the road that yields, because the through road has nowhere else to go. No sign means the shape of the road decides.

To cross traffic when on the terminating highway of a “T” intersection with no traffic control signs or signals.

A driver may not enter an intersection or drive within a marked crosswalk unless there is enough room for other vehicles and pedestrians to get through.

A car stopped across a crosswalk is a pedestrian walking into traffic to get around it. Waiting behind the line costs one light cycle.

Enter an intersection or drive within a marked crosswalk unless there is enough space to allow passage of other vehicles and/or pedestrians.

What must an Illinois driver do before turning right on a red light?

Come to a complete stop and yield. The right turn on red is permission to go, not priority over anybody. The stop comes first and the yielding comes after it. Illinois Rules of the Road 2026, p.26: “When making a right turn on a red light after a complete stop.”