Unmarked Junctions: Who Goes First and Who Gives Way

Many junctions in Indian towns and villages have no traffic lights, no STOP or Give Way signs and no markings at all: two lanes crossing in a residential colony, a village road meeting another, a side street joining a market road. Here the law gives a simple rule, but using it safely needs slow speed, careful looking and a willingness to wait. This article explains how to cross or turn at such a junction step by step.

What Indian law says

• Slow down: you must slow down when approaching a road intersection, junction, pedestrian crossing or corner, and must not enter if that would endanger anyone already there or about to enter (Regulation 9(1) of the Motor Vehicles (Driving) Regulations, 2017).
• Traffic from the right goes first: at intersections and junctions, vehicles approaching from the right have the right of way (Regulation 9(2)).
• Exceptions: this rule does not apply where a police officer or authorised person is directing traffic, or where there are traffic lights or mandatory signs; and it does not apply to a vehicle leaving a minor road to enter a major road, which must give way to traffic on the major road (Regulation 9(2)).
• Coming out of a property, such as a gate, petrol pump or car park, you must give way to all traffic already on the road (Regulation 7(4)).
• Never block the junction: do not enter if traffic in it has come to a standstill, even if you have the right of way (Regulation 9(3)).

The full rules for junctions with lights and signs are in Rule 06.

Which road is the major road?

The regulations do not define a "major road" for unmarked junctions. India Drive Safe recommends treating the other road as the major road, and giving way, when:

• your road ends at the junction (you are on the stem of a T);
• the other road is clearly wider, busier or a through road, such as a highway or a market road, and yours is a lane or a colony road;
• the other road is paved and yours is a dirt or gravel track; or
• you are leaving a service road, a slip road or a property.

If you cannot tell, treat it as a junction of equal roads: give way to traffic from your right, and be ready to give way to everyone.

Step by step: going straight across

1. Look early. Spot the junction well ahead. Check your mirrors and slow down. Cover the brake.
2. Read the junction. Look for any sign, police officer, marking or signal you may have missed. If there is none, decide which road is the major road.
3. Look right, left and right again. Traffic from the right reaches you first. Look for two-wheelers and cyclists, which are small and fast, and for pedestrians crossing.
4. If your view is blocked by buildings, walls, parked vehicles or hedges, stop, then creep forward slowly until you can see. Use the horn briefly only if it is really needed to warn others on a blind corner (Rule 27).
5. Give way: let any vehicle from your right go first. If you are on the minor road, let every vehicle on the major road go first.
6. Go only when it is clear and you can get right across without stopping in the middle. Keep looking as you cross.

Turning at an unmarked junction

• Turning left: keep to the left, slow right down and give way to pedestrians crossing the road you are turning into (Regulation 8; Rule 05). Check for cyclists and two-wheelers on your left before you turn.
• Turning right: signal early and move towards the centre of your side of the road. You will cross the path of oncoming traffic. Indian regulations do not set an exact rule for this at unmarked junctions, so India Drive Safe recommends: give way to oncoming vehicles going straight on or turning left, as well as to traffic from your right and to pedestrians. This is also the rule in the UK, New Zealand and many other countries.
• Two vehicles turning right from opposite directions: the UK Highway Code (rule 181) says passing behind each other (offside to offside) is generally safer, because each driver can see oncoming traffic. At some junctions the layout makes you pass in front of each other. If unsure, make eye contact, wait, and let the other driver show what they intend.

When several vehicles arrive together

• the rule is the same for each driver: give way to the vehicle on your right. If vehicles arrive from all four sides at once, nobody has a clear right of way. One driver must wave another through: make eye contact, signal clearly, and go only when you are sure;
• never assume that a flashed headlight or a wave means it is safe. It only shows what the other driver intends; you must still check the road yourself (Rule 14); and
• be patient. A few seconds' wait costs nothing; a crash at a junction is often serious because vehicles hit each other side-on.

Large vehicles, two-wheelers and pedestrians

• a bus or truck needs much more room to turn and may swing across your side of the road. Stay well back until it has finished (Rule 17);
• a two-wheeler can be hidden behind a larger vehicle or in your blind spot. Look twice before you move off (Rule 08); and
• pedestrians crossing at a junction have priority over turning vehicles. Wait for them to finish crossing (Rule 26).

Common mistakes

Remember