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What is right-of-way?

I don’t understand the term right-of-way, but I’m nervous to ask my driving instructor to explain it to me. When my teacher says that pedestrians have the right-of-way, what does that mean?

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Liz Jenson · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Right-of-way refers to the legal right to pass over or through a specific area. In driving, right-of-way is often used to tell you who gets to go first at an intersection, crosswalk, or another stopping point.
One important thing to remember about right-of-way while driving is that you must always yield to pedestrians, even if this means waiting unnecessarily at an intersection or performing an emergency stop.
Pedestrians always have the right-of-way because they are at a significantly higher risk of bodily injury if they are struck by a vehicle.
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