Priority rules – driving licence theory

The basis of all priority rules is that no-one has any rights in traffic, only joint obligations. Different perspectives on the same situation:

• “I have priority, as I am driving on a priority road.”
  The attitude that you have the right to something in traffic can be dangerous.
• “The other cars are supposed to give way to me, as I am driving on a priority road.”
  Appropriate and safe attitude.

Obligation to give way

• Let intersecting vehicle traffic pass.
• You must clearly show that you intend to let the other road users go first. For example: brake in good time rather than creating uncertainty by braking hard just before the junction.
• Stop if necessary, but this is not a requirement as in the obligation to stop.

Obligation to stop

• Same as the obligation to give way, only you have to stop regardless of whether you think it is necessary.
• You are not permitted to move slowly forwards, you have to come to a complete stop (a few seconds is often enough). Not respecting the obligation to stop is a serious violation. You can lose your licence if you continue creeping forwards instead of stopping.
• Stop just before the stop line. If there is no stop line, stop just before entering the intersecting road. Sometimes this means passing the stop sign before stopping, as the sign may be several metres before the junction.
• If there is a queue, each car must still come to a stop at the stop line. Immediately following the car in front of you is not permitted.
• All-way stop means that all the adjoining roads have an obligation to stop. The easiest solution is for whoever stopped first to also start driving again first. All-way stops are rare.

Priority roads

• All those entering the priority road must give way to vehicles already on it.
• Indicated by a Priority road sign at the start.
  • This sign is normally displayed after every junction, unless it is evident that the priority road continues after the junction.
• Ends when a Priority road ends sign is displayed.

The priority-to-the-right rule

• Give way to vehicles from the right.
• Applies in the absence of other priority rules.
• The Junction sign is sometimes displayed to clarify that the priority-to-the-right rule is to be applied.
• The priority-to-the-right rule does not only apply at junctions, but at any time when vehicles cross paths.

The priority-to-the-right rule does not apply

• On priority roads.
• Where there are functioning traffic signals.
• At roundabouts.
• Where the Give way or Obligation to stop signs are displayed.
• When a driver leaves an acceleration lane.
• When reversing.
• At exits (see The exit rule below).

Examples of the priority-to-the-right rule

The turning rule

• Do not obstruct oncoming road users when turning at a junction.
• Do not obstruct road users on the carriageway you are joining.

The turning rule also states that you may not obstruct pedestrians or cyclists who are crossing the carriageway you are turning into. This applies even if there is no pedestrian crossing, footpath, bicycle passage, bicycle crossing or bicycle path. When pedestrians and cyclists cross the carriageway, they are road users on the carriageway you are joining.

This obligation is milder than, for example, your duty to give way to pedestrians at pedestrian crossings. You do not have to stop and wait for pedestrians who are approaching the junction and are about to cross, as you must do at pedestrian crossings. However, be careful and keep in mind that pedestrians and cyclists are unprotected road users.

The exit rule

The exit rule means that you have an obligation to give way when exiting:

• A car park (both from the parking space and the parking area itself).
• A property (e.g. house), a petrol station or any other similar area in connection to the road.
• A pedestrian street, home zone, bicycle street, hard shoulder or off-road area.
• A footpath or bicycle path that you have crossed.

The exit rule does not apply here, as the footpath/cycle path is interrupted. The raised ground does not make any difference in this case, as it is clear that the footpath/bicycle path is replaced by a combined pedestrian crossing and bicycle passage. Instead, it is the priority-to-the-right rule that applies.

Here, it is the exit rule that applies, if you are driving out onto the road as indicated by the red arrow. You are crossing an uninterrupted bicycle path, as designated by the municipality’s detailed plan. You have an obligation to give way to vehicles on the bicycle path and vehicles on the road. In addition, you are driving out from a property, which also means that you have an obligation to give way in accordance with the exit rule.

The obstruction rule

• Try to never stop at a junction, on a pedestrian crossing or similar.

The bus rule

• 50 km/h or slower: You must give way to the bus if it indicates to exit (only applicable to the lane furthest to the right).
• Over 50 km/h: The bus must give way to you.

Give way to and do not obstruct:

• Emergency vehicles (ambulances, police cars and fire engines) with sirens and/or flashing blue lights turned on.
• Trains and trams.
• Military convoys.
• Processions of different kinds (such as children with teachers and funeral processions).

Cars are obliged to give way to you. This does not apply to trams. You have to give way to trams crossing your path. (“Lämna fri väg för spårvagn” = “Give way to trams”)

Traffic signals

Red

Red signal means stop. A vehicle may not pass the stop line or, in the absence of such, the signal.

The change to a green signal is imminent. Otherwise, the signal has the same meaning as red.

Amber (yellow)

Amber signal means stop. Exception: Sometimes you are unable to stop in a safe manner when the signal changes from green to amber. In these cases, you are allowed to pass the amber signal. However, it must be clear that you are unable to stop. Drives have lost their licence for running an amber light even though they could have stopped without danger.

Flashing amber means that the traffic signal is out of order and that special caution must be observed when passing. Follow road signs (e.g. priority road) or rules (e.g. priority-to-the-right rule).

Green

Green signal means that you can continue driving. Intersecting traffic have a red light, but oncoming traffic might have a green light. If you turn, you must let oncoming traffic pass. If you turn, there may be pedestrians/cyclists with a green light who cross the road you want to join. You must let them pass.

Green arrow means that you may drive in the direction of the arrow. Other traffic (cars/pedestrians/cyclists) that intersects or merges with your path have a red light. Be careful, as other road users might not follow the rules and drive/walk/cycle even though they have a red light.

Regular signal + arrow

You are only allowed to turn right.

The green arrow is off. This means that you should follow the round green signal, which means that you can drive in any direction (including to the right).

You are only allowed to drive straight ahead or turn right.

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