Driving Tests

Kentucky Four-Way Stop and Roundabout Rules: Who Goes First

informational·how to guide·Published August 27, 2026

Who goes first at a four-way stop in Kentucky?

The driver who arrives first goes first. If you and another driver arrive at the same time, yield to the driver on your right. Kentucky law (KRS 189.330) gives the same tie rule: the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk, and never assume that you have the right of way.

Where the Kentucky right-of-way facts come from

The arrival and same-time rules, the stop line rules, the roundabout steps and the pedestrian rules come from the Kentucky Driver Manual (updated July 23, 2026) from the Kentucky State Police. The law comes from KRS 189.330. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (drive.ky.gov) and the Kentucky State Police before you drive.

Who goes first at a Kentucky four-way stop?

Another driver stopped before you

Let that driver go first. You yield to the driver who is already at the intersection or arrives before you. The free practice question on who goes first when another vehicle arrived first uses this rule.

You and another driver stop at the same time

Yield to the driver on your right. This is the tie rule for a four-way intersection with stop signs.

You plan to turn left

Yield to oncoming drivers, and this includes oncoming vehicles that turn right. Wait until no oncoming vehicle is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard.

A driver, a pedestrian or a bicyclist is still in the intersection

Wait until the person or vehicle is clear. At a stop sign, you yield to crossing vehicles and pedestrians in all directions.

A police officer directs traffic

Do what the officer tells you to do, even if it differs from the signs or signals.

What Kentucky law says about the same-time rule

KRS 189.330 is the Kentucky right-of-way law. Subsection (1) says that when two vehicles approach or enter an intersection from different roads at about the same time, the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right. Stop signs and yield signs can give one road the right of way, so the signs at an intersection can change this basic rule. After you stop at a stop sign, yield to any vehicle in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard.

Never assume you have the right of way at a stop sign

No driver should assume that he or she automatically has the right of way. Look at the whole situation at the intersection. Other drivers may not obey the signs or signals, so be ready to avoid a crash. At each intersection, slow down and search for traffic control devices, cross traffic, pedestrians and bicyclists.

Where to stop at a Kentucky stop sign

Where to stop at a Kentucky stop sign
What you see at the stop sign	Where you stop
A marked stop line	Stop behind the stop line. If the line is before the crosswalk, obey the stop line first.
No stop line, but a crosswalk	Stop before you enter the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection. Not all crosswalks are marked.
No stop line and no crosswalk you can see	Stop before you enter the intersection, at the point nearest the cross road where you can see the traffic that comes toward you.

How to see past a blocked corner

After you stop, check for crossing traffic and bicyclists. Look left, then right, then left again before you enter the intersection. A building or parked vehicles can block your view of the cross street. If that happens, edge forward slowly until you can see clearly. Do not put the front of your vehicle into the other lane to look, because you may get hit. The free practice question on parked vehicles that block your view covers this step.

What a roundabout is and which way traffic goes

A roundabout (also called a traffic circle) is a circular intersection built to keep traffic moving safely. Vehicles travel counterclockwise around a raised center island. A warning sign tells you that a roundabout is ahead, so be ready to slow down.

How to drive a Kentucky roundabout

1
Slow down as you approach
Reduce your speed when you see the roundabout warning sign, before you reach the entry.
2
Yield to traffic in the circle
Yield to the vehicles that are already in the circle, and wait for a safe gap before you enter. The free practice question on who an entering driver must yield to checks this rule.
3
Enter in a counterclockwise direction
Travel counterclockwise around the center island, with the flow of traffic.
4
Go to your exit
Stay in the circle until you reach the exit that you need.
5
Signal and exit
Signal your intent to exit, and then leave the roundabout.

When you must yield to pedestrians in Kentucky

Yield to pedestrians who are entering or in a crosswalk, even an unmarked one. Be ready to yield to pedestrians even when they are not in a crosswalk. At a green light, yield to all pedestrians who are still in the intersection. When you turn right or left on red, be ready to yield to pedestrians. Kentucky law also says to yield to a blind pedestrian who carries a clearly visible white cane or has an assistance dog.

Key takeaways

At a four-way stop, the driver who arrives first goes first. At the same time, yield to the driver on your right.
KRS 189.330 says the driver on the left yields to the driver on the right when two vehicles reach an intersection at about the same time.
Stop behind the stop line. If there is none, stop before the crosswalk. Then look left, right and left again, and yield to pedestrians.
In a roundabout, slow down, yield to traffic in the circle, go counterclockwise, then signal and exit.
Next step: practice on the free Kentucky Class D practice test, which is in English only.

Kentucky four-way stop and roundabout: common questions

Does the car on the right always go first at a four-way stop?

No. The driver who arrives first goes first. The driver on the right goes first only when two drivers arrive at the same time. Signs can also change the order, and an officer who directs traffic overrides the signs. The free practice question on stopping at the same time shows the tie rule.

Do you use a turn signal in a Kentucky roundabout?

Yes, when you leave it. Drive counterclockwise around the center island to the exit that you need, signal your intent to exit, and then exit. Before you enter, slow down and yield to the vehicles that are already in the circle.

Do I have to stop at a stop sign if the road looks empty?

Yes. Stop behind the stop line or crosswalk at every stop sign. Then look left, right and left again. Go only when no vehicle is in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard, and no pedestrian is crossing.

Do I have to yield to a pedestrian who is not in a crosswalk?

Be ready to yield. A pedestrian who crosses outside a crosswalk must yield to vehicles, but you must still be prepared to yield to any pedestrian. Remember that a crosswalk can be unmarked: if a pedestrian is in it, you must yield.

Who has the right of way when I pull out of a driveway?

The traffic on the road. When you enter a public road from a driveway, a private road or any other place that is not a road, yield to all vehicles that come toward you on that road. Wait for a safe gap before you pull out.