Right-of-Way, Turning, School Buses, Emergency Vehicles and Light Rail: What Right-of-Way Means, T and Uncontrolled Intersections, Pedestrians and School Crossings, Alleys and Driveways, Left Turns and U-Turns, Red Light Running Penalties, Yielding to and Following Emergency Vehicles, the Move Over Law, Funeral Processions, Stopping for School Buses, Right and Left Turn Lanes, Left Turns on Red, the Two-Way Left Turn Lane and METRO Light Rail

Written for aiforu2 as the source for a practice-test bank and the on-device tutor for the Arizona driver license written test. The facts follow the official manual; the wording is ours.

Source: Arizona Driver License Manual and Customer Service Guide (ADOT MVD form 99-0117, revised March 2026), Section 3 "Roadway and Vehicle Knowledge", pages 35–39 (Rules of the Road through School Buses) and 47–49 (Turning, Two-Way Left Turn Lane, METRO Light Rail).

Right-of-way

The law never gives anyone the right-of-way; it only says who must yield, and no one may take it if a crash could result. At a controlled intersection obey the signals and signs and still check for traffic and pedestrians. At a T intersection the driver on the street that ends yields to traffic on the cross street. At an uncontrolled intersection, or one whose signal is out, treat it as a four-way stop: stop fully, go when clear, and when two vehicles arrive at about the same time the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right.

Pedestrians

Yield to pedestrians in any marked or unmarked crosswalk, and keep yielding to pedestrians and vehicles in the intersection after the light turns green. You must come to a complete stop at any school crossing occupied by a person. You may not pass a vehicle stopped for a pedestrian, even with a clear lane or a green light. As a pedestrian, use crosswalks or intersections, make eye contact, look before stepping out and give drivers time to react, avoid phones and headphones, cross in a lit spot at night, and obey signs and signals. Entering the road from an alley or driveway, stop before the sidewalk and yield to pedestrians and approaching vehicles.

Left turns, U-turns and red lights

Turning left, yield to every oncoming vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian. U-turns are permitted when safe, when they do not interfere with traffic, and where no sign prohibits them, after yielding to approaching traffic. Running a red light or another civil violation may qualify you for the Arizona Supreme Court's Defensive Driving Program, but a red-light conviction requires Traffic Survival School; MVD must order it for every red-light conviction, and failing to complete it means an indefinite suspension. Causing a crash with life-threatening injuries by running a red light can bring a fine up to $500 and a 3-month suspension plus community service; causing a death, up to $1,000 and 6 months.

Emergency vehicles and the Move Over law

When a police car, fire engine, ambulance or other emergency vehicle approaches with siren, lights or other warning, move to the right and stop until it passes. On a four-lane highway with at least two lanes in its direction, proceed with due caution and yield by changing into a lane not adjacent to the emergency vehicle, or slow down if you cannot. Stay at least 500 feet behind a fire department vehicle and 300 feet behind a police vehicle responding to an emergency, and do not drive or park within the block where it has stopped. The Move Over law (ARS 28-775) requires moving over one lane when passing any vehicle stopped with flashing lights on the side of any road or highway, including emergency, law-enforcement, tow, highway maintenance and private vehicles, on freeways, multilane highways and city streets; if moving over is not safe or possible, slow down and use caution. Yield to any vehicle in a funeral procession led by an escort vehicle flashing a red or blue light.

School buses

When a school bus is loading or unloading with its alternating flashing lights and mechanical stop-sign arm out, stop completely before reaching the bus regardless of your direction, and stay stopped until the bus moves on or the arm and lights are withdrawn; watch for children crossing in front of or behind it. You need not stop when traveling the opposite direction on a divided roadway, one separated by a physical barrier such as a fence, curbing or a gap in the pavement; striping alone is not a division. Exercise extreme care near any stopped bus, since a child may dart from either end.

Turning

Turning rules apply everywhere, including driveways and alleys: signal, slow, turn smoothly, and check for pedestrians, mopeds and bicycles. Signs and markings show where turns may be made from more than one lane or are prohibited. For a right turn, stay close to the right curb and do not swing wide. Right on red requires a complete stop before the marked or unmarked crosswalk, a check for "No Turn On Red" signs, and yielding to pedestrians, bicyclists and traffic; turn into the right lane unless signs direct otherwise. For a left turn on a two-way road, approach in the lane just right of the center line, turn just left of the intersection's center and enter the lane just right of the center line; where a left-turn lane is marked, use only that lane. From a one-way road to a one-way road, approach in the lane nearest the left curb and turn into the far left lane; this is the only left turn allowed on red, after stopping and yielding, unless a sign prohibits it. From a two-way road to a one-way road, approach just right of the center line and turn into the far left lane. From a one-way road to a two-way road, approach by the left curb and turn into the lane just right of the center line; this turn may not be made on red. A two-way left turn lane in the center, bordered on each side by a broken inner and solid outer yellow line, is only for vehicles turning left in either direction: signal, move completely into it, watch for others using it, and never use it for passing, through traffic or accelerating to merge.

METRO light rail

METRO light rail runs on Valley streets in Maricopa County in its own trackway behind six-inch curbs, crossing traffic only at controlled locations with special signals and warning signs. Cars cross the tracks only from designated, signal-controlled turn lanes; U-turns are permitted at almost all light-rail intersections so vehicles can cross the tracks, with left and U-turns signal-controlled. Never stop or park a car or bike on the tracks, stop on red (a red arrow means do not turn), look both ways before crossing, and never drive or ride in the train's area. Trains are quiet, so watch for the electronic Train Approaching signs at every intersection and listen for bells and horns; both ends of a train are identical, with white headlights approaching and red taillights departing. Pedestrians cross only at crosswalks, and children should stop, look and listen, walk bikes and skateboards through crosswalks, and never play near the tracks or overhead power lines.

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