KSA Driving Theory Practice

Right-of-Way Rules in Saudi Arabia

Right-of-way (priority) rules decide who goes first when two road users want the same space. Signs, traffic lights and traffic officers come first; where none of them control an intersection, the priority rules below apply. Each rule is taken from a practice question, with its handbook page.

Practise right-of-way questions →

Key rules

SituationRule
Where do the priority (right-of-way) rules apply?At intersections not controlled by traffic lights or a traffic officer (Handbook p. 131)
Emergency vehicles performing their duties:Always have priority; clear the way for them as soon as possible (Handbook p. 132)
At an intersection of equal roads (no road has priority), which TWO rules decide who goes first?The vehicle closest to the intersection, then right before left (Handbook p. 133)
Two vehicles approach an equal intersection but NOT at the same time. Who has priority?The vehicle that is closest to the intersection (Handbook p. 134)
Two vehicles approach an intersection of equal roads at the same time. Who has priority?The vehicle coming from the right (Handbook p. 135)
You are closest to the intersection and have priority. What must you still do?Monitor traffic and not stop or change direction in a way that causes an accident (Handbook p. 134)
You want to turn left at an equal intersection, and a car is approaching from the opposite direction going straight. What should you do?Let the oncoming car pass first, then turn (Handbook p. 136)
Two vehicles move in parallel in the same direction. One wants to change direction across the other's path. Who has priority?The vehicle going straight (Handbook p. 137)
What is the difference between a STOP sign and a give-way sign?At STOP you must always stop completely; at give way you stop only if necessary (Handbook p. 129)
How long does the handbook recommend stopping at a STOP sign?About 3 seconds (Handbook p. 129)
Not giving priority to vehicles inside a roundabout is a violation. What is the basic roundabout rule in the handbook?Drivers approaching the roundabout give way to vehicles travelling around it (Handbook p. 149)
Who has priority: a driver on the highway, or a driver coming from a secondary road?The driver on the highway (Handbook p. 142)
You are driving on the highway and a vehicle is joining from a secondary road. What does the handbook expect of you?Give the joining driver an opportunity to enter (Handbook p. 143)
Which statement about highways and service roads is correct?A vehicle leaving the highway for the service road has priority over vehicles on the service road (Handbook p. 146)
On a partially closed two-way road, two drivers meet. Who has priority?The driver whose side of the road ahead (on the right) is open (Handbook p. 139)
You have priority, but another driver is clearly unable to follow the priority rules. What is recommended?Make eye contact and give up your right of way if that helps avoid an accident (Handbook p. 154)

Scenarios with diagrams (26)

Priority VehiclesYou (car 1) hear a siren and see an ambulance with flashing lights behind you. What should you do?

Straight road: blue car 1 driving ahead, a white ambulance with flashing lights close behind it
  1. AMove to the left so it passes on your right
  2. BAccelerate to stay ahead of it
  3. CStop immediately in the middle of the lane
  4. DKeep or move to the right side of the road to let it pass (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Drivers must stay on the right side of the road and make way when an emergency vehicle approaches.Source: Handbook p. 78 · View in topic

Priority VehiclesYou are the blue car. The school bus ahead has stopped and students are getting off. What must you do?

Straight road: yellow school bus marked S stopped ahead with schoolchildren beside it; blue car approaches from behind
  1. AOvertake only if no students are on the road
  2. BStop and wait; do not overtake the bus (correct answer)
  3. COvertake it carefully in the left lane
  4. DSound the horn and pass

Correct answer: B. Other vehicles must stop and are prohibited from overtaking school buses when they stop to load or unload students.Source: Handbook p. 79 · View in topic

Priority RulesAn ambulance (2) on an emergency call and car 1 reach an intersection without signs at the same time. Who goes first?

