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Maryland Rules of the Road Right of Way Laws

What are the Maryland Rules of the Road – Right of Way Laws? When considering liability in an accident case in Maryland, our injury lawyers reference the Maryland Transportation Articles and the Rules of the Road to determine who was “at fault” in an accident. One of the most useful sections of the Transportation Articles is the Rules of the Road – Right of Way, contained in Maryland Transportation Article 21-401 through 21-405.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident in Maryland, contact the Randolph Rice, Baltimore personal injury lawyer, at (410) 431-0911 for immediate legal help.

Vehicles at Intersections

Maryland TRansportation Code Annotated §21-401
§ 21-401. Vehicle at intersection
Except at through highways, or as otherwise provided in this subtitle, a vehicle at an intersection:

  1. Has the right-of-way over any other vehicle approaching from the left; and
  2. Shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching from the right.

“T” Intersection Without a Traffic Control Device

Maryland Transportation Code Annotated §21-401.1
§ 21-401.1. “T” intersection without traffic control device
At a “T” intersection with no traffic control device, any person driving a vehicle on a highway that intersects but does not cross the other highway, shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle traveling on the other highway.

Vehicle Turning Left or Making U-Turn

Maryland Transportation Code Annotated §21-402
§ 21-402. Vehicle turning left or making U-turn

(a) Turning left. If the driver of a vehicle intends to turn to the left in an intersection or into an alley or a private road or driveway, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle that is approaching from the opposite direction and is in the intersection or so near to it as to be an immediate danger.

(b) U-turn. If the driver of a vehicle intends to turn to go in the opposite direction, the driver shall yield the right-of-way to any approaching vehicle that is so near as to be an immediate danger.

Vehicle Entering Stop of Yield Intersection or Through Highway

Maryland Transportation Code Annotated §21-403
§ 21-403. Vehicle entering stop or yield intersection or through highway

(a) Signs authorized. Preferential right-of-way at an intersection may be indicated by stop signs or yield signs placed in accordance with the Maryland Vehicle Law.

(b) Stopping at entrance to through highway. If the driver of a vehicle approaches a through highway, the driver shall:

  1. Stop at the entrance to the through highway; and
  2. Yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on the through highway.

(c) Stopping in obedience to stop signs. If a stop sign is placed at the entrance to an intersecting highway, even if the intersecting highway is not part of a through highway, the driver of a vehicle approaching the intersecting highway shall:

  1. Stop in obedience to the stop sign; and
  2. Yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on the intersecting highway.

(d) Approaching intersection marked by yield sign. If a “yield” sign facing the driver of a vehicle is placed on the approach to an intersection, the driver shall:

  1. Approach the intersection with caution;
  2. Yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on the other highway; and
  3. If necessary, stop in order to yield this right-of-way.

Vehicle Entering Highway

Maryland Transportation Code Annotate §21-404
§ 21-404. Vehicle entering highway from other than a highway; vehicle entering paved highway from unpaved highway

(a) Entering highway from other than a highway, Duty to stop. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a private road or driveway or from any other place that is not a highway shall stop.

(b) Entering highway from other than a highway, Yielding right-of-way. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a highway from a private road or driveway or from any other place that is not a highway shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on the highway.

(c) “Paved highway” defined. In this section, “paved highway” means a highway that has a hard, smooth surface of gravel, shells, crushed stone, paving blocks, asphalt, concrete, or other similar substance.

(d) Entering paved highway from an unpaved highway, Duty to stop. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a paved highway from an unpaved highway shall stop.

(e) Entering paved highway from an unpaved highway, Yielding right-of-way. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross a paved highway from an unpaved highway shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on the paved highway.

Vehicle Entering Highway from Crossover

Md. TRANSPORTATION Code Ann. § 21-404.1  (2016)
§ 21-404.1. Vehicle entering highway from crossover

(a) Entering or crossing highway from crossover. The driver of a vehicle about to enter or cross any other part of a highway from a crossover, whether or not signposted, shall yield the right-of-way to any other vehicle approaching on that part of the highway.

(b) Making left turn at crossover. The approach to and method of making a left turn at a crossover shall be made as required by § 21-601 (b) and (c) of this title.

Operation of Vehicles on Approach of Emergency Vehicles

Maryland Transportation Code Annotated §21-405
§21-405. Operation of vehicles on approach of emergency vehicles or tow trucks.

(a) In general. On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of § 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall yield the right-of-way.

(b) Duty of driver upon approach of emergency vehicle. On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of § 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall drive immediately to a position parallel to and as close as possible to the edge or curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection.

(c) Stopping until emergency vehicle passes. On the immediate approach of an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of § 22-218 of this article or of a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal, the driver of every other vehicle, unless otherwise directed by a police officer, shall stop and stay in this position until the emergency vehicle has passed.

(d) Passing emergency or police vehicle. A driver, when proceeding in the same direction as an emergency or police vehicle, may not pass an emergency vehicle using audible and visual signals that meet the requirements of § 22-218 of this article or a police vehicle lawfully using an audible signal unless:

  1. The emergency vehicle has stopped; or
  2. Otherwise directed by a police officer.

(e) Duty of driver upon approach of emergency vehicle or tow trucks on highway. Unless otherwise directed by a police officer or a traffic control device, when an emergency vehicle or a tow truck that is properly registered in accordance with § 13-920 of this article using any visual signal that meets the requirements of § 22-218 of this article is stopped, standing, or parked on a highway, the driver of a motor vehicle approaching the emergency vehicle or tow truck from the rear shall:

  1. If practicable and not otherwise prohibited, make a lane change into an available lane not immediately adjacent to the emergency vehicle or tow truck with due regard for safety and traffic conditions; or
  2. If the driver of the motor vehicle is unable to make a lane change in accordance with item (1) of this subsection, slow to a reasonable and prudent speed that is safe for existing weather, road, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic conditions.

(f) Driver of emergency vehicle not relieved from duty of care. This section does not relieve the driver of an emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of all persons.

If you’ve been hurt in an accident, contact our injury lawyers at (410) 431-0911.  Questions about right of way in Maryland or rules of the road in Maryland. We can help.

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Maryland Laws