Should Straight-Going Vehicles Yield to Turning Vehicles or Vice Versa?
2 Answers
In general, turning vehicles should yield to straight-going vehicles. However, there are several exceptions to this rule: 1. Straight-going vehicles on auxiliary roads: Vehicles going straight on auxiliary roads must yield to vehicles turning from the main road. In China, main roads are often accompanied by multiple auxiliary roads to facilitate traffic flow. According to regulations, vehicles on auxiliary roads must yield to those on the main road. 2. Yield signs: Many intersections are marked with inverted triangle-shaped yield signs. When approaching such intersections, drivers must yield to other vehicles. If an accident occurs due to failure to yield, the driver will bear full responsibility.
I remember when I first started driving, I was always confused about this too. Later, a friend from the traffic accident department explained it to me clearly: the law states that turning vehicles must yield to straight-going vehicles. This is because straight-going vehicles are faster and have shorter reaction times, while turning vehicles move slower and are easier to control. I once saw an accident video where a left-turning car didn't yield to a straight-going car—not only was it fully at fault, but it also had to pay for the other car's repairs. However, in actual driving, you need to be flexible. For example, during rush hour traffic jams, if straight-going cars voluntarily stop to let turning cars go first, it actually improves overall traffic flow. But under normal driving conditions, as the turning party, you must always have the awareness to yield proactively.