Crossroads: car 1 from the south going straight, ambulance 2 from the west going east
  1. ACar 1, because it comes from the ambulance's right
  2. BThe ambulance (2) (correct answer)
  3. CCar 1, because it is going straight
  4. DNeither; both must wait for a traffic officer

Correct answer: B. Car 1 is on the ambulance's right, but emergency vehicles on duty always have priority.Source: Handbook p. 132 · View in topic

Priority RulesCar 1 is just entering the intersection; car 2 is still far away. There are no signs or lights. Who has priority?

Intersection without signs: car 1 from the south just entering, heading straight; car 2 from the east far away, heading west
  1. ANeither; both must stop
  2. BCar 2, because it comes from the right
  3. CCar 1, because it is closest and enters first (correct answer)
  4. DCar 2, because it is going straight

Correct answer: C. When vehicles do not arrive at the same time, the vehicle closest to the intersection (entering first) has priority.Source: Handbook p. 134 · View in topic

Priority RulesCar 1 has reached the intersection; car 2 (on car 1's right) is still far away. There are no signs or lights. Who has priority?

Intersection: car 1 from the north heading south, car 2 far away to the west heading east; no signs or lights
  1. AThe car that sounds its horn first
  2. BCar 1, because it is closest to the intersection (correct answer)
  3. CCar 2, because it comes from the right
  4. DCar 2, because it is faster

Correct answer: B. Right-before-left only applies when vehicles arrive at the same time. Here car 1 is clearly closer, so it enters first.Source: Handbook p. 134 · View in topic

Priority RulesBoth cars reach this equal intersection at the same time. Who has priority?

Crossroads: car 1 from the east going west, car 2 from the south going north
  1. AWhichever is faster
  2. BCar 1 (correct answer)
  3. CCar 2
  4. DNeither; both must reverse

Correct answer: B. Car 1 approaches from car 2's right, so car 1 has priority (right before left).Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesBoth cars reach this equal intersection at the same time. Who has priority?

Equal crossroads: car 1 enters from the west going straight, car 2 enters from the south, no signs
  1. AWhichever is faster
  2. BCar 2 (correct answer)
  3. CNeither; both must wait
  4. DCar 1

Correct answer: B. Car 2 approaches from car 1's right, so car 2 has priority.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesBoth cars reach this equal intersection at the same time. Who has priority?

Intersection: car 1 from the north heading south, car 2 from the west heading east, both going straight
  1. ACar 1, because it comes from the north
  2. BNeither; both must wait for a traffic officer
  3. CCar 2 (correct answer)
  4. DCar 1

Correct answer: C. Car 1 is heading south, so its right side is the west. Car 2 comes from the west, i.e. from car 1's right, so car 2 goes first.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesBoth cars reach this equal intersection at the same time. Who has priority?

Equal intersection: car 1 from the north heading south, car 2 from the east heading west, arriving at the same time
  1. ANeither; both must wait
  2. BWhichever is faster
  3. CCar 1 (correct answer)
  4. DCar 2

Correct answer: C. Car 2 is heading west, so its right side is the north, where car 1 comes from. Car 1 is on car 2's right and goes first.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesBoth cars arrive at the same time. Car 2 turns right; car 1 goes straight. Who has priority?

Intersection: car 1 from the west going straight east; car 2 from the south turning right onto the same eastbound road
  1. ACar 2, because it comes from car 1's right (correct answer)
  2. BCar 1, because it is going straight
  3. CCar 1, because car 2 is turning
  4. DBoth may drive at the same time

Correct answer: A. What matters is the direction a vehicle approaches from, not where it is heading. Car 2 approaches from car 1's right.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesAll three cars reach this equal intersection at the same time and go straight. In what order do they pass?

Equal crossroads: car 1 from the south, car 2 from the east, car 3 from the west, all going straight
  1. A2, then 1, then 3 (correct answer)
  2. B2, then 3, then 1
  3. C1, then 2, then 3
  4. D3, then 1, then 2

Correct answer: A. Car 2 has no one on its right, so it goes first. Then car 1 (car 2 was on its right). Car 3 has car 1 on its right, so it goes last.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesAll three cars reach this equal intersection at the same time and go straight. In what order do they pass?

