Driving Tests

Oregon Four-Way Stop and Roundabout Rules: Who Goes First?

informational·how to guide·Published April 13, 2026

Who has the right of way at an Oregon four-way stop, and how do you drive a roundabout?

At an Oregon four-way stop, stop at the line, then yield to any vehicle in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. The Oregon Driver Manual calls it common courtesy to let the first driver to stop go first. When in doubt, yield to the driver on your right. In a roundabout, yield to traffic inside and exiting, then merge.

Where these Oregon rules come from

The stop, yield, roundabout and signal rules come from Oregon Revised Statutes chapter 811 (sections 811.260, 811.265, 811.275, 811.277, 811.292 and 811.400). Fine amounts come from ORS 153.019. Driving tips come from the Oregon Driver Manual 2026-2027, which is guidance and not a source of law. This guide is current as of 2026. Confirm the rules with Oregon DMV (oregon.gov/odot/dmv) before you drive.

Where do you stop at a stop sign in Oregon?

A stop sign means a complete stop. Stop at the marked stop line. If there is no line, stop before the marked crosswalk. If there is neither, stop at the point nearest the cross road where you can see traffic. If you still cannot see traffic from the left and right, pull forward slightly after you stop and scan again. Yield to other vehicles, and stay stopped for people who cross in marked or unmarked crosswalks.

Who goes first at an Oregon four-way stop?

After you stop, Oregon law gives one test: yield to any vehicle in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard while you cross. The rule that the first driver to stop goes first is common courtesy from the Oregon Driver Manual, not law. When in doubt, for example when you and the driver on your right stop at the same moment, let the driver on your right go first. Never assume another driver will yield to you. The practice question on a tie at a four-way stop shows this case.

Oregon rules for flashing red lights, yield signs and turns

A signal flashes red

Stop at the line or crosswalk, as you do at a stop sign. Then go only under the stop sign rules.

You come to a yield sign

Slow to a speed that is safe for the conditions. Stop if you must for safety, and yield to vehicles in the intersection or so close that they are an immediate hazard.

You make a turn at an intersection

Yield to people on foot and on bicycles, and to traffic in the intersection.

Right of way at an intersection with no signs or signals

At an intersection with no signs or signals, yield to any driver on your right who comes at the same time, no matter who reaches the intersection first. Stop signs and yield signs come before this rule. The question on a car approaching from the right shows a driver who is a little closer and still yields.

Right of way at an Oregon T intersection

A T intersection is one where a road ends at a road that crosses it at a right angle. With no signs or signals, the driver on the road that ends yields to all drivers on the through road, which is the top of the T. Let cars from both directions pass before you turn.

How to drive a single-lane roundabout in Oregon

1
Know the direction
Roundabouts, rotaries and traffic circles are all circular intersections with a center island. Traffic moves one way, counterclockwise, around the island.
2
Slow down and find your exit
Slow down as you come near, and read the signs to find your exit. Stop for people on foot who use the crosswalk in your lane. Watch for people on bicycles: they either merge into traffic or use the sidewalk.
3
Yield, wait for a gap and merge
Before you enter, yield to traffic inside the roundabout and to traffic that exits it. Wait for a gap, then merge.
4
Stay behind a person on a bicycle
Give a person on a bicycle who has merged into traffic the full travel lane. Do not pass them inside the roundabout.
5
Signal right to exit
Use your right turn signal to show that you will exit. Oregon law requires a signal when you exit from any position in a roundabout.

Multi-lane roundabout rules in Oregon

Before you enter, read the exit and lane signs and the pavement markings, and choose the lane for your exit. Keep that lane until you exit, and avoid lane changes inside if you can. The question on lane choice in a roundabout shows this. Trucks may need to straddle both lanes. Under Oregon law, you may not pass a commercial motor vehicle or drive alongside one in a multilane roundabout. You must also yield to a vehicle that lawfully exits from a position ahead and to your left. A sign or signal can tell you to do something different.

What to do when an emergency vehicle comes

Yield to fire trucks, police vehicles and ambulances that approach from any direction with a light or siren. Do not enter a roundabout when one approaches. Pull over to the right. If you are already inside, never stop there: move through, exit, and then pull to the right. The practice question on a siren near a roundabout tests this.

Oregon fines for right-of-way and roundabout violations

Oregon fines for right-of-way and roundabout violations
Violation	Class	Presumptive fine
Ignoring a stop sign, flashing red light or other traffic control device	Class B	$265
Failing to yield at an intersection with no signs or signals	Class B	$265
Failing to yield to the through road at a T intersection	Class B	$265
Not signaling to exit a roundabout	Class B	$265
Passing or driving alongside a commercial motor vehicle in a multilane roundabout	Class C	$165

Key takeaways

At a stop sign, stop at the line, crosswalk or view point. Then yield to any vehicle in the intersection or close enough to be an immediate hazard.
First to stop goes first is manual courtesy, not law. When in doubt, yield to the driver on your right.
With no signs, yield to the driver on your right. At a T intersection, yield to the through road.
In a roundabout, yield to traffic inside and exiting, never stop inside, and signal right to exit.
Next step: practice these rules on the free Oregon Class C passenger permit practice test.

Oregon four-way stop and roundabout questions

What do I do when the traffic lights are out at an Oregon intersection?

Treat a dark signal like a stop sign. If a signal is dark, for example in a power failure, stop as if there are stop signs in all directions. Then use the four-way stop rules: yield to any vehicle in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard, and when in doubt, let the driver on your right go first.

Who goes first at a two-way stop when one driver turns left?

When two stop signs face each other across the intersection, the driver who turns left yields to oncoming traffic that goes straight. After the stop, each driver also yields to any vehicle in the intersection or so close that it is an immediate hazard. Before you turn, look for people on foot and on bicycles, and yield to them too.

Do I lose the right of way if I speed into an intersection?

Yes, at an intersection with no signs or signals. Oregon law says a driver who enters at an unlawful speed loses the right of way that the yield-to-the-right rule would give. As you come near such an intersection, look left first, then to the front and to the right, and be ready to stop.

Do I have to stop for people on foot when I leave a roundabout?

Be ready to. As you exit, watch for pedestrians in the crosswalk and be prepared to stop for them. On the way in, stop for people who use the crosswalk in your lane. Inside the circle, give a person on a bicycle who has merged into traffic the full travel lane, and do not pass them.