Home › Textbook › Intersections: Complete Guide

Intersections: Complete Guide

An intersection is a place where roads cross or join. Important: exits from field roads, forest roads or purpose roads are NOT considered intersections – when entering from such places, always give way to all vehicles on the road.

A driver must not enter an intersection if traffic conditions would force them to stop inside it.

Exceptions (stopping inside intersection permitted):

• Stopping to allow pedestrians to cross
• Waiting inside when turning left and giving way to oncoming traffic

Hierarchy of traffic control (highest priority first):

1. Police officer / authorised person instructions 2. Traffic lights 3. Temporary traffic regulation (portable signs) 4. Permanent traffic signs / lights 5. General traffic rules (law)

Explanation

General rule – right-hand priority

At intersections without lights or signs: give way to vehicles approaching from the right. Also applies to:

• Organised groups of pedestrians
• Handlers of driven animals

Turning rules (general regulation)

*Turning left:* Give way to:

• Oncoming vehicles (motorised and non-motorised)
• Riders on animals
• Trams in both directions !!!
• Cyclists in cycle lane
• Buses in bus lane

Oncoming vehicles both turning left pass each other on the left (left side to left side).

*Turning right:* Give way to:

• Vehicles in reserved lanes (bus, taxi)
• Cyclists in cycle lane
• Tram if passing on left is permitted

Local regulation – main and side roads

Main road: P1 (outside built-up area) or P2 (inside). Side road: P4 (Give way) or P6 (Stop, give way).

Driver on the side road must give way to everything on the main road.

Roundabout

Marked C1. With P4 or P6: entering vehicles give way to circulating traffic. With P2 or traffic lights: priority is reversed – follow the specific sign/signal.

Traffic lights

Traffic lights override priority signs (P1, P2, P4, etc.)!

*Green (S1c):*

• May proceed, but turning rules still apply
• Turning left: give way to oncoming traffic, trams from both directions, pedestrians and cyclists
• Turning right: give way to cyclists, pedestrians, trams

*Green arrow (S2c/S3c):*

• May drive in arrow direction only
• Green arrow left = no need to give way to oncoming traffic

*Supplementary green arrow (S5):*

• Lit together with red or yellow
• Drive in arrow direction only, but must give way to other directions
• Must not endanger pedestrians or cyclists

*Red (S1a):* Stop before the stop line. *Yellow (S1b):* Stop; if safe stopping is no longer possible, continue. *Red + Yellow:* Prepare to move. *Flashing yellow (S7):* Intersection not controlled by lights – general rules apply.

Police officer

Police officer instructions have the highest priority.

• Officer facing you or with back to you = STOP
• Officer sideways = GO (straight or turn, following turning rules)
• Right arm forward + left arm sideways = three-direction control

Summary

• Hierarchy: police > lights > temp.signs > permanent signs > law
• Right-hand priority = general rule without signs
• Trams have right of way when turning left – both directions
• Green light does NOT give unconditional right of way
• Roundabout with P4 = yield to circulating traffic

What the law says

Verbatim text of Act No. 361/2000 Coll., on road traffic, as in force on 1 January 2026. Quoted in Czech — the Czech wording is the binding one.

Check what you remember

Five questions from the official bank. The answer appears only after you choose — try to recall it first, that is what makes learning stick.

1. Question 1 of 5

   Beyond the depicted pair of traffic signs:

   
   The driver will enter the roundabout; they must give way to vehicles already on the roundabout.When a driver enters the motorway, they must use the acceleration lane and give way to vehicles in the main lane.The driver must turn left, giving way to vehicles coming from both directions.

2. Question 2 of 5

   The driver of the vehicle in the view:

   
   Must give way to vehicles travelling on the roundabout and travel in the direction of the arrows shown on the mandatory sign.Has priority over vehicles travelling on the roundabout if giving a direction indicator signal.Must always stop the vehicle at the junction boundary and give way to vehicles travelling on the roundabout.

3. Question 3 of 5

   The driver of the vehicle from the viewpoint:

   
   Has right of way over vehicles on the roundabout.Must give way to vehicles on the roundabout.

4. Question 4 of 5

   The driver of the red vehicle on the roundabout:

   
   Must give way to vehicles entering the roundabout.Has right of way on the roundabout.Must stop and give way to vehicles entering the roundabout.

5. Question 5 of 5

   The driver of the vehicle from the viewpoint at the depicted roundabout:

   
   Has right of way over vehicles on the roundabout.Must give way to vehicles on the roundabout.Must only turn around at this roundabout and go back.