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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.

You intend to continue straight ahead. This is a situation where all drivers have obligations. Driver A must let you pass according to the turning rule, B must give way to A according to the priority-to-the-right rule, you must give way to B according to the priority-to-the-right rule, and nobody is allowed to enter the intersection if they risk having to stop in the middle of the intersection (the obstruction rule).

Obligation to give way

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.

The traffic signals are not functioning. This means that you should follow the give way sign.

Clarification of the obligation to give way

Your obligation to give way applies to all traffic on the entire road that you are joining.

In the example, B is overtaking C in direct proximity to the junction. A has an obligation to give way to B, even though B is on the wrong side of the road.

Clarification of the obligation to give way.

Obligation to stop

Stop line

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.

You must stop at the stop line. Immediately following the bus in front of you is not permitted.

Priority roads

Priority road

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.

Clarification regarding the Priority road sign

The Priority road sign is displayed after every junction, not before.

Why after the junction and not before?
– This is so that the vehicles joining the road will also see the sign and realise they are on a priority road.

Priority road before the junction as well.

If the sign is displayed after the junction, how will I know that the road is a priority road before the junction?
– Normally, there will also be several indications that you are on a priority road before the junction:

If you are driving on the priority road, you will surely have seen Priority road signs earlier on (compare to how you remember the speed limit).
If you are turning onto a priority road, there will often be a sign or a road marking telling you that you have an obligation to stop or give way.

In addition, the Swedish Transport Agency specifies that a Priority road sign is not displayed directly after a junction if the road was not a priority road before the junction as well.

The priority-to-the-right rule

Junction

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.

Clarification regarding the Junction sign

The Junction sign does not have to be displayed for the priority-to-the-right rule to apply.

The sign is a clarification at particularly difficult junctions, and will not usually be displayed where the priority-to-the-right rule is applicable.

But how come the sign is not always displayed?
– The priority-to-the-right rule is applicable in so many places that this sign would fill up the whole traffic environment. The priority-to-the-right rule applies in parking areas, for example, and it would be unreasonable to display signs at every little intersection of the parking area.

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

Priority-to-the-right rule, example 1

B must give way to A, and A must in turn give way to C. This means that according to the priority-to-the-right rule C is to drive first, then A and finally B.

However, in this case, it may be appropriate for B and C to drive at the same time and for A to go last, as A must also take the obstruction rule into account (A may not go into the junction and obstruct B).

Priority-to-the-right rule, example 2

A is approaching from the right from B’s perspective, which means that B must give way to A. The fact that A is turning onto B’s road or that B’s road is bigger is of no importance.

Priority-to-the-right rule, example 3

The roads do not have to intersect at a 90° angle. The priority-to-the-right rule is applicable here as well. A must give way to B.

Priority-to-the-right rule, example 4

The priority-to-the-right rule is also applicable in open areas. B must give way to A.

The priority-to-the-right rule applies here, as there are no indications that say otherwise (for example, road signs).

You are entering an open area. The priority-to-the-right rule applies.

The Junction sign (priority-to-the-right rule sign) is displayed here. However, this sign is unusual. It is absent from most intersections where the priority-to-the-right rule applies.

You are not obliged to give way to the red car, as the priority-to-the-right rule is not applicable when reversing or when exiting a parking space. However, be careful, as the reversing driver may not see you.

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.

Example of the turning rule

As A’s intended direction of travel crosses B’s path, A must give way to B. This rule applies even if A has a green light (B can have a green light at the same time).

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.

There is no pedestrian crossing to the right (end of video), and the footpath does not cross the road. Despite this, you may not obstruct pedestrians who cross the road when you are turning. The pedestrians are road users on the carriageway you are joining.

You want to turn left. Wait until the lorry has passed to see if there is oncoming traffic. The turning rule also means that you are not allowed to obstruct the lorry while waiting (e.g. by driving too far into the junction).

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, example

The car is entering a road from a property and has an obligation to give way.

Clarification about crossing a footpath or bicycle path

The exit rule does not apply if there is a pedestrian crossing, a bicycle passage or a bicycle crossing at the junction. The exit rule only applies at uninterrupted footpaths or bicycle paths. A pedestrian crossing, a bicycle passage or a bicycle crossing always interrupts the footpath or bicycle path.

Crossing a footpath or bicycle path in connection to a regular road junction is unusual. In most cases, the footpath or bicycle path ends before the junction and starts again after the junction. This means that the exit rule does not apply.

See examples below.

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.

Example 1: The exit rule applies here

A is coming from a delimited area, the sole purpose of which is exit from/entry to a few homes with parking spaces. B is driving on a regular road for normal traffic. A has an obligation to give way to B, in accordance with the exit rule.

Example 2: The exit rule does not apply here

A is coming from an area with several side-roads, and there is also a connecting road to another road for normal traffic. B has an obligation to give way to A, in accordance with the priority-to-the-right rule.

Example 3: Two exits meet = priority-to-the-right rule

A and B are coming from areas with similar characteristics. In such an instance, the priority-to-the-right rule applies. B has an obligation to give way to A.

Clarification of the exit rule

From B’s perspective in examples 1–2, it is very difficult to determine what the area looks like. In such situations, it is best to exercise caution – it is better to give way unnecessarily than to fail to give way. Ultimately, it is a court of law that determines whether something is to be classed as an exit or not.

In real life situations, however, there are usually road signs to denote priority road and/or obligations to give way in such situations.

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.

The bus rule, example

Only car B is obliged to give way to the bus.

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.

You want to turn right. The bicycle crossing to the right also has a green light, which means that you must let cyclists pass before you turn.

You are in the left lane and will get a red light soon. Stop in a safe manner. The green signal only applies to those in the other lanes.

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