Theory Mastery

Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

What the exam asks here: Many learners think: 'I'm already waiting, so I go first.' Others only remember 'right-turn wins' and then apply it to every turning situation — even where it doesn't hold.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 12 questions

The trap

Many learners think: A right-turning driver always has priority and may always go first, even over straight-ahead traffic or pedestrians.

The rule is: This rule applies exclusively between two drivers turning towards each other at the same junction. Straight-ahead traffic and pedestrians always go before turning traffic, including right-turning traffic

Challenge

Many learners think: 'I'm already waiting, so I go first.' Others only remember 'right-turn wins' and then apply it to every turning situation — even where it doesn't hold. This rule is narrower than it sounds.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

The model

A driver turning left gives way to the oncoming driver who turns right at the same junction (Book p.111). As soon as that oncoming driver goes straight ahead instead, it is not this rule but the ordinary turning rule from p.110 that applies.

Read this section on its own page: The model: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Core

This rule is a narrow addition to the ordinary turning duty: it only resolves the case where BOTH drivers turn at the same junction at the same time, one to the right and the other, oncoming, to the left. Within that one case, the right-turner always wins, regardless of who was waiting first. As soon as the oncoming driver is not turning but going straight ahead, this is no longer 'right-turn before left-turn' — then the ordinary turning rule from p.110 simply applies: the left-turner gives way to the straight-ahead traffic. The rule applies to 'drivers' in general: an oncoming cyclist or moped rider turning right also goes before the left-turning car.

Read this section on its own page: Core: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Why it matters

A wrong reading of this rule leads to exactly the kind of crash that is most common at a junction: two drivers who both think they may go, while their paths cross right at the centre of the junction.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Active recall

At a junction in Delfzijl you want to turn left. An oncoming driver goes straight ahead (not turning). What do you do?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Teach back

Explain: exactly when does 'right-turn before left-turn' apply, and which rule applies instead if the oncoming driver goes straight ahead?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Memory hook

Two turners, same junction: right-turn wins. If the other goes straight ahead, the ordinary turning rule simply applies.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn

Source: RVV 1990 art. 18 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Right-turn before left-turn: when does the rule apply or not?Oncoming driver turns rightOncoming driver goes straight aheadWhich rule appliesright-turn-before-left-turn (Book p.111)ordinary turning rule (Book p.110)Who goes firstthe right-turnerthe straight-ahead oncoming driver
What to look at: Right-turning oncoming traffic goes before a left turn — but only when that driver is actually turning, not going straight ahead.

Signs and law

Test yourself

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

Show the answer

A driver turning left gives way to the oncoming driver who turns right at the same junction (Book p.111). As soon as that oncoming driver goes straight ahead instead, it is not this rule but the ordinary turning rule from p.110 that applies.

Exam questions on this topic

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

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)
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

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
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

At a junction in Capelle aan den IJssel two drivers wait facing each other: you want to turn left, the other wants to turn right. Further along, a pedestrian is crossing the pedestrian crossing, in the direction the right-turner will pass. Statement: because right-turn wins over left-turn here, the right-turner also goes before that pedestrian.

  1. True
  2. False
Show the answer

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.

Open this question

About Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn: which statement is WRONG?

  1. This rule only applies if the oncoming driver is ALSO turning (right).
  2. The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time.
  3. This rule applies exclusively between two drivers turning towards each other at the same junction.
  4. A cyclist turning right while oncoming does not need to be given way to by the left-turning car — the rule only applies between cars.
Show the answer

Correct answer: A cyclist turning right while oncoming does not need to be given way to by the left-turning car — the rule only applies between cars.

The text speaks of 'drivers' in general, without distinguishing by vehicle type. An oncoming cyclist or moped rider turning right still goes before the left-turning car

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.

Open this question

The text speaks of 'drivers' in general, without distinguishing by vehicle type.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The text speaks of 'drivers' in general, without distinguishing by vehicle type. An oncoming cyclist or moped rider turning right still goes before the left-turning car

Why learners get this wrong: A cyclist turning right while oncoming does not need to be given way to by the left-turning car — the rule only applies between cars.

Open this question

About Turning: right turn goes before oncoming left turn: which statement is correct?

  1. The 'right-turn before left-turn' rule applies to every oncoming driver, even one who is not turning but going straight ahead.
  2. The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time.
  3. A right-turning driver always has priority and may always go first, even over straight-ahead traffic or pedestrians.
  4. A cyclist turning right while oncoming does not need to be given way to by the left-turning car — the rule only applies between cars.
Show the answer

Correct answer: The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time.

The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time

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.

Open this question

The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time

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.

Open this question

All practice questions of this topic

Frequently asked questions

‘A right-turning driver always has priority and may always go first, even over straight-ahead traffic or pedestrians’ – is that true?

No. This rule applies exclusively between two drivers turning towards each other at the same junction. Straight-ahead traffic and pedestrians always go before turning traffic, including right-turning traffic

‘As a left-turning driver who is already waiting, I may go first before the oncoming right-turning driver starts moving’ – is that true?

No. The rule is not about who stood still first, but about which way each driver turns: the right-turner goes before the left-turner, regardless of waiting time

‘The 'right-turn before left-turn' rule applies to every oncoming driver, even one who is not turning but going straight ahead’ – is that true?

No. This rule only applies if the oncoming driver is ALSO turning (right). If that driver goes straight ahead, the ordinary turning rule applies instead: the left-turner gives way to the straight-ahead oncoming traffic

‘A cyclist turning right while oncoming does not need to be given way to by the left-turning car — the rule only applies between cars’ – is that true?

No. The text speaks of 'drivers' in general, without distinguishing by vehicle type. An oncoming cyclist or moped rider turning right still goes before the left-turning car

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