A guide to right-of-way laws in Illinois

Content

Summary of Illinois Right of Way Laws
Pedestrians
Emergency/repair vehicles
Common Misconceptions About Illinois Right of Way Laws
Penalties for non-compliance

In Illinois, right-of-way laws are designed to ease traffic and keep both motorists and pedestrians safe. When you look at the laws of right of way, you can see that they are based on common sense and courtesy. Therefore, it makes sense to observe them so as not to harm yourself and others.

Summary of Illinois Right of Way Laws

Illinois right-of-way laws can be summarized in this way. The driver must give way to other motorists and pedestrians when:

Turn right at a red light
Stop at a flashing red light or stop sign
At the pedestrian crossing
At a four-way stop, the first vehicle to arrive has priority, followed by the vehicle on the right.
Entrance to an intersection with a flashing arrow
Making a left turn
When approaching the sign of concession

Pedestrians

Drivers must yield to pedestrians if:

Pedestrian is at a marked crosswalk
When they are at an unmarked crosswalk
When there are no traffic lights and they are on the driver's side
Turn at any intersection
Walking signal light visible
The pedestrian is already at the crosswalk, but the “go” signal has changed to “do not go”.
Pedestrian entering the roadway from the side of a building, roadway or private road

Emergency/repair vehicles

If you are approaching a stopped emergency or service vehicle that has signals, you must give way, change lanes, and then proceed with caution.
If an emergency vehicle approaches you with sirens and flashing lights on, you must give way. In this case, if you are at an intersection, drive through and stop.

Common Misconceptions About Illinois Right of Way Laws

Most people understand that giving way to a funeral procession is common courtesy. However, few people know that this is actually required by law. In the state of Illinois, you are specifically prohibited from attempting to use the right-of-way, merge with a funeral procession, or even overtake any cars in the funeral procession. If you break this law, you may be fined and your vehicle may be impounded.

Another common misconception is that you are not required to yield to a pedestrian if the pedestrian is violating traffic rules. The fact is that both motorists and pedestrians can be fined for breaking the law. However, it is best to avoid accidents whenever possible. If you hit a pedestrian who breaks the law, you may not be charged with non-compliance, but you may still face charges of reckless driving.