Right of Way Laws in Massachusetts

Driving can be dangerous, and so it is governed by right of way laws. These laws dictate how drivers are meant to behave when operating a motor vehicle. Right of way laws prevent accidents, and by following them you can lower the risk of a lawsuit in which you are liable.

At Crosswalks

When pedestrians and vehicles mix, there is always a risk of accidents occuring. Nowhere is this more prevalent than at crosswalks. For this reason, there are a number of right of way laws surrounding them. These include:

• Right of Way: Vehicles must always yield to pedestrians who are waiting to cross at a marked crosswalk. 
  • Pedestrian Signals: When pedestrian signals are present, then pedestrians must yield to vehicles until the signal indicates it is safe to cross. 
• No Passing: Vehicles must not pass other vehicles that have stopped to allow a pedestrian to cross at a crosswalk. 
• No Entry: Vehicles must not enter a crosswalk when a pedestrian is using it. 
• No Sudden Departure: Pedestrians must not suddenly leave a sidewalk or island and enter the path of a vehicle.

When everyone knows and follows these rules, both drivers and pedestrians are much safer and less likely to be involved in an accident.

Turning Left

It may surprise you to learn that left turns are actually quite dangerous. This is because a left turn requires the driver to cross the opposite lane of traffic. An improperly negotiated left turn can easily lead to a car crash lawsuit. When making a left turn in Massachusetts, the driver is required to activate their turn signal, indicating that they plan to turn left. They must also yield to oncoming traffic, waiting to make their left turn until it is safe to do so. The only exception to this rule is if there is a traffic signal specifically for left turns. This will take the form of an arrow pointing left. When this light is green, a driver making a left turn has the right of way. Regardless of if there is a turn signal present or not, drivers must always make a left turn from the lane closest to the center line or a lane specifically marked for left turns. 

Emergency Vehicles

In Massachusetts, emergency vehicles always have the right of way when their lights or sirens are active. This includes ambulances, fire trucks, and police cruisers. As a driver you are expected to pull over to the side of the road to allow any active emergency vehicle to safely pass. Drivers are also not allowed to drive within 300 feet of an active emergency vehicle, so you cannot begin driving again until the vehicle has passed and is 300 feet away. Furthermore, Massachusetts has a move over law, requiring drivers to proceed with caution and take appropriate measures to ensure the safety of emergency personnel and workers on the roadside. “Proceeding with caution” means lowering your speed and moving over a lane if the road has multiple lanes. 

School Buses

The laws surrounding school buses are intended to keep children safe. These laws include:

• Stop for Flashing Red Lights: When a school bus has its flashing red lights on and its stop sign extended, all vehicles must come to a complete stop, regardless of which side of the road they are traveling. This is to allow children using the bus to safely cross the road. 

• Flashing Yellow Lights: When a school bus has its yellow lights flashing, drivers must slow down and be prepared to stop. These yellow lights always precede a full stop and the extension of the stop sign.

• Stay 100 Feet Back: Drivers must stay 100 feet away from a school bus when driving behind one. For this reason, all school buses in Massachusetts have the words “keep back 100 feet” displayed on the back. 

If you fail to follow any of these laws and an accident occurs, you will likely be found liable for all resulting damages. 

Bicycles

Bicycles must follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles in Massachusetts, with some small exceptions. First, bicycles may use bike lanes when they are present. Second, they may ride on sidewalks outside of business districts, unless local laws at the town or city level prohibit it. Third, bicycles are prohibited from riding on highways. Other than these exceptions, bicycle riders must follow the same right of way laws as everyone else.

Motorcycles

Motorcycles must follow the same right of way laws as other motor vehicles. While some states have lane splitting, allowing motorcycles to ride in between lanes of traffic, this is not the case in Massachusetts. While motorcyclists must follow the same rules of the road, motorcycle crashes tend to cause more injury than car crashes, and so motorcyclists should exercise extra caution. 

Intersection Without Stop Signs

When you find yourself at an intersection without stop signs, the first thing you should do is check for traffic lights. If these are also not present, then there is a set of right of way laws you must follow. These include yielding to the right, yielding when turning left, yielding when entering a rotary, and coming to a complete stop and yielding if you are exiting a side street. By following these rules you can successfully navigate an intersection without stop signs. 

Intersection Without Traffic Lights

If there are no traffic lights at any intersection, then first check for stop signs. If there are stop signs then follow normal traffic rules regarding stop signs. If stop signs are also absent, then you follow the same right of way laws outlined in the previous section. Should you find yourself in an accident even though you followed the rules, follow our guide for what you should do immediately after an accident. 

Do Pedestrians Have Right of Way in MA?

While learning to drive, most people are told “pedestrians always have the right of way”. While thinking like this is a good way to avoid striking someone with your vehicle, it is not necessarily true. You do have to yield to pedestrians at crosswalks, unless there is a signal light. In these cases, you only have to yield when the lights indicate so. Crossing outside of crosswalks is considered jaywalking in Massachusetts, which is illegal. You do not have to yield to a pedestrian waiting to cross the road outside of a crosswalk. However, doing so is seen as courteous. In any case, you should always do your best to avoid striking pedestrians with your vehicle. Hitting a pedestrian with your vehicle will likely involve a legal case, even if they were not in a crosswalk. 

 

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