Tennessee Permit Practice Test

At a four-way stop, which vehicle has the right-of-way?

1. The vehicle on the right

2. The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection

3. The largest vehicle

4. The vehicle with more passengers

The correct answer is: The first vehicle to arrive at the intersection

The correct answer is that the first vehicle to arrive at the intersection has the right-of-way. This principle is a key rule of traffic control at intersections, especially at four-way stops, where multiple vehicles may approach the intersection simultaneously. When vehicles reach a four-way stop at the same time, the rule is that the driver who arrived first has the priority to proceed through the intersection. This helps prevent confusion and promotes safety by establishing a clear protocol for which driver should go first. The other options do not apply to the right-of-way rules. For instance, the idea that the vehicle on the right has precedence is relevant only when two vehicles arrive simultaneously; in that case, the vehicle on the right has the right-of-way. The size of the vehicle or the number of passengers it carries is not a consideration in determining priority at a stop. These factors do not influence which vehicle should go first and can lead to misunderstandings about right-of-way situations.