Who goes first?
Priority to the right: a car approaches from your right
You want to go straight. A red car approaches from your right. Who goes first?
The starting situation
You approach an ordinary road junction from the south and want to go straight. The red car approaches from the east and also goes straight. No police officer, traffic lights or priority signs control the junction. Neither approach is a special entry, such as a driveway or a lowered kerb.
The answer
The red car goes first. It approaches from your right, so you give way to it.
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How to explain the order
- Check what controls the junction. Here, there are no police directions, traffic lights or priority signs to establish a different order.
- Locate the other car from your own driving position. It approaches on your right.
- Under § 8(1) StVO, priority to the right applies here. Wait for the red car to pass and for your path to be clear.
What changes the answer?
If that car enters over a lowered kerb instead, check the entry duties in § 10 StVO. Being on your right alone would not give it priority in that different situation.
A reasoning trap
“I am going straight, so I go first” does not solve this case. Both cars go straight; the approach from the right determines the order.
Sources & editorial check
Smarvia Studio editorial team · sources checked on 9 November 2026. These German StVO learning examples supplement driving-school instruction and complete current theory-test materials.
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