Crossroads: car 1 from the north, car 2 from the west, car 3 from the east, all going straight
  1. A1, then 3, then 2
  2. B3, then 2, then 1
  3. C1, then 2, then 3
  4. D2, then 1, then 3 (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Car 2 (from the west) has nobody on its right (south), so it goes first. Car 1 has car 2 on its right, so it goes next. Car 3 has car 1 on its right, so it goes last.Source: Handbook p. 135 · View in topic

Priority RulesCar 1 wants to turn left; car 2 comes from the opposite direction and goes straight. Who goes first?

Crossroads: car 1 from the east turning left toward the south; car 2 from the west going straight
  1. ACar 1, because it arrived first
  2. BCar 1, because turning vehicles have priority
  3. CBoth at the same time
  4. DCar 2, because it is going straight (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. A vehicle going straight has priority over an oncoming vehicle turning left.Source: Handbook p. 136 · View in topic

Priority RulesCar 1 wants to turn left; car 2 comes from the opposite direction and goes straight. Who goes first?

Crossroads: car 1 from the south turns left; car 2 from the north comes straight on, opposite
  1. ACar 1
  2. BThe faster car
  3. CNeither; both must wait
  4. DCar 2 (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. The oncoming car going straight (car 2) has priority over the car turning left (car 1).Source: Handbook p. 136 · View in topic

Priority RulesCars A and B drive in the same direction. A wants to turn right into the side road while B continues straight. Who has priority?

Wide road with a side road north: car A in the outer lane will turn right into it; car B in the inner lane goes straight
  1. AA, because it signalled
  2. BWhichever is ahead
  3. CB, because it is going straight (correct answer)
  4. DA, because it is turning right

Correct answer: C. For vehicles moving in parallel, the driver going straight has priority over the driver who wants to change direction.Source: Handbook p. 137 · View in topic

Priority RulesCar A wants to move into the lane where car C is driving straight. Who has priority?

Two-lane road: car C drives straight in the lower lane, car A in the upper lane moves into C's lane, car B is ahead of A
  1. ACar A
  2. BCar C (correct answer)
  3. CWhichever is faster
  4. DCar B

Correct answer: B. The driver going straight ahead (C) has priority over the driver changing lane/direction (A).Source: Handbook p. 138 · View in topic

Priority RulesRoad works close part of this two-way road. Cars A and B meet at the obstacle. Who has priority?

Road works block one lane of a two-way road; car A (west-bound) swerves around, car B (east-bound) goes straight
  1. AA, because it arrived at the obstacle first
  2. BB, because the road ahead on its side is open (correct answer)
  3. CA, because it is bigger
  4. DBoth may pass at the same time

Correct answer: B. On a partially closed road, priority goes to the driver whose road ahead is open on the right side. The obstacle is in A's lane, so A must wait.Source: Handbook p. 139 · View in topic

Priority RulesThe obstacle is in car 1's lane. Car 2 comes from the opposite direction. What is correct?

Road partly blocked by an obstacle with cones in car 1 lane; car 2 approaches from the opposite direction
  1. ACar 2 goes first; then car 1 may use the left side to pass the obstacle (correct answer)
  2. BBoth cars must wait for a traffic officer
  3. CCar 1 must turn around
  4. DCar 1 goes first because it must change lanes

Correct answer: A. The driver whose side is open (car 2) has priority. Car 1 may use the left side of the road once it is clear.Source: Handbook p. 139 · View in topic

Highway PriorityCar 1 is leaving a secondary road and wants to turn onto the highway. Car 2 is on the highway. Who has priority?

T-junction: car 1 on the secondary road from the north turning onto the highway; car 2 on the highway heading west
  1. ACar 2, because it is on the highway (correct answer)
  2. BCar 1, because car 2 approaches from car 1's left
  3. CCar 1, because it reached the junction first
  4. DNeither; both must stop

Correct answer: A. The driver on the highway has the right of way over a driver coming from a secondary road. The right-before-left rule only applies between equal roads.Source: Handbook p. 142 · View in topic

Highway PriorityCar 1 is on the entry ramp joining the highway; car 2 is in the highway's right lane. What must car 1 do?

