STOP and Yield Junctions in Ireland
STOP means stop, even on an empty road. Yield means be ready to stop. Most right of way mistakes come from mixing those two up, or assuming you have priority when you don't.
STOP
A STOP sign is the only red octagon on Irish roads. You must stop at the line, even when you can see the road is clear. Rolling through a clear junction is still a failure to stop.
Yield
At a yield sign or yield line you must slow down, and you only need to stop if there's traffic to give way to. If it's clear, keep moving. Stopping for nothing costs you progress.
Who goes first
- On a major road: traffic going straight ahead generally has right of way.
- Roads of equal importance: traffic on your right has right of way.
- At a T-junction: traffic already on the road you're joining goes first.
- Turning right: traffic coming straight through from the opposite direction goes first.
- Turning right when someone opposite turns left into the same road: they go first.
Right of way isn't absolute
Having priority never makes it safe to carry on regardless. You must always proceed with caution, and always yield to pedestrians already crossing at a junction, and to pedestrians and traffic when you move off from a stop.
Practise it
The trainer covers STOP lines, yield junctions and right turns across traffic at real spots such as Ballybeg in Waterford. For a STOP line it also asks you to tap where the car should wait.