Who goes first — a right-turner or oncoming straight traffic?

The right-turning car gives way. A right turn crosses oncoming lanes, so it must let oncoming straight or left-turning traffic go first.

Must I always stop at a Give Way sign?

No. Give Way means slow and yield, stopping only if there's no safe gap; only STOP requires a complete stop.

ACT Give Way Rules Explained

'Who gives way to whom' is the heart of ACT intersection diagram questions. To give way means to stop if needed and let the other party go first to avoid a crash. Here are the most-tested situations.

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When the law says you must give way

On the terminating road of a T-junction — give way to the continuing road.
At an unsignalised intersection — give way to your right.
Facing a GIVE WAY or STOP sign — give way to traffic on both sides.
Vehicles already on a roundabout.
When turning right — to oncoming straight or left-turning traffic.
Leaving a car park/driveway, pulling out from the kerb, before a U-turn — to all traffic and pedestrians.

T-junction diagram: the red car with a Give Way sign turning right must give way to the blue car on the main road. — The red car (Give Way sign) turning right must give way to the blue car on the through road.© Australian Capital Territory

Why right turns give way to the most

A right turn crosses oncoming lanes, so it gives way to: traffic on the right, oncoming straight/left-turning traffic, and pedestrians crossing the road you enter. The red-car-turning-right diagram is the most common test image.

Intersection diagram: car B turning right gives way to oncoming car A going straight. — The right-turning car B must give way to oncoming car A going straight.© Australian Capital Territory

Stop vs Give Way

STOP: come to a complete stop, then proceed when safe.
GIVE WAY: no need to stop, but slow and be ready to give way; stop if there's no safe gap.
On a divided road with a median, a Stop/Give Way sign applies to the whole intersection.

Decision process for diagrams

1. Any sign/lights? The car with Stop/Give Way gives way.
2. No sign → identify the type: T-junction (terminating/continuing) or cross road (give way right).
3. Check the turn: right turns give way to the most.
4. Always give way to crossing pedestrians first.
5. Unsure → give way to all.

FAQ

Who goes first — a right-turner or oncoming straight traffic?: The right-turning car gives way. A right turn crosses oncoming lanes, so it must let oncoming straight or left-turning traffic go first.
Must I always stop at a Give Way sign?: No. Give Way means slow and yield, stopping only if there's no safe gap; only STOP requires a complete stop.

Related guides

Text adapted from the ACT Road Rules Handbook; diagrams © Australian Capital Territory, from the ACT Road Rules Handbook, used for study reference only. Passmate is an independent study tool, not an official or affiliated ACT Government product.