Highway with an entry ramp: car 1 on the ramp joining; car 2 in the right lane of the highway, another car in the left lane
  1. ASound the horn to warn car 2
  2. BMake sure the road is clear and give way to car 2 (correct answer)
  3. CStop at the end of the ramp in all cases, even if the road is clear
  4. DEnter immediately; car 2 must brake

Correct answer: B. When entering from a secondary road, the driver must ensure the road is clear and give way to vehicles on the highway.Source: Handbook p. 143 · View in topic

Highway PriorityCar 1 is joining the highway from the ramp. Car 2 moves to the left lane to make space for it. How does the handbook describe car 2's behaviour?

Highway with entry ramp: car 1 merging from ramp, car 2 moving to the left lane, another car ahead
  1. AA violation, because car 2 had priority
  2. BCorrect cooperative behaviour (correct answer)
  3. CDangerous, because changing lanes is forbidden on highways
  4. DUnnecessary, because car 1 has priority

Correct answer: B. The driver on the highway must give the driver coming from the secondary road an opportunity to enter - this is correct cooperative behaviour.Source: Handbook p. 144 · View in topic

Highway PriorityCar 1 is leaving the highway for the service road. Car 2 is already driving on the service road. Who has priority?

One-way highway with an exit ramp to a service road below; car 1 leaves along the ramp, car 2 is on the service road
  1. AWhoever is driving faster
  2. BCar 2, because it is on the left
  3. CCar 2, because it is already on the service road
  4. DCar 1, coming from the highway (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. Traffic priority is given to vehicles leaving the highway to the service road.Source: Handbook p. 146 · View in topic

RoundaboutsCar 1 wants to enter the roundabout. Car 2 is already driving around it. Who has priority?

Roundabout: car 1 enters from the south; car 2 is already circulating on the lower left of the ring
  1. AWhichever car is faster
  2. BCar 1, because it is on car 2's right
  3. CCar 2, because it is already in the roundabout (correct answer)
  4. DCar 1, because it is going straight

Correct answer: C. A driver approaching a roundabout must give way to vehicles travelling around it.Source: Handbook p. 149 · View in topic

RoundaboutsYou (car 1) are inside the roundabout. Car 2 is waiting at the entry. What happens?

Roundabout: car 1 is already circulating inside; car 2 waits at the south entry
  1. ACar 2 has priority because it is on your right
  2. BYou must stop and let car 2 enter
  3. CYou continue; car 2 must give way to you (correct answer)
  4. DBoth cars must stop and make eye contact

Correct answer: C. Vehicles already circulating have priority; entering drivers must give way.Source: Handbook p. 149 · View in topic

RoundaboutsCar 1 is waiting at the roundabout entry. Car 2 is driving around the roundabout towards that entry. What should car 1 do?

Roundabout: car 1 waits at the east entry; car 2 is circulating on the roundabout, south-east of the entry; give-way sign
  1. AWait and let car 2 pass before entering (correct answer)
  2. BEnter, because car 2 must give way to entering cars
  3. CEnter quickly before car 2 arrives
  4. DSound the horn so car 2 stops

Correct answer: A. Entering drivers must give way to vehicles travelling around the roundabout.Source: Handbook p. 149 · View in topic

Intersection ConductYour light (car 1) is green, but traffic beyond the intersection is jammed and there is no space to clear it. What should you do?

Intersection: car 1 from the south facing a green light; a jam of grey cars fills the road beyond the junction
  1. ATurn on hazard lights and enter slowly
  2. BEnter, because the light is green
  3. CEnter and stop in the middle of the intersection
  4. DWait before the intersection until there is room to clear it (correct answer)

Correct answer: D. If you cannot cross, stop before the intersection even with a green light; if you might get stuck, don't enter at all.Source: Handbook p. 153 · View in topic

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