Theory Mastery

RVV art. 18: turning traffic gives way

RVV art. 18: a driver who turns gives way to traffic on the same road that is approaching from the opposite direction or is beside or close behind them — including cyclists and pedestrians going straight on. The rule covers not only oncoming traffic but also traffic beside and just behind you.

Source: RVV 1990 art. 18 · checked 2026-10-23

How the exam asks it

At a junction in Gouda you want to turn left. An oncoming driver wants to turn right, at the same junction. Who goes first?

  1. The right-turning driver
  2. Me, because I was already waiting to turn first
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Correct answer: The right-turning driver

Why learners get this wrong: As a left-turning driver who is already waiting, I may go first before the oncoming right-turning driver starts moving.

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At a junction in Enschede you want to turn left. Because right-turn always wins over left-turn, you as the left-turner may also always go before a cyclist going straight ahead. True or false?

  1. True
  2. False
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Correct answer: False

Why learners get this wrong: A right-turning driver always has priority and may always go first, even over straight-ahead traffic or pedestrians.

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At a junction in Dordrecht you want to turn left. The oncoming driver does not indicate and drives straight ahead. You think: 'right-turn-before-left-turn, so that rule decides who goes first here.' Is that correct?

  1. No — that driver is not turning, so the ordinary turning rule applies: I give way to the straight-ahead traffic
  2. Yes — 'right-turn before left-turn' applies to every oncoming driver, turning or not
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Correct answer: No — that driver is not turning, so the ordinary turning rule applies: I give way to the straight-ahead traffic

Why learners get this wrong: The 'right-turn before left-turn' rule applies to every oncoming driver, even one who is not turning but going straight ahead.

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Which conditions must all be true for the 'right-turn before left-turn' rule (Book p.111) to apply? Select all that apply.

  1. Both drivers face each other at the same junction
  2. The left-turner was the first to stand still and wait
  3. One driver turns right, the other turns left
  4. Both drivers are actually turning (neither goes straight ahead)
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Correct answer: Both drivers face each other at the same junction; One driver turns right, the other turns left; Both drivers are actually turning (neither goes straight ahead)

Why learners get this wrong: As a left-turning driver who is already waiting, I may go first before the oncoming right-turning driver starts moving.

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At a junction in Voorburg you want to turn left in your car. You have been waiting for a while in the middle of the junction. An oncoming moped rider turns right at the same junction. What do you do?

  1. You let the moped rider turn right first and go afterwards
  2. You go first, because you had been waiting here longer
  3. You go first, because this rule only applies between two cars
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Correct answer: You let the moped rider turn right first and go afterwards

False — You think the rule only applies to cars. Whoever turns left lets an oncoming driver who turns right at the same junction go first; that applies to every driver, a moped rider too

Why learners get this wrong: As a left-turning driver who is already waiting, I may go first before the oncoming right-turning driver starts moving.

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