An uncontrolled intersection is a

road intersection An intersection or an at-grade junction is a junction where two or more roads converge, diverge, meet or cross at the same height, as opposed to an interchange, which uses bridges or tunnels to separate different roads. Major intersections a ...

where no

traffic lights Traffic lights, traffic signals, or stoplights – known also as robots in South Africa are signalling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings, and other locations in order to control flows of traffic. Traffic light ...

, road markings or signs are used to indicate the

right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

. They are found in either residential neighborhoods or in rural areas. While the intersection itself is unmarked, warning signs or lights may be present to alert drivers to it.

Uncontrolled T-intersection

At an uncontrolled T-intersection (3-way intersection),

rules differ from country to country. In

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

, the

United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

and most of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

, traffic on the terminating road must give way (yield) to traffic on the continuing road. In

Germany Germany,, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It is the second most populous country in Europe after Russia, and the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany is situated betwe ...

,
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stvo/__8.html - in German -

Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany) The Federal Ministry of Justice (german: Bundesministerium der Justiz, ), abbreviated BMJ, is a German Cabinet, cabinet-level ministry of the Federal Republic of Germany. Under the German federal system, individual States of Germany, States are m ...

- :de:Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung (Deutschland): Vorfahrt - (German) Road Traffic Order:

Right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

- Section 8 - Retrieved on September 20, 2012 traffic generally has to give way to traffic on the right at an uncontrolled intersection, whether it is a 3-way intersection or not.

Uncontrolled 4-way intersection

At uncontrolled 4-way intersections the common rules are * give way to traffic approaching from the passenger's side (i.e. from the right in countries that drive on the right-hand side, rule known as

priority to the right Priority to the right is a right-of-way system, in which the driver of a vehicle is required to give way to vehicles approaching from the right at intersections. The system is stipulated in Article 18.4.a of the Vienna Convention on Road Traffic fo ...

, and vice versa) **however, this may be the opposite depending on the local laws * turning traffic with crossing paths usually gives way to traffic driving straight through in the opposite direction * drivers opposite one another and both turning in their same direction, e.g. both drivers turning to their right (in countries that drive on the right-hand side), do not need to give way to one another as their paths will not cross. Common practice dictates that drivers will treat the intersection as if they have a give way (yield) sign and look both directions for cross-traffic to avoid any accidents with motorists who did not recognize or did not follow the uncontrolled intersection rule.

References

{{Reflist Road infrastructure Road junction types