Pennsylvania’s right-of-way laws, set out in Title 75 of the Vehicle Code, decide who yields in every routine driving situation: uncontrolled intersections, stop signs, left turns, crosswalks, school bus stops, emergency scenes, driveways, roundabouts, and funeral processions. Violations run from two points and a $50 fine for a crosswalk failure up to a $250 fine, five points, and a 60-day suspension for passing a stopped school bus. Six points on your record triggers PennDOT action.
Intersections
When two vehicles reach an intersection at roughly the same time from different roads, and no signal or sign controls the flow, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.1Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3321 – Vehicle Approaching or Entering Intersection That is Pennsylvania’s default tiebreaker. A violation adds three points to your record.2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 1535 – Schedule of Convictions and Points
At a stop sign, come to a complete stop at the marked stop line, the crosswalk, or the point nearest the intersecting road where you can see oncoming traffic. Then yield to any vehicle already in the intersection or close enough to be a hazard, and enter only when it’s safe.3Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3323 – Stop Signs and Yield Signs A yield sign works the same way, minus the required complete stop unless safety demands one.
At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to stop goes first. If two arrive at the same instant, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. A driver turning left always yields to oncoming traffic going straight or turning right.
Left Turns
Turning left at an intersection, you must yield to any vehicle coming from the opposite direction that is close enough to create a hazard.4Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3322 – Vehicle Turning Left The rule isn’t limited to cars already inside the intersection. It includes anything approaching closely enough that finishing your turn would force the other driver to brake or swerve. A left-turn yielding violation is also three points.2Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 1535 – Schedule of Convictions and Points
Pedestrians in Crosswalks
When no traffic signal is operating, drivers must yield to any pedestrian crossing within a marked crosswalk or an unmarked crosswalk at an intersection.5Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3542 – Right-of-Way of Pedestrians in Crosswalks An unmarked crosswalk is the natural extension of the sidewalk across the street at an intersection, even without paint on the road. Many drivers miss this and assume the duty only kicks in where lines are painted. Failing to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk carries a $50 fine and two points.6Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Traffic Violation Fine Card
A heightened duty applies to pedestrians who are totally or partially blind. If you see someone carrying a white cane or accompanied by a guide dog, you must yield and take whatever steps are needed to avoid endangering them, including stopping entirely.7Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3549 – Blind Pedestrians Violating that duty is a summary offense with a fine between $50 and $150. A blind pedestrian without a cane or guide dog still has every normal pedestrian protection, and the absence of those aids cannot be used against them as contributory negligence.
Stopped School Buses
Passing a stopped school bus is one of the most heavily penalized right-of-way violations in Pennsylvania. When a bus activates its flashing red lights and extends its stop arm, every driver meeting or overtaking the bus must stop at least ten feet away. You cannot proceed until the red lights turn off, and even then you must wait until any children who exited have reached a place of safety.8Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3345 – Meeting or Overtaking School Bus
If you approach an intersection where a school bus is stopped with red signals flashing, you must stop at that intersection too. The penalty is a $250 fine plus a $35 surcharge, a 60-day license suspension, and five points on your record.8Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3345 – Meeting or Overtaking School Bus Enforcement has tightened as many districts add bus-mounted cameras.
Emergency Vehicles and the Move Over Law
When an emergency vehicle approaches with both audible sirens and flashing lights, pull immediately to the right-hand edge or curb, clear of any intersection, and stop until it passes.9Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3325 – Duty of Driver on Approach of Emergency Vehicle On a one-way road, you may pull to whichever edge is closest to your lane.
Pennsylvania’s Move Over Law reaches beyond active emergencies. When you approach a stopped emergency response area or a disabled vehicle on the roadside, move into a lane not adjacent to it. If changing lanes is impossible, illegal, or unsafe, slow to at least 20 miles per hour below the posted limit.10Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3327 – Duty of Driver in Emergency Response Areas and in Relation to Disabled Vehicles
Fines escalate quickly. A first offense runs up to $500. A second is up to $1,000. A third or later offense is up to $2,000 plus a 90-day license suspension. If your violation injures or kills someone, the consequences jump: causing bodily injury adds up to $1,000, serious bodily injury adds up to $5,000, and causing a death adds up to $10,000 plus a one-year license suspension.10Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3327 – Duty of Driver in Emergency Response Areas and in Relation to Disabled Vehicles
Driveways and Private Roads
Pulling out of a driveway, parking lot, alley, or any place that isn’t a road, you must yield to every vehicle on the road you’re entering.11Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3324 – Vehicle Entering or Crossing Roadway The statute is intentionally broad. It doesn’t matter whether the road is a busy highway or a quiet residential street. The burden falls on you to wait for a gap that lets you enter without making anyone slow down or change course.
Passing Bicyclists
When overtaking a bicycle, Pennsylvania requires at least four feet of lateral clearance and a careful, reduced speed. The rule applies whether or not there’s a designated bike lane. On narrow roads where four feet means crossing the center line, wait for oncoming traffic to clear before passing. Treating a cyclist the way you would a slow-moving vehicle is the simplest way to stay compliant.
Roundabouts
Traffic entering a roundabout must yield to vehicles already circulating inside it.12Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Negotiating Intersections Slow down at the yield line, look to your left, and enter only when the gap is large enough that circulating traffic doesn’t have to brake.13Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Multi-Lane Roundabouts If no safe gap exists, stop and wait. Once inside, keep a steady speed and don’t stop for entering traffic.
Funeral Processions
Funeral processions have a narrow right-of-way privilege. If the lead vehicle lawfully entered an intersection on a green light or after stopping at a stop sign, the rest of the procession may follow through even if the signal changes to red.14Pennsylvania General Assembly. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Title 75 3107 – Drivers in Funeral Processions To qualify, every vehicle must display lit headlamps, emergency flashers, and a flag or other identifying marker. Funeral vehicles may also display flashing purple lights. Other drivers cannot cut through or interrupt the procession. The one exception: a funeral procession must always yield to emergency vehicles using sirens and lights.
What Points and Suspensions Look Like
Every right-of-way violation adds points to your Pennsylvania driving record, and the totals matter. PennDOT begins corrective action when your record reaches six points. The first time you hit six, you can take a written Special Point Examination or attend Driver Improvement School to remove points.15Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Point System
If your record drops below six and climbs back, the consequences get worse. A second accumulation triggers a mandatory departmental hearing and Driver Improvement School, with a possible suspension of up to 15 days. A third or later accumulation can bring a suspension of up to 30 days. Skipping the hearing or the course results in an indefinite suspension until you comply.
Drivers under 18 face a steeper cliff. Any accumulation of six or more points triggers an automatic 90-day suspension for the first occurrence and 120 days for each one after that.15Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Point System For a young driver, one three-point intersection violation is already halfway to a suspended